ngularly quiet manner.

"Thanks to the genius of General Wilkinson," Colonel Clark continued,
waving his hand towards the smilingly placid hero, "that tobacco has
been deposited in the King's store at ten dollars per hundred,--a
privilege heretofore confined to Spanish subjects. Well might Wilkinson
return from New Orleans in a chariot and four to a grateful Kentucky!
This year we have tripled, nay, quadrupled, our crop of tobacco, and
we are here to-night to give thanks to the author of this prosperity."
Alas, Colonel Clark's hand was not as steady as of yore, and he spilled
the liquor on the table as he raised his glass. "Gentlemen, a health to
our benefactor."

They drank it willingly, and withal so lengthily and noisily that Mr.
Wilkinson stood smiling and bowing for full three minutes before he
could be heard. He was a very paragon of modesty, was the General, and
a man whose attitudes and expressions spoke as eloquently as his words.
None looked at him now but knew before he opened his mouth that he was
deprecating such an ovation.

"Gentlemen,--my friends and fellow-Kentuckians," he said, "I thank you
from the bottom of my heart for your kindness, but I assure you that I
have done nothing worthy of it (loud protests). I am a simple, practical
man, who loves Kentucky better than he loves himself. This is no virtue,
for we all have it. We have the misfortune to be governed by a set of
worthy gentlemen who know little about Kentucky and her wants, and think
less (cries of "Ay, ay!"). I am not decrying General Washington and
his cabinet; it is but natural that the wants of the seaboard and the
welfare and opulence of the Eastern cities should be uppermost in their
minds (another interruption). Kentucky, if she would prosper, must look
to her own welfare. And if any credit is due to me, gentlemen, it is
because I reserved my decision of his Excellency, Governor-general Miro,
and his people until I saw them for myself. A little calm reason, a
plain statement of the case, will often remove what seems an insuperable
difficulty, and I assure you that Governor-general Miro is a most
reasonable and courteous gentleman, who looks with all kindliness and
neighborliness on the people of Kentucky. Let us drink a toast to him.
To him your gratitude is due, for he sends you word that your tobacco
will be received."

"In General Wilkinson's barges," said Mr. Wharton leaning over and
subsiding again at once.

The General was