estate, two male monikins are sufficient, whereas it would be necessary
to have four female signatures, in order to give the instrument
validity. In the legal sense, therefore, I conceive that Dr. Reasono is
attended by only two monikins."

Captain Poke hereupon observed that this provision in the law of
Leaphigh was a good one; for he often had occasion to remark that women,
quite half the time, did not know what they were about; and he thought,
in general, that they require more ballast than men.

"This reply would completely cover the case, my lord," I answered,
"were the protocol purely a monikin document, and this assembly purely a
monikin assembly. But the facts are notoriously otherwise. The document
is drawn up in a common vehicle of thought among scholars, and I gladly
seize the opportunity to add, that I do not remember to have seen a
better specimen of modern latinity."

"It is undeniable, Sir John," returned Lord Chatterino, waving his tail
in acknowledgment of the compliment, "that the protocol itself is in
a language that has now become common property; but the mere medium
of thought, on such occasions, is of no great moment, provided it
is neutral as respects the contracting parties; moreover, in this
particular case, article 11 of the protocol contains a stipulation
that no legal consequences whatever are to follow the use of the
Latin language; a stipulation that leaves the contracting parties in
possession of their original rights. Now, as the lecture is to be a
monikin lecture, given by a monikin philosopher, and on monikin grounds,
I humbly urge that it is proper the interview should generally be
conducted on monikin principles."

"If by monikin grounds, is meant monikin ground (which I have a right to
assume, since the greater necessarily includes the less), I beg leave to
remind your lordship, that the parties are, at this moment, in a neutral
country, and that, if either of them can set up a claim of territorial
jurisdiction, or the rights of the flag, these claims must be admitted
to be human, since the locataire of this apartment is a man, in control
of the locus in quo, and pro hac vice, the suzerain."

"Your ingenuity has greatly exceeded my construction, Sir John, and
I beg leave to amend my plea. All I mean is, that the leading
consideration in this interview, is a monikin interest--that we are met
to propound, explain, digest, animadvert on, and embellish a monikin
theme--that the ac