ries returned, for it appears
that, owing to a constitutional peculiarity, or, as he subsequently
explained it himself, a "Stunin'tun principle," Captain Poke conceived
he was bound, in a bargain, to dispute every proposition which came from
the other party. This difficulty would probably have proved insuperable,
had not Dr. Reasono luckily bethought him of a frank and liberal
proposal to leave every other article, without reserve, to the sole
dictation of his colleague, reserving to himself the same privilege for
all the rest. Noah, after being well assured that the philosopher was
no lawyer, assented; and the affair, once begun in this spirit of
concession, was soon brought to a close. And here I would recommend this
happy expedient to all negotiators of knotty and embarrassing treaties,
since it enables each party to gain his point, and probably leaves as
few openings for subsequent disputes, as any other mode that has yet
been adopted. The new instrument ran as follows, it having been written,
in duplicate, in English and in Monikin. It will be seen that the
pertinacity of one of the negotiators gave it very much the character of
a capitulation.

PROTOCOL of an Interview, &c., &c., &c.

The contracting parties agree as follows, viz.:

ARTICLE 1. There shall be an interview.

ART. 2. Agreed; provided all the parties can come and go at pleasure.

ART. 3. The said interview shall be conducted, generally, on
philosophical and liberal principles.

ART. 4. Agreed; provided tobacco may be used at discretion.

ART. 5. That either party shall have the privilege of propounding
questions, and either party the privilege of answering them.

ART. 6. Agreed; provided no one need listen, or no one talk, unless so
disposed.

ART. 7. The attire of all present shall be conformable to the abstract
rules of propriety and decorum.

ART. 8. Agreed; provided the bison-skins may be reefed, from time to
time, according to the state of the weather.

ART. 9. The provisions of this protocol shall be rigidly respected.

ART. 10. Agreed; provided no advantage be taken by lawyers.

Lord Chatterino and myself pounced upon the respective documents like
two hawks, eagerly looking for flaws, or the means of maintaining the
opinions we had before advanced, and which we had both shown so much
cleverness in supporting.

"Why, my lord, there is no provision for the appearance of any monikins
at all at this interview!"

"The generality o