r and
numbers; for we monikins, like men, as I have had occasion to observe,
are seekers of novelties. At last it proceeded to absolute overt acts
of treason against the laws of Providence itself. The first violent
demonstration of its madness and folly was, setting up the doctrine that
injustice had been done the monikin race, by causing the safety-valve of
the world to be opened within their region. Although we were manifestly
indebted to this very circumstance for the benignity of our climate, the
value of our possessions, the general healthfulness of our families-nay,
for our separate existence itself, as an independent species, yet did
these excited and ill-judging wretches absolutely wage war upon the most
benevolent and the most unequivocal friend they had. Specious promises
led to theories, theories to declamations, declamation to combination,
combination to denunciation, and denunciation to open hostilities. The
matter in dispute was debated for two generations, when the necessary
degree of madness having been excited, the leaders of the party, who by
this time had worked themselves through their hobby, into the general
control of the monikin affairs, called a meeting of all their partisans
and passed certain resolutions, which will never be blotted from the
monikin memory, so fatal were their consequences, so ruinous for a time
their effects! They were conceived in the following terms:--

"'At a full and overflowing meeting of the most monikinized of the
monikin race, holden at the house of Peleg Pat (we still used the human
appellations, at that epoch), in the year of the world 3,007, and of
the monikin era 317, Plausible Shout was called to the chair, and Ready
Quill was named secretary.'"

"'After several excellent and eloquent addresses from all present, it
was unanimously resolved as follows, viz.:'"

"'That steam is a curse, and not a blessing; and that it deserves to be
denounced by all patriotic and true monikins.'"

"'That we deem it the height of oppression and injustice in nature, that
she has placed the great safety-valve of the world within the lawful
limits of the monikin territories.'"

"'That the said safety-valve ought to be removed forthwith; and that it
shall be so removed, peaceably if it can, forcibly if it must.'"

"'That we cordially approve of the sentiments of John Jaw, our present
estimable chief magistrate, the incorruptible partisan, the undaunted
friend of his friends, the un