subject, more at large, before the Academy of
Leaphigh."

"With all my heart, Doctor; for I hold that knowledge, like good liquor,
is given to be passed round from one to another, and not to be gulped in
a corner by any particular individle. And now I'm throwing out hints of
this natur' I will just intimate another that you may add to your next
demonstration, by way of what you call a corollary; which is this--that
is to say--if all you tell us about the bursting of the boiler, and the
polar kick be true, then is the 'arth the first steamboat that was ever
invented, and the boastings of the French, and the English, and the
Spaniards, and the Italians, on this point, are no more than so much
smoke."

"And of the Americans, too, Captain Poke," I ventured to observe.

"Why, Sir John, that is as it may happen. I don't well see how Fulton
could have stolen the idee, seeing that he did not know the Doctor, and
most probably never heard of Leaphigh in his life."

We all smiled, even to the amiable Chatterissa, at the nicety of the
navigator's distinctions; and the philosopher's lecture, in its more
didactic form, being now virtually at an end, a long and desultory
conversation took place, in which a multitude of ingenious questions
were put by Captain Poke and myself, and which were as cleverly answered
by the Doctor and his friends.

At length, Dr. Reasono, who, philosopher as he was, and much as he loved
science, had not given himself all this trouble without a view to what
are called ulterior considerations, came out with a frank expose of his
wishes. Accident had apparently combined all the means for gratifying
the burning desire I betrayed to be let into further details of the
monikin polity, morals, philosophy, and all the other great social
interests of the part of the world they inhabit. I was wealthy beyond
bounds, and the equipment of a proper vessel would be an expenditure
of no moment; both the Doctor and Lord Chatterino were good practical
geographers, after they were once within the parallel of 77 degrees
south, and Captain Poke, according to his own account of himself, had
passed half his life in poking about among the sterile and uninhabited
islands of the frozen ocean. What was there to prevent the most earnest
wishes of all present from being gratified? The captain was out of
employment, and no doubt would be glad to get the command of a good
tight sea-boat; the strangers pined for home, and it was my m