g altogether gained the firm footing
of his equilibrium--which, however, was much relieved by sundry
well-modulated _bravos_ from the assembly--'I 'ave the 'onor' (his
lordship must be pardoned for his onslaught upon the h's) 'in
happearing before this respectable body of Hamerican gentlemen hand
ladies!--ladies hand gentlemen! (his lordship suddenly corrected
himself), let it not be thought that I ham bestowing flattery when I
say I esteem it an 'onor which I cannot too highly characterize, and
for which I am so deeply indebted to my friend who 'as so long and
nobly contributed to the durability of friendly intercourse between
the two greatest and most enlightened peoples on earth--the man whom I
am compelled to view as the greatest living diplomatist of _the
hage!_' Here the company, with one accord, made a bow, while Sir
Matthew interrupted his lordship by whispering, 'Nicholas of All the
Russias excepted!' His lordship, with a peremptory glance at Sir
Matthew, the meaning of which it was not easy to mistake, continued,
somewhat testily:--'I will make no single exception for any such
renegade!' Turning to the chairman, he reminded minded him of Sir
Matthew's rejoinder, which he assured him he could not consider,
unless indeed he sacrificed the high functions of that great office to
which the voice of a people true to their traditions, and Providence,
had so significantly called him at this all momentous moment--the
breaking out of an Eastern war! 'No less surprized than hoverjoyed am
I to meet so _respectable looking_ an assemblage of citizens of that
great country in the West, which we naturally view as the exponent of
true independence, as well as our great hoffspring. Would _hi_, as
the great representative of this city, be saying too much while
asserting that in my 'umble opinion no one part of this expansive
hearth (great applause) could send forth so respectable and orderly an
assemblage of persons.' The ladies here shouted, and waved their
handkerchiefs. Having received this distinguished compliment with due
dignity, he commenced drawing aside the curtain that we might know
more of his early history, which he felt assured in his own mind could
not fail to hinterest the citizens of the United States in general,
seeing that he belonged not to the 'haristocracy.' (This was received
with a perfect explosion of applause.) In the days of his youth, when
geographies were made without reference to correctness, and the