rt!' As the British Cabinet is at
times a sort of toy, with which the facetious House of Commons loves
to play the game of knockdown (just for the fun of seeing how much
trouble it costs the nation to build it up) so the good-natured
gentlemen of this mixed commission seemed to view the gravest
international questions.

[Footnote: The writer here describes what he saw, without any attempt at
ridicule.]

"'I reiterate!' continued General Flum, for it was no less a personage
than he who poured out his eloquence to the Convention: 'If the
gentleman for t'other side of this question was only to read Kent's
Commentaries, or take a peep into one Story's pleadings, 'twould do
him more good nor all (we quote verbatim) the stale law he's larned in
the Inner Temple--'twould!' Here Flum paused, and majestically turned
round, as if to see how his antagonist felt. His legal brother was
very quietly pursuing his lunars with the paper tube, expecting soon
to work up all the curious angles of the Umpire's face. To properly
intersperse this amusement he would now and then bestow a good-natured
and very sly wink upon a wag who sat at the opposite side of the
table, ever and anon tickling with the feather of his quill the nasal
organ of the Secretary, who had just melowed away into a delicious
nap. Flum proceeded: 'I mean no disrespect to the proficiency, or to
the very high position which my learned brother holds in this
Convention; but what will be said by the two governments when it is
found that among the great array of cases brought before this high
tribunal so few have been settled without a reference to the Umpire? I
sincerely believe that did Her Majesty's Councillor exhibit more
readiness to meet our demands with a liberal and becoming spirit, many
of the cases which have passed before this high tribunal might have
been settled with little consumption of time, and at small cost to the
nation. I know General Pierce won't like the way things are done here,
and how can I doubt, seeing the distinguished person present who
represents him in the capacity of special Minister (here Smooth
acknowledged the compliment by making one of his very best bows), that
he will be made acquainted with the facts.' The Umpire, his
countenance quickening, would inform gentlemen that the many
personalities and invidious references he had so often heard reminded
him rather of the pettifoggers of a police-court than the high
representatives of two grea