ct of offering it
for sale at the counter of a dealer in old clothes.

"On the other hand, there was that about my great-uncle which
completely overthrew the suspicion of his having been a kitchen
diplomatist: he was an excellent judge of dancing, and what stronger
evidence of his forming one of the polite body up-stairs, does the
reader want? In addition to this,--he not only discoursed glibly about
diplomacy, but sagaciously gave out that he would turn his back to no
one in his knowledge of treaties; which said knowledge, and his
crutch, he was always ready to swear by. Those great brass buttons
with the eagles, and his blue small clothes, too, he wore to the day
of his death. The parish had a feeling that no fourth of July could be
celebrated without him; and I well remember how on that day I used to
think him rather too fond of laying his crutch over the heads of all
who differed with him on a question of state policy. My readers will
please understand that I have no particular interest in raising the
question as to whether my great uncle got his knowledge of diplomacy
up-stairs or in the kitchen. The fruits of my research would neither
be interesting here, nor serve the object I have in view. Enough is it
to know that he would now and then get into a funny vein, and in the
outpouring of his child-like enthusiasm, let out some exceedingly rich
jokes, touching the manner in which certain gentlemen paid their, to
him, most fashionable debts. And, although the old man did at first
seem himself to enjoy the recital, he was as sure to end in a great
passion. And with every deference to the feelings of certain of
Mr. Pierce's gentry, who have so recently figured upon the stage of
London and Paris fashionable life, I may add that he would testily
declare nothing would so please him as to cudgel every diplomatic
dandy that brought disgrace upon his country abroad and left his
countrymen to bear the smart. Indeed, he once honestly admitted that
foreigners were just foolish enough to look for exponents of our
national character among our representatives. If they were not
inclined to form the most exalted opinion of it through that test, it
was because they never once took into consideration the nature of the
accomplishments necessary to our office-holders, at the door of which
the blame lay. My great-uncle said that it was not that two or three
conducted themselves in a manner unbecoming their positions, but,
that, represent