international; at the same time, he might be evolving in his mind the affair of the war.  Did Minister Smooth deem it expedient, he might without prejudice, taking the Ostend for example, call together on the Island of St. Paul—­or, if preferable, the Isle of Sables—­a Congress of American Ministers, provided, nevertheless, he invite Major Hammet, of the Pictou Mission, and Governor Darby, of the Isle of Dogs.  Pierce strictly enjoined that no letters be received from Monsieur Souley, nor his dogmatic Secretary, and that the subjects to be discussed were the internal affairs of Baffin’s Bay, Greenland, the North Pole, the Labrador Coast, and the straits of Bell Isle—­from which the importation of cod oil had sadly fallen off during our fish difficulties.  Not to weary the reader, Smooth is here happy to relieve his mind by stating that simple prudence restrained him from calling together this august Congress; he left it where he found it—­in Mr. Pierce’s fruitful head.

“Conscious of the necessity, Smooth bound Mr. Pierce down to detail, particularly stipulating that he should bear the ultimate responsibility in the event of failure.  Now to the result!

“His opinion of the Novascotians had always been favorable, and when he left Mr. Pierce it was with a promise that he would do all he could to enlighten them.  But as impressions will change at a nearer view, so when he got wrong did he regard both the quality and quantity of their radicalism as injurious to the best interests of the State.  There was in the little green-hilled province an endless amount of political talking done, with so small an amount of patriotism evinced, that we were not at a loss for the cause that had kept the State in obscurity.  Then there seemed so much government, that everything was ungoverned.  And he (Smooth) thought there was a want of activity, physical as well as mental, and a recklessness of getting into debt to Mr. John Bull, who never could infuse a sufficient sense of honor into his Colonial subjects to make them pay over, or regard their obligations.  Want of energy and a criminal dependence upon the ’home Government’ for assistance, with which to develop the resources of the country, resulted in a want of confidence in the State’s own means to better its condition.  The Home Government, and an imported Governor, were blighting to their vital energies.  This subject, however, is not fruitful, hence his reader will please accompany him to a different.  Having left Pierce for a time, Smooth, with that resolution so characteristic of his countrymen, wherever found, entered into the codfish business.  Transforming himself (after the manner of his uncle Jeff Davis), into a captain of the fishing schooner Starlight, which said schooner he ran over the treaty line straight into Fox Island, on the coast of Cape Breton, where he proposed making the acquaintance of the inhabitants, and, if possible, a treaty of friendship and commerce.  The waters