“‘Well!’ interrupted Uncle Jeff, looking suspiciously about the table, ‘if he ain’t the toughest old flounder I ever did see!’

“‘Shouldn’t be surprised if you found it so!’ replied the fish, his spacious jaws opening, and the end of another parchment slowly protruding from his mouth.  ’Read that!  I must get somebody to help me to eject this instrument.’  The General wrested it from its mouth, turned it over and over, and tried and retried to read it.  ’It’s a protest from John, my Uncle, John Bull and Johnny Crappo, which says:—­’We, the said John and Louis, having entered into a sublime alliance with our sublime brother of the East, by which one great and mighty power has been concentrated, do humbly beg Mr. President Pierce (for whom we now have and ever hope to entertain the very highest esteem) that he take heed how he dips his fingers into other people’s political pies.  And, further, while exhibiting so earnest a desire to appropriate the choicest delicacies of his neighbors to the cravings of his black pig, to be a little more modest.  Now, we, the undersigned Louis and John, whose names—­in alliance have become mightiest among the mighty, are duly convinced of the many inconsistencies, irregularities, and breaches of good faith, together with the many petty acts of tyranny, the mother of this Antilla flounder has been guilty of, to her own disgrace.  But greatness should be known by its forbearance with the weak; hence we should bear and forgive.  Yea, we admit that her footprints are marked with blood—­that her history has numberless pages written in blood—­that her arrogance and avarice have blotted out her national virtue, and now work like a battering-ram her downfall.  Yet, as arrogance is but another name for weakness, is it not better to brush off than kill the wasp?  The principle herein contained we have, in the sublimity of our power, adopted as an example to the nations of the earth.  Jonathan! we like your amiability; we esteem you as a keen fellow, who, large of trade, and wise in the ways of a cheap government, may well boast a happy people:  bridle, then, the audacity of that southern ambition, lest it betray you into unforseen difficulties.  Let peace be the guardian of that commerce now teeming its grandeur and wealth on your shores; and in all kindness, Mr. Pierce, do we speak, when we say,—­look to those things you send into foreign lands to represent the quiet grandeur of our institutions:  send the gentleman whose conduct may be a means to great ends, for ruffians leave their little stains behind.’’

“‘Well!’ exclaimed the General, his large square face reddening with anxiety, as he turned to Uncle Dib and Grandpapa, ’I should call this the insolence of sublime power.  Let them try their sublime power on this side of the Atlantic!’ Here the General gave his head a significant toss, and wiped his lips as he added,—­’Young America can whip the three.’  This pithy speech being received with great applause, he reached