“Having peeped long enough at the Lord Mayor’s Show, I felt like looking at something more solid; so to that end I turned about the donkey-cart, whistled to the flunkeys (kept things of this kind merely to be like other Americans when abroad), and drove into Regent street, where I would inform General Pierce and all my firm friends a desperate excitement was made.  Then, in glowing independence, I rolled away down Pall Mall, where the club-people—­especially those of that institution of arrogance called the Reform—­seemed much astonished.  From thence I proceeded past Trafalgar square, where stood in singular contrast the monument of the noble Nelson, and an equestrian statue of that ignoble creature, Charles the First, the loss of whose head saved England from disgrace.  How strange, that even in this day of intelligence and liberty-loving, it should stand a shrine before which very respectable old gentlemen poured out their stale patriotism!  At last I found myself in Downing street—­at the door of a massive and sombre-looking mansion (No. 12) in front of which stood methodical-looking men with grave countenances.  And, too, there sauntered moodily venerable-looking gentlemen, now and then casting wistful glances at the time-begrimmed walls, as if they would see some one sealed-up in the antiquated recesses of the place.  Mr. Smooth’s turn-out only made a stir among them; they reckoned somebody had come!  In a free-and-easy sort of way I walked straight to the door, maintaining my independence the while, and feeling as important as a door-keeper in Congress.  After passing the massive entrance I encountered innumerable obstacles in the form of flunkeys, and then passed into a dingy room of immense size, which for all the world had the appearance of having some two or three hundred years ago served for a barracks.  ‘By appointment?’ inquired a human thing dressed, as he emerged from behind a green screen situated at one corner.  He bowed, and I bowed, until he was satisfied I was somebody, ’Who would you see?’ he reiterates, adding another bow.

“‘Well!’ returned I, ‘reckon how I’ll think about that.’  Then the fellow crossed three or four times my track, as much as to say—­Stranger! you don’t go in there.  Presently a batch of well-to-do individuals came snickering out of a closet, and eyed me very suspiciously; at which I summoned all my brass, and stood fronting them like a staring machine.  ‘You must say who you want to see!’ interposes the man I first confronted.

“I here took leisurely out my card, and said ’I would like to see the Duke of Newcastle, who temporarily tied up in this establishment.’  He viewed my card with a serious hesitation; at which I turned round, and told him I would not trouble him, but take it myself, had he had any special objection to going a-head.  They, the people, said the Duke, did all he could with what he had to do with.  If it were not possible to see the Duke, I would like a peep at my venerable aunt Aberdeen, who was about