“‘The present Lord Mayor!’ being drawn into the order of toasts, the individual filling that office, a firmly compacted figure, with well-rounded limbs, and a broad, pleasing face, set off by the addition of a well-lined nose, full intelligent eyes, a brow nicely arched, and organically well-developed, and surmounted with a superstructure of dark, glossy hair, tinged with grey, rose to reply.  My lord, in addition to being rather shortish, possessed a countenance indicative of amiability rather than strength of mind or force of character.  ‘Silence!’ echoed and reechoed through the hall, and for a few seconds all was still.  Then the badge-bedecked figure, with dignity all sublime, rose to the order.  His dark eyes wandered to to the right and left, then over the banqueting scene, and again toward the ladies.  Smooth would here say, by way of interrupting his lordship, and for the better information of his readers, that Sir James, becoming somewhat civilized—­perhaps he should say tamed,—­and made conscious that he confronted Mr. Pierce’s special minister, pledged him in numerous glasses, and being now somewhat mellow, cooled away into an all-refreshing nap, during the enjoyment of which he, with unpolished bows, made known his approbation of each happy sentiment contained in the speeches.

“His lordship (the reader must now return) here commenced drawing from the cavities of his deep mind all the nice sayings of which his speech was so beautifully made up.  Again he paused, made several gestures with his right hand, declared war upon all obstructing coughs, elongated his importance as never did peacock on a shingle, and proceeded:  ‘My lords and gentlemen!’ Loud and good-natured laughing brought his lordship suddenly to a stop.  ‘My lord is not in the—­’, whispered Sir Matthew Moore, who sat all facetious at his lordship’s right.  Sir Matthew, significantly touching his lordship’s elbow, while casting a sly wink across the table, enjoined;—­’Fellow citizens and ladies, your lordship!’ His lordship’s face dispensed a few gorgeous blushes as he hesitated, and with an angular motion of the head, he convicted another cough, and made the very best kind of a bow acknowledging the default.  ‘Ladies, gentlemen, fellow-citizens!’ continued his lordship, not having altogether gained the firm footing of his equilibrium—­which, however, was much relieved by sundry well-modulated bravos from the assembly—­’I ’ave the ‘onor’ (his lordship must be pardoned for his onslaught upon the h’s) ’in happearing before this respectable body of Hamerican gentlemen hand ladies!—­ladies hand gentlemen! (his lordship suddenly corrected himself), let it not be thought that I ham bestowing flattery when I say I esteem it an ’onor which I cannot too highly characterize, and for which I am so deeply indebted to my friend who ’as so long and nobly contributed to the durability of friendly intercourse between the two greatest and most enlightened peoples on earth—­the