man whom I am compelled to view as the greatest living diplomatist of the hage!’ Here the company, with one accord, made a bow, while Sir Matthew interrupted his lordship by whispering, ’Nicholas of All the Russias excepted!’ His lordship, with a peremptory glance at Sir Matthew, the meaning of which it was not easy to mistake, continued, somewhat testily:—­’I will make no single exception for any such renegade!’ Turning to the chairman, he reminded minded him of Sir Matthew’s rejoinder, which he assured him he could not consider, unless indeed he sacrificed the high functions of that great office to which the voice of a people true to their traditions, and Providence, had so significantly called him at this all momentous moment—­the breaking out of an Eastern war!  ’No less surprized than hoverjoyed am I to meet so respectable looking an assemblage of citizens of that great country in the West, which we naturally view as the exponent of true independence, as well as our great hoffspring.  Would hi, as the great representative of this city, be saying too much while asserting that in my ’umble opinion no one part of this expansive hearth (great applause) could send forth so respectable and orderly an assemblage of persons.’  The ladies here shouted, and waved their handkerchiefs.  Having received this distinguished compliment with due dignity, he commenced drawing aside the curtain that we might know more of his early history, which he felt assured in his own mind could not fail to hinterest the citizens of the United States in general, seeing that he belonged not to the ‘haristocracy.’ (This was received with a perfect explosion of applause.) In the days of his youth, when geographies were made without reference to correctness, and the study of globes was considered equal to the minds of those only who were learned enough to raise the devil, had he been taught from one of those imperfect pasteboards that Hamerica was an immense expanse of forests, inhabited by wild Hindians and curiously formed barbarians.  And the impression thus made, he assured Mr. Smooth in particular, had so enrooted itself in his mind that he ever and anon found himself most mysteriously contemplating the want of a state of civilization in that great and glorious country. (Deafening applause).  Here his lordship’s animation was at the highest pressure; indeed so high was it, that a very respectable gentleman, sitting not far from Smooth, bowed, and suggested that the little Lord Mayor must have mistaken the present company for his dining senate.  ‘Now,’ continued his worship, emphatically, ’nothing could more happily ’ave affected a change in my mind, than the beholding with my own eyes the lovely fair ones and respectable persons here present.  To that great country, Hamerica, shall I hereafter look for the noblest results to civilization and mankind. (Cheers).  It is now nearly two ’undred years since the foundation stone of that great republic was laid by