After repeated calls, then, Don Fernando turned to address the multitude, and said in a speech of some twenty minutes, much that they had heard before, and expected to hear again.  He cautioned them to look well to their liberties, though it were good to be careful how they were found breaking the peace and men’s heads.  I would mention here, that this singular admonition was induced by the presence of some six or seven of Don Fernando’s old friends among the throng outside.  And these worthy men commenced their favorite avocation with such shouts as-"Go it Fernando!  Fernando and liberty!” And when they had thus deported themselves to their satisfaction, they took to demolishing the trombones of the players, as if such amusement was to their taste.

Don Fernando concluded his speech by saying, he saw in the persons present, the great and glorious elements of our expanding civilization.  Kind providence just then sent a refreshing shower, as if in pity at the condition of the raiment his listeners were clad in.  And this sent many to their homes; but the more patriotic had no fear of a shower, and seemed not inclined to leave until they had heard a speech from Mr. Alderman Dan Dooley, for whom they called loudly.  These calls were seconded by persons on the balcony, who out of sheer derision, demanded his presence with so much earnestness as convinced the loquacious Dooley that history and his friends would not be content without a word from him on this great occasion.  But Don Fernando well knew that the reporters, as was customary with them, would embellish that one word rather curiously, for they were kind to him, and invariably made him say all the witty things they could think of.

“Upon my word, Mr. Dooley,” whispered Don Fernando, “the thing has ended well; and it strikes me we have had speeches enough for the evening.”

“Faith!” exclaimed the Alderman, “I’m contint to lave them with the spaech of yir ’oner.”

Mr. Dooley, if the truth must be told, was not in a condition to get off smooth sentences, though his deportment would have afforded much diversion.  And as good speeches lost nothing by keeping, he resolved not to let his off just yet.  And so completely was Don Fernando master of the Alderman, that he sauntered, or rather oscillated into a corner, and sat down.

The small hours of morning had well nigh come, when Don Fernando, without change in the dignity of his bearing, took his departure; expressing, as he left the door, the great pleasure it would give him to receive the major at the City Hall on the morrow.  And when he was gone, the committee of reception thought no more of him, but drew their chairs round the major, and with divers friends of the same hue and circumstance, commenced showering upon him no end of compliments, declaring him to be the father of more political reforms than Jefferson and Washington ever dreamed of.

When their generosity had come sufficiently mellowed, and the landlord had declared his inability to furnish any more whiskey, and Mr. Councilman Finnigan began to see ghosts and murderers by the dozen, all of which he would have sworn were real, and set about thrashing with the gallantry of a true Irish gentleman, Mr. O’Toole proposed that the major become a citizen of New York, when he would wager any amount of money to make him next mayor of the city.