"If you have paid for all these things," said I, "you
had better lay claim to Liverpool. Like the disputed
territory (to which it now appears, you knew you had no
legal or equitable claim), it is probable you will have
half of it ceded to you, for the purpose of conciliation.
I admire this boast of yours uncommonly. It reminds me
of the conversation we had some years ago, about the
device on your "naval button," of the eagle holding an
anchor in its claws--that national emblem of ill-directed
ambition and vulgar pretension."

"I thank you for that hint," said Mr. Slick, "I was in
jeest like; but there is more in it, for all that, than
you'd think. It ain't literal fact, but it is figurative
truth. But now I'll shew you sunthin' in this town, that's
as false as parjury, sunthin that's a disgrace to this
country and an insult to our great nation, and there is
no jeest in it nother, but a downright lie; and, since
you go for to throw up to me our naval button with its
'eagle and anchor,' I'll point out to you sunthin' a
hundred thousand million times wus. What was the name o'
that English admiral folks made such a touss about; that
cripple-gaited, one-eyed, one-armed little naval critter?"

"Do you mean Lord Nelson?"

"I do," said he, and pointing to his monument, he continued,
" There he is as big as life, five feet nothin', with
his shoes on. Now examine that monument, and tell me if