Among the different topics that were discussed, the most
prominent was the state of the political parties in this
country. Mr. Slick, who paid great deference to the
opinions of Mr. Hopewell, was anxious to ascertain from
him what he thought upon the subject, in order to regulate
his conduct and conversation by it hereafter.

"Minister," said he, "what do you think of the politics
of the British?"

"I don't think about them at all, Sam. I hear so much of
such matters at home, that I am heartily tired of them;
our political world is divided into two classes, the
knaves and the dupes. Don't let us talk of such exciting,
things."

"But, Minister," said Mr. Slick, "holdin' the high and
dignified station I do, as Attache, they will be a-pumpin'
me for everlastinly, will the great men here, and they
think a plaguy sight more of our opinion than you are
aware on; we have tried all them things they are a jawin'
about here, and they naterally want to know the results.
Cooper says not one Tory called on him when he was to
England, but Walter Scott; and that I take it, was more
lest folks should think he was jealous of him, than any
thing else; they jist cut him as dead as a skunk; but
among the Whigs, he was quite an oracle on ballot,
univarsal suffrage, and all other democratic institutions."

"Well, he was a ninny then, was Cooper, to go and blart