MAJOR garden's story. 277 



" Toasts and sentiments, really new, were engendered 

 by the old wine, songs sentimental and patriotic ; bosom 

 friends were we all, mingling together as sweetly and 

 harmoniously as the waters of the vale of Avoca. 



" For my own part, I was particularly happy in my 

 feelings and remarks, whatever /5«zV/ was received with 

 a roar, in fact I never met with the same number of 

 gentlemen so easily pleased and so congenial. 



" The sun gradually sunk in the west, and the sug- 

 gestion of caudles by an attendant proved a signal for 

 departure — one more glass around and a sentiment from 

 myself was to finish. Requesting all to fill to the brim, 

 I raised my glass on high, and thus addressed my 

 friends : 



" ' Gentlemen — I have heard much of the fine tables 

 spread in New Orleans, particularly of this hotel, and 

 of the enterprise of its host. I have heard nothing equal 

 to their respective or joint merits {great app/ausc, the 

 rubiaoid-yiosed man brcalwg his glass in enthusiasm). 

 The whole of this afi'air is only surpassed in my expe- 

 rience, or most inflated dreams, by you, gentlemen (cast- 

 ing a sort of patronising look around me), by you, gen- 

 tlemen, — in your social, literary, and scientific attain- 

 ments ' — {trcmeridous cheering). 



'' I concluded, in a halo of glory, with ' A health to 

 our host,' 



" This speech or sentiment — was drank to the bottom, 

 two gentlemen fell under the tabic, and four suspender 



