122 THE HISTORY OF 



assume in regard to a certain act of the Legislature of that 

 State. When the two legal gentlemen had " thrown them- 

 'Selves,"'in this long and wearying debate, for forty-eight 

 hours, his Honor cut off the controversy by remarking, very 

 quietly, 



•?' Gentlemen, this law that you have been speaking of 

 has been repealed!" 



I thought of this circumstance, and I permitted the hen- 

 men to gas, to their hearts' content. When they got through 

 with their anathemas, their spleen, and their stupidity j I 

 informed them that the " Committee '' had unanimously left 

 to my charge the writing of the Report of that Exhibi- 

 tion. 



From that moment, up to the hour when the Report was 

 published, I never suspected (before) that I had so many 

 friends in this world ! 



The fear that seemed to pervade every mind present was, 

 that /should probably do precisely what they viovXA. have 

 done under similar circumstances, — to wit, take care of 

 myself. 



I had no fowls in this exhibition ; but there were present 

 numerous specimens bred from my stock, that were very 

 choice (so every one said), and which commanded the . 

 highest prices during the show. 



There were several Southern gentlemen present, who 

 bought (and paid roundly for them, too) some of the best 



