Mr. S. was a man of courage, in words only; it therefore evaporated with what he had last spoken, and he dared not provoke his assailant any further. PREST. Gentlemen, I must use my prerogative! order—gentlemen, order! W. Gentlemen, this is not what I expected; I must retire. T. Well, W., I’ll go with you; rogues must bear to be told the truth, without throwing back an insult, generally the best evidence of their guilt. Messrs. W. and T. here retired, and the rest again took their seats. PREST. Suppose, gentlemen, we send for Nicholas? G. We are no longer dependant on him, and as it might eventuate in our individual liability, if we go forward in this thing, it is my opinion that it is the duty of the president to conduct the negotiation officially on behalf of the company, and I therefore move a vote of the board that he be directed accordingly. PREST. Gentlemen, I have resigned one treasury department, sooner than do another man’s bidding, and shall decline the service; I like not this business much. G. Suppose, then, gentlemen, that we resolve ourselves into a committee, and call the commissioner in to-morrow. The proposal being agreed to, the board adjourned, and Mr. S. still suffering from the contusion of his lower spine, walked home with a gait much as he would have done, had he chanced to have made a rent in his nether integuments, on a windy day. BREAKING UP—COLLOQUY. As they went out, J. said, “Mr. G., look well that the commissioner has not another interview with Bold Eno.” “Never fear,” answered G.; “I have provided employment for him.” While these things were going on in the parlor of the Morrison, the commissioner sat in consultation with John-of-the-Field, and the following colloquy took place between them: PALAVER. JOHN. Mr. Commissioner, your State is one of great resources, I think. COM. Undoubtedly, sir; surpassing that of any other State in the Union; _i. e._ when they are fully developed. JOHN. And you are taking the right course for that purpose. The example of New-York, in internal improvements, has, by its success, given an impulse throughout the country. In point of locality, you far exceed us; but then, we have the capital _here_, which is our great advantage. COM. Yes, sir, if we had the capital of New-York in the State of ——, to carry out our plans of public improvement, in twenty years from this, we should exceed her in population by a million. JOHN. Yes, Mr. Commissioner, and your soil is so fertile, that when they were completed, even the farmers of New-York would draw their supplies from you, through the lakes, the Erie canal, and the Erie railroad, which is now in progress, principally with that view. Here John, perceiving a stare of surprise and doubt in the eye of the commissioner, added, “_i. e._ provided they could turn their lands to a better account, by the cultivation of products more congenial to the poverty of their soil.”