. When he had thus settled the question, he put his hat a little on
one side for the greater convenience of scratching his head, and saluted Mr.
Jefferson Brick with a lazy nod.
    Major Pawkins (a gentleman of Pennsylvanian origin) was distinguished by a
very large skull, and a great mass of yellow forehead; in deference to which
commodities, it was currently held in bar-rooms and other such places of resort,
that the major was a man of huge sagacity. He was further to be known by a heavy
eye and a dull slow manner; and for being a man of that kind who, mentally
speaking, requires a deal of room to turn himself in. But, in trading on his
stock of wisdom, he invariably proceeded on the principle of putting all the
goods he had (and more) into his window; and that went a great way with his
constituency of admirers. It went a great way, perhaps, with Mr. Jefferson
Brick, who took occasion to whisper in Martin's ear:
    »One of the most remarkable men in our country, sir!«
    It must not be supposed, however, that the perpetual exhibition in the
market-place of all his stock-in-trade for sale or hire, was the major's sole
claim to a very large share of sympathy and support. He was a great politician;
and the one article of his creed, in reference to all public obligations
involving the good faith and integrity of his country, was, »run a moist pen
slick through everything, and start fresh.« This made him a patriot. In
commercial affairs he was a bold speculator. In plainer words he had a most
distinguished genius for swindling, and could start a bank, or negotiate a loan,
or form a land-jobbing company (entailing ruin, pestilence, and death, on
hundreds of families), with any gifted creature in the Union. This made him an
admirable man of business. He could hang about a bar-room, discussing the
affairs of the nation, for twelve hours together; and in that time could hold
forth with more intolerable dulness, chew more tobacco, smoke more tobacco,
drink more rum-toddy, mint-julep, gin-sling, and cock-tail, than any private
gentleman of his acquaintance. This made him an orator and a man of the people.
In a word, the major was a rising character, and a popular character, and was in
a fair way to be sent by the popular party to the State House of New
