. »I am astonished.« But he had not the least idea who
this Elijah Pogram was; having never heard the name in all his life.
    »If the biler of this vessel was Toe bust, sir,« said his new acquaintance,
»and Toe bust now, this would be a festival day in the calendar of despotism;
pretty nigh equallin', sir, in its effects upon the human race, our Fourth of
glorious July. Yes, sir, that is the Honourable Elijah Pogram, Member of
Congress; one of the master-minds of our country, sir. There is a brow, sir,
there!«
    »Quite remarkable,« said Martin.
    »Yes, sir. Our own immortal Chiggle, sir, is said to have observed, when he
made the celebrated Pogram statter in marble, which rose so much con-test and
preju-dice in Europe, that the brow was more than mortal. This was before the
Pogram Defiance, and was, therefore, a pre-diction, cruel smart.«
    »What is the Pogram Defiance?« asked Martin, thinking, perhaps, it was the
sign of a public-house.
    »An o-ration, sir,« returned his friend.
    »Oh! to be sure,« cried Martin. »What am I thinking of! It defied -«
    »It defied the world, sir,« said the other, gravely. »Defied the world in
general to com-pete with our country upon any hook; and devellop'd our internal
resources for making war upon the universal airth. You would like to know Elijah
Pogram, sir?«
    »If you please,« said Martin.
    »Mr. Pogram,« said the stranger - Mr. Pogram having overheard every word of
the dialogue - »this is a gentleman from Europe, sir: from England, sir. But
gen'rous ene-mies may meet upon the neutral sile of private life, I think.«
    The languid Mr. Pogram shook hands with Martin, like a clock-work figure
that was just running down. But he made amends by chewing like one that was just
wound up.
    »Mr. Pogram,« said the introducer, »is a public servant, sir. When Congress
is recessed, he makes himself acquainted with those free United States, of which
he is the gifted son.«
    It occurred to Martin, that if the Honourable Elijah Pogram had stayed at
home, and sent his shoes upon a tour, they would have answered the same purpose;
for they
