Minister MOTLEY is a gentleman, a scholar, and, though last not least,
as genial a diner and winer as ever put American legs under a British
peer's mahogany. There was a time when he was for avenging British
outrage by whipping John Bull out of his boots, but now, clad in a
dress-coat of unexceptionable cut, he deprecates the idea of
international breaches. As a diplomatist he could scarcely show more
indifference to the Alabama claim, if the claim itself were All a Bam.
He roars for recompense more gently than a sucking dove. When he
presented our little bill a _grand coup_ was expected, but the
trans-atlantic turtle seems to have shut him up. Listening to
compliments on the "Dutch Republic" he forgets his own, and renders but
a Flemish account to his country. Not content with following the festive
footsteps of his illustrious predecessor, REVERDY, he has made new
tracks to every hospitable nobleman's door. The scented soft-soap of
adulation is his "particular vanity," and under its soothing influence
he seems to be washing his hands of his official responsibilities. In
point of fact, MOTLEY has deserted his colors, and, as a diplomat, is by
no means up to the American Standard. As it is clear he cannot maintain
the _prestige_ of the Star Spangled Banner abroad, we call upon the
Government to give him Hail Columbia, and order him home.
* * * * *