A meeting of the real bipeds, or little human beings who run about upon
two feet, was held at the Lilliputian Warehouse, in New Street, Covent
Garden, to move an address of thanks to Her Majesty, for her liberal
patronage of the least of the Rational Animals.
General TOM THUMB, L.S.D., was unanimously voted to the Child's Chair,
and the business of the Meeting having been opened by the Small Germans.
[Illustration:
The Substance and the Shadow.
]
The GENERAL rose—a few inches—to address his brother Homuncules. He said
they had met to offer up an act of gratitude from the Shortest men to
the Highest Personage in the Realm—to her who had refused to patronize
everything great, and had stooped to take _them_ by the hand—to her who
had originally given them that lift, which had caused them—short as they
were—to be looked up to by—LOVELY WOMAN. And he would be happy to favour
the company with "God Save the Queen," gratis.
The ENGLISH TOM THUMB here rose to rebut the General's assertions, and
was proceeding to complain of the want of patronage offered to native
insignificance, when he was carried out.
The HIGHLAND DWARFS, in a Scotch accent as broad as their size would
admit, said, "a' the Gen'ral had drapt was unco' true." When they left
the Land o' Cakes they could hardly raise a Bawbee among them, and now
they could put down 1000_l._ any day.
The BOSHIE MEN, or PIGMY RACE, through their interpreter, stated, they
were happy to find that, though the Dwarfs had come over to England
little by little, they now formed so large a body.
DON FRANCISCO HIDALGO said, "Dat as el smallest man in el vorld, he
objec to el proceed; for he never meet vith el couragement el dam Dom
Dum speak of."
The little Men here got to very high words, and the meeting broke up in
confusion.
[Illustration:
NAPOLEON'S ADIEU D'EGYPTIAN HALL.
]
PHLARUPPE!
AN OSSIANIC POEM.