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THE ensuing day, the Captain arrived in a certain
city, and put up at the sign of the Indian Queen.
Taking a day or two to refresh himself, and get a new
pair of breeches made, and his coat mended, which
was a little worn at the elbows, he went to look about
the city. The fourth day, when he had proposed to
set out to perambulate this modern Babylon, and
called for Teague to bring him his boots, there was
no Teague there. The hostler being called, with
whom he used to sleep, informed, that he had disappeared
the day before. The Captain was alarmed:
and, from the recollection of former incidents, began
to enquire if there were any elections going on at
that time. As it so happened, there was one that
very day. Thinking it probable the bog-trotter, having
still a hankering after an appointment, might offer
himself on that occasion, he set out to the place
where the people were convened, to see if he could
discover Teague amongst the candidates. He could
see nothing of him; and though he made enquiry,
he could hear no account. But the circumstance of
the election drawing his attention for some time,
he forgot Teague.

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The candidates were all remarkably pot-bellied;
and waddled in their gait. The Captain enquiring
what were the pretensions of these men to be elected;
he was told, that they had all stock in the funds,
and lived in brick buildings; and some of them entertained
fifty people at a time, and eat and drank
abundantly; and, living an easy life, and pampering
their appetites, they had swollen to this size.

It is a strange thing, said the Captain, that in the
country, in my route, they would elect no one but a
weaver, or a whisky-distiller; and here none but fat
swabs, that guzzle wine, and smoke segars. It was
not so in Greece, where Phocion came with his plain
coat, from his humble dwelling, and directed the
counsels of the people; or in Rome, where Cincinnatus
was made dictator from the plough. Something
must be wrong, where the inflate, and pompous
are the objects of choice. Though there is one
good arising from it, that there is no danger of my
Teague here. He could not afford to give a dinner;
and as to funds, he has not a single shilling in them.
They will make him neither mayor nor legislator in
this city.

Na faith said Mr. M`Donald, the Scotch gentleman
who had been present at the embarrassment of
the Captain, on the occasion of the former election,
and having, a few days before, come to the city, and
observing the Captain in the crowd, had come up to
accost him, just as he was uttering these last words
to himself: Na faith, said he, there is na danger of
Teague here, unless he had his scores o' shares in
the bank; and was in league with the brokers, and
had a brick house at his hurdies, or a ship or twa on
the stocks. A great deal used to be done, by employing
advocates with the tradesmen, to listen to the
news, and tell them fair stories; but all is now lost

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in substantial interest, and the funds command
every thing. Besides, this city is swarming with
Teagues, and O'Regans, and O'Brians, and O'Murphys,
and O'Farrels; I see, that they cannot be at
a loss without your bog-trotter.

The Captain having his fears eased, in this particular,
returned home, greatly troubled, nevertheless,
that he could not come up with the Irishman.

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