Salmagundi; or, The whim-whams and opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, esq. [pseud.] and others. By William Irving, James Kirke Paulding and Washington Irving. Printed from the original ed., with a preface and notes by Evert A. Duyckinck.

MUSTAPHA IN EXTREMITY. 185
To this economic body, therefore, was I advised to address
my petition, and humbly to pray that the allgust assembly of
sages would, in the plenitude of their wisdom and the magnitude
of their powers, munificently bestow on an unfortunate captive,
a pair of cotton breeches I "Head of the immortal Amrou,"
cried I, "but this would be presumptuous to a degree; what I
after these worthies have thought proper to leave their country
naked and defenceless, and exposed to all the political storms
that rattle without, can I expect that they will lend a helping
hand to comfort the extremities of a solitary captive?" My
exclamation was only answered by a smile, and I was consoled
by the assurance that, so far from being neglected, it was every
way probable my breeches might occupy a whole session of the
divan, and set several of the longest heads together by the ears
Flattering as was the idea of a whole nation being agitated
about my breeches, yet I own I was somewhat dismayed at the idea
of remaining in querpo, until all the national grey-beards should
have made a speech on the occasion, and given their consent to
the measure. The embarrassment and distress of mind which I
experienced was visible in my countenance, and my guard, who
is a man of infinite good-nature, immediately suggested, as a
more expeditious plan of supplying my wants, a benefit at the
theatre. Though profoundly ignorant of his meaning, I agreed
to his proposition, the result of which I shall disclose to thee in
another letter.
Fare thee well, dear Asem; in thy pious prayers to our great
prophet, never forget to solicit thy friend's return; and when
thou numberest up the many blessings bestowed on thee by allbountiful Allah, pour forth thy gratitude that he has cast thy
nativity in a land where there is no assembly of legislative chat-.terers; no great bashaw, who bestrides a gunboat for a hobby