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.

328 SALMAGUNDI.
treaty-at the anniversary of any grand national era, or at the
gaining of that splendid victory of the tongue-an election.
Nay, so far do they carry it, that certain days are set apart
when the guzzlers, the gormandizers, and the wine bibbers meet
together to celebrate a grand indigestion, in memory of some
great event; and every man, in the zeal of patriotism, gets devoutly drunk-" as the act directs." Then, my friend, mayest
thou behold the sublime spectacle of love of country, elevating
itself from a sentiment into an appetite, whetted to the quick
with the cheering prospect of tables loaded with the fat things of
the land. On this occasion every man is anxious to fall to work,
cram himself in honor of the day, and risk a surfeit in the glorious cause. Some, I have been told, actually fast for four-andtwenty hours preceding, that they may be enabled to do greater
honor to the feast; and, certainly, if eating and drinking are
patriotic rites, he who eats and drinks most, and proves himself
the greatest glutton, is, undoubtedly, the most distinguished patriot. Such, at any rate, seems to be the opinion here; and
they act up to it so rigidly, that by the time it is dark, every
kennel in the neighborhood teems with illustrious members of
the sovereign people, wallowing in their congenial element of
mud and mire.
These patriotic feasts, or rather national monuments, are patronized and promoted by certain inferior cadis, called ALDERMEN, who are commonly complimented with their direction.
These dignitaries, as far as I can learn, are generally appointed
on account of their great talents for eating, a qualification peculiarly necessary in the discharge of their official duties. They
hold frequent meetings at taverns and hotels, where they enter
into solemn consultations for the benefit of lobsters and turtles;
establish wholesome regulations for the safety and preservation