Arriving at the office, he found the consul had left
for his hotel, and would not return until four o'clock. As he passed
the post-office, a knot of men stood in front of it, apparantly in
anxious discussion. Feeling that their conversation might be
interesting to him, or have some connection with his case, he walked
slowly back, and as he approached them, observed that the
conversation had become more excited. The principals were Mr.
Grimshaw, and a factor on the bay, deeply interested in shipping.
"A man acting in your capacity," said the factor, "should never make
use of such expressions-never give encouragement to mob law. It's
not only disgraceful to any city, but ruinous to its interests.
Officials never should set or encourage the example. Want of order
is already in the ascendant, and if the populace is to be led on to
riot by the officials, what check have we? God save us from the
direful effects!"
"Well, perhaps I went too far," said Mr. Grimshaw, "for I think as
much of the name of our fair city as you do. But we ought to teach
him that he can't pursue this open, bold, and daring course,
endangering our institutions, because he's consul for Great Britain.
I would, at all events, treat him as we did the Yankee HOAR from
Massachusetts, and let the invitation be given outside of official
character, to save the name; then, if he did not move off, I'd go
for serving him as they did the Spanish consul, in New Orleans.
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