We were dining with a gentleman who had overpartaken of his own hospitality.

Mr.Murat Halstead was of the company.

There was also a German of distinction, whose knowledge of English was limited.

The Rip Van Winkle craze was at its height.

After sufficiently impressing the German with the rare opportunity he was having in meeting a man so famous as Mr.Jefferson, our host, encouraged by Mr.Halstead, and I am afraid not discouraged by me, began to urge Mr.Jefferson to give us, as he said, "a touch of his mettle," and failing to draw the great comedian out he undertook himself to give a few descriptive passages from the drama which was carrying the town by storm.