The Attaché; or, Sam Slick in England — Volume 01 by Haliburton, Thomas Chandler, 1796-1865

This etext was produced by Gardner Buchanan.

THE ATTACHE; OR, SAM SLICK IN ENGLAND.

BY THOMAS CHANDLER HALIBURTON.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

(Greek Text)--GREEK PROVERB.

Tell you what, report my speeches if you like, but if you put my talk in, I'll give you the mitten, as sure as you are born.--SLICKVILLE TRANSLATION

London, July 3rd, 1843.

MY DEAR HOPKINSON,

I have spent so many agreeable hours at Edgeworth heretofore, that my first visit on leaving London, will be to your hospitable mansion. In the meantime, I beg leave to introduce to you my "Attache," who will precede me several days. His politics are similar to your own; I wish I could say as much in favour of his humour. His eccentricities will stand in need of your indulgence; but if you can overlook these, I am not without hopes that his originality, quaint sayings, and queer views of things in England, will afford you some amusement. At all events, I feel assured you will receive him kindly; if not for his own merits, at least for the sake of

Yours always,

THE AUTHOR.

To EDMUND HOPKINSON ESQ. Edgeworth, Gloucestershire.

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

CHAPTER I. UNCORKING A BOTTLE CHAPTER II. A JUICY DAY IN THE COUNTRY CHAPTER III. TYING A NIGHT-CAP CHAPTER IV. HOME AND THE SEA CHAPTER V. T'OTHER EEND OF THE GUN CHAPTER VI. SMALL POTATOES AND FEW IN A HILL CHAPTER VII. A GENTLEMAN AT LARGE CHAPTER VIII. SEEING LIVERPOOL CHAPTER IX. CHANGING A NAME CHAPTER X. THE NELSON MONUMENT CHAPTER XI. COTTAGES CHAPTER XII. STEALING THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE CHAPTER XIII. NATUR' CHAPTER XIV. THE SOCDOLAGER CHAPTER XV. DINING OUT

THE ATTACHE; OR SAM SLICK IN ENGLAND.

CHAPTER I.

UNCORKING A BOTTLE.

We left New York in the afternoon of -- day of May, 184-, and embarked on board of the good Packet ship "Tyler" for England. Our party consisted of the Reverend Mr. Hopewell, Samuel Slick, Esq., myself, and Jube Japan, a black servant of the Attache.

I love brevity--I am a man of few words, and, therefore, constitutionally economical of them; but brevity is apt to degenerate into obscurity. Writing a book, however, and book-making, are two very different things: "spinning a yarn" is mechanical, and book-making savours of trade, and is the employment of a manufacturer. The author by profession, weaves his web by the piece, and as there is much competition in this branch of trade, extends it over the greatest possible surface, so as to make the most of his raw material. Hence every work of fancy is made to reach to three volumes, otherwise it will not pay, and a manufacture that does not requite the cost of production, invariably and inevitably terminates in bankruptcy. A thought, therefore, like a pound of cotton, must be well spun out to be valuable. It is very contemptuous to say of a man, that he has but one idea, but it is the highest meed of praise that can be bestowed on a book. A man, who writes thus, can write for ever.