Calm in the perusal of the morning papers, uncompromising in the signature of his name, dignified in his replies to the inquiries of stranger applicants, deferential in his behaviour to his superiors, majestic in his deportment to the messengers.

(Cheers.) When he bears this merited testimony to the excellent qualities of his friend Dobble, what can he say in approaching such a subject as Mrs.Dobble?
Is it requisite for him to expatiate on the qualities of that amiable woman?
No; he will spare his friend Dobble's feelings; he will spare the feelings of his friend--if he will allow him to have the honour of calling him so--Mr.Dobble, junior.

(Here Mr.Dobble, junior, who has been previously distending his mouth to a considerable width, by thrusting a particularly fine orange into that feature, suspends operations, and assumes a proper appearance of intense melancholy).

He will simply say--and he is quite certain it is a sentiment in which all who hear him will readily concur--that his friend Dobble is as superior to any man he ever knew, as Mrs.Dobble is far beyond any woman he ever saw (except her daughters); and he will conclude by proposing their worthy 'Host and Hostess, and may they live to enjoy many more new years!' The toast is drunk with acclamation; Dobble returns thanks, and the whole party rejoin the ladies in the drawing-room.

Young men who were too bashful to dance before supper, find tongues and partners; the musicians exhibit unequivocal symptoms of having drunk the new year in, while the company were out; and dancing is kept up, until far in the first morning of the new year.
We have scarcely written the last word of the previous sentence, when the first stroke of twelve, peals from the neighbouring churches.