8. CHAP. VIII.
OUR Chevalier was now at his wits
end; not being able to conceive of
any other place of amusement, in which
Teague might be found; when all at
once it came into his head, (led to it,
perhaps, from the reference, in his late
conversation, to the Indian tribes,) that
probably he might have fallen in with the
Indian treaty-man, and have been prevailed
upon to personate a chief. It appeared
to him therefore adviseable to go
directly to the secretary at war, to know
if any party of Indians had been lately
there to negociate a treaty.
Being introduced, and after some ceremony,
accosting the secretary, he gave
him to understand why it was that he had
the honour to wait upon him, viz. that he
had a servant of the name of Teague O'Regan,
an Irishman, who had been absent
some days, and that from a circumstance
which happened in the way to the city, he
had reason to suspect, he might have been
picked up by a certain Indian treaty-man,
to supply the place of a Welch blacksmith,
who had died, and had passed for a chief
of the Kickapoos.
The secretary was a good deal chagrined,
believing the Captain to be some wag that
had come to make this enquiry by way of
burlesque on the Indian treaties; and
with some irritation of mind, gave him
to understand, that there had been no Indian
treaty-man, or Kickapoo chief there;
that no treaty had been held with the Indians
for above a month past, since the
king of the Togamogans had drawn goods;
but treaty or no treaty, it ill became him
in the appearance of a gentleman, to throw
a burlesque upon government, by insinuating
that his Irishman could be imposed
upon them for a chief.
I mean no burlesque, said the Captain,
a little irritated in his turn; I have had too
much trouble to keep him from the Indian
treaty-man that was coming here, to be
disposed to jest with so serious an affair.
The hair-breadth escape of going to Congress,
or being licenced as a preacher, or
being chosen as a member of the philosophical
society, was nothing to this, as it
was so difficult to guard against it, the Indian
recruiters imitating savages, not only
in their dress and painting, but in the dexterity
to way-lay and surprise.
I wish youto know, sir, said the secretary,
that I comprehend your burlesque very
well. But though you and others may
misrepresent our policy in the Indian treaties,
it is base irony and ridicule to insinuate
that the Indians we treat with, are
not chiefs.
Chiefs, or no chiefs, said the Capain, I
am not saying, nor care; but only wish to
know if you have been instituting any
treaty with my Teague, who has been absent
some days.
I will be much obliged to you to withdraw
from my office, said the secretary.
I shall withdraw, said the Captain; and
not with that respect for your understanding
and politeness, which I could have
wished to entertain. I have addressed you
with civility; and I was entitled to a civil
answer; but I see the “insolence of office,”
is well enumerated, by the poet, amongst
the evils that make us sick of life. Your
humble servant Monsieur Secretary; I shall
trouble you no further.
