We are forming an aristocracy, as you may observe, in this country,not a gratiâ-Dei, nor a jure-divino one,but a de-facto upper stratum of being, which floats over the turbid waves of common life as the iridescent film you may have seen spreading over the water about our wharves,very splendid, though its origin may have been tar, tallow, train-oil, or other such unctuous commodities.

No power cheered our bravely won independence, by diplomatic recognition; not even the United States, though they always professed their principle to be that they recognise every de-facto government.