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it him in public。 I engaged him for four weeks； at three dollars a week； with all traveling and boarding charges for himself and his mother at my expense。 They came to New York Thanksgiving day； December 8th； 1842； and I announced the dwarf on my Museum bills as 'General Tom Thumb。' 〃
Barnum took the greatest pains to educate and train the diminutive prodigy； devoting many hours to the task by day and by night； and he was very successful； for the boy was an apt pupil； with a great deal of native talent； and a keen sense of the ludicrous。 Barnum afterward re…engaged him for one year； at seven dollars a week with a gratuity of fifty dollars at the end of the engagement； and the privilege of exhibiting him anywhere in the United States； in which event his parents were to accompany him and Barnum was to pay all traveling expenses。 He speedily became a public favorite； and long before the year was out； Barnum voluntarily increased his weekly salary to twenty…five dollars； and he fairly earned it。
For two years Barnum had been the owner of the Museum。 He had enjoyed great prosperity。 Long ago he had paid every dollar of the purchase…money out of the profits of the place。 All rivals had been driven from the field。 He was out of debt； and had a handsome balance in the bank。 The experimental stage was passed； and the enterprise was an established success。 It was； indeed； in such perfect order that Barnum felt safe in leaving it to his lieutenants； while he went forth to seek new realms of conquest。 Accordingly he made an agreement for General Tom Thumb's services for another year； at fifty dollars a week and all expenses； with the privilege of exhibiting him in Europe。 He proposed to test the curiosity of men and women on the other side of the Atlantic。
After arranging his business affairs for a long absence； and making every preparation for an extended foreign tour； on Thursday； January 18th； 1844； he went on board the new and fine sailing ship 〃Yorkshire；〃 Captain D。 G。 Bailey； bound for Liverpool。 The party included General Tom Thumb； his parents； his tutor； and Professor Guillaudeu； a French naturalist。 They were accompanied by several personal friends； and the City Brass Band kindly volunteered to escort them to Sandy Hook。
They were met at Liverpool by a large crowd of sight…seers； who had been attracted thither by the fame of 〃Tom Thumb。〃 The curiosity of the populace was not gratified； however； for Barnum had the child smuggled ashore unseen； under his mother's shawl。
〃My letters of introduction；〃 said the showman； many excellent families； and I was induced to hire a hall and present the General to the public； for a short season in Liverpool。 I had intended to proceed directly to London； and begin operations at 'headquarters；' that is； in Buckingham Palace； if possible； but I had been advised that the royal family was in mourning for the death of Prince Albert's father； and would not permit the approach of any entertainments。 Meanwhile； confidential letters from London informed me that Mr。 Maddox； Manager of Princess's Theatre； was coming down to witness my exhibition； with a view to making an engagement。 He came privately； but I was fully informed as to his presence and object。 A friend pointed him out to me in the hall； and when I stepped up to him； and called him by name； he was 'taken all aback；' and avowed his purpose in visiting Liverpool。 An interview resulted in an engagement of the General for three nights at Princess's Theatre。 I was unwilling to contract for a longer period； and even this short engagement； though on liberal terms； was acceded to only as a means of advertisement。 So soon； therefore； as I could bring my short； but highly successful； season in Liverpool to a close； we went to London。〃
CHAPTER XI。 TOM THUMB IN LONDON。
AN ARISTOCRATIC VISITORCALLING AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND HOB…NOBBING WITH ROYALTYGETTING A PUFF IN THE 〃COURT CIRCULAR〃 THE IRON DUKEA GREAT SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS。
The first public appearance of Tom Thumb in London occurred soon after the arrival of the party there； at the Princess's Theatre。 A short engagement only had been made； but it was exceedingly successful。 The spectators were delighted； the manager overjoyed； and Barnum himself pleased beyond measure。 This brief engagement answered his purpose； in arousing public interest and curiosity。 That was all the shrewd showman wanted for the present。 Accordingly； when the manager of the theatre urged a renewal of the engagement； at a much higher price； Barnum positively declined it。 He had secured the desired advertising； now he would exhibit on his own account and in his own way。
He therefore took a splendid mansion in Grafton Street； Bond Street； in the fashionable and aristocratic West End of London。 Lord Talbot had lived in it； and Lord Brougham lived close by。 It was an audacious stroke for the Yankee showman to invade this select and exclusive region； but it was successful。 In response to his invitations members of the nobility came eagerly flocking to the house to see the wonderful child。 Barnum showed himself as exclusive as any of them； for he gave orders to his servants that no callers were to be received who did not present cards of invitation。 This procedure he afterward explained； was entirely proper。 He had not yet announced himself as a public showman。 He was simply an American citizen visiting London； and it was incumbent upon him to maintain the dignity of his position！ His servants； of course； exercised proper tact； and no offense was given； although many of the nobility and gentry； who drove to his door in carriages adorned with crests and coats of arms； were thus turned away。
Among the early callers was the Hon。 Edward Everett； the American minister to England。 He was much pleased with Mr。 Barnum and his tiny ward； and had them dine with him the next day。 He also promised that they should； if possible； be received by the Queen at Buckingham Palace。
A few evenings afterward the Baroness Rothschild sent her carriage for them。 They were received by a half a dozen servants； and were ushered up a broad flight of marble stairs to the drawing…room； where they met the Baroness and a party of twenty or more ladies and gentlemen。 In this sumptuous mansion of the richest banker in the world； they spent about two hours； and when they took their leave a well…filled purse was quietly slipped into Mr。 Barnum's hand。 The golden shower had begun to fall。
Mr。 Barnum now thought the time ripe for beginning his public exhibitions。 He engaged Egyptian Hall； Piccadilly； and announced that Tom Thumb was to be seen there。 The rush of visitors was tremendous。 The aristocracy of London thronged the hall night after night； and a phenomenal success was assured。 Barnum did not look beyond such work。 True； Everett had spoken of an audience with the Queen； but Barnum had no idea that it would ever be granted。 One day； however； he met Mr。 Murray； Master of the Queen's Household； at Everett's at breakfast； and that gentleman asked him what were his plans for the future。 Barnum replied that he expected presently to go to the Continent； but he would most gladly stay in London if he could get the favor of an audi