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and gilt。 The tables； pianos； etc。； were mounted with gold； inlaid with pearl of various hues； and of the most elegant designs。
They were ushered into this gorgeous drawing…room before the Queen and royal circle had left the dining…room； and； as they approached； the General bowed respectfully； and remarked to Her Majesty； 〃that he had seen her before；〃 adding； 〃I think this is a prettier room than the picture gallery； that chandelier is very fine。〃
The Queen smilingly took him by the hand； and said she hoped he was very well。
〃Yes； ma'am；〃 he replied； 〃I am first…rate。〃
〃General；〃 continued the Queen； 〃this is the Prince of Wales。〃
〃How are you； Prince？〃 said the General； shaking him by the hand； and then standing beside the Prince； he remarked； 〃the prince is taller than I am； but I feel as big as anybody；〃 upon which he strutted up and down the room as proud as a peacock； amid shouts of laughter from all present。
The Queen then introduced the Princess Royal； and the General immediately led her to his elegant little sofa； which he took with him； and with much politeness sat down beside her。 Then； rising from his seat； he went through his various performances； and the Queen handed him an elegant and costly souvenir； which had been expressly made for him by her order； for which； he told her； 〃he was very much obliged； and would keep it as long as he lived。〃 The Queen of the Belgians （daughter of Louis Philippe） was present on this occasion。 She asked the General where he was going when he left London。
〃To Paris；〃 he replied。
〃Whom do you expect to see there？〃 she continued。
Of course all expected he would answer； 〃the King of the French；〃 but the little fellow replied。
〃Monsieur Guillaudeu。〃
The two queens looked inquiringly； and when Mr。 Barnum informed them that M。 Guillaudeu was his French naturalist； they laughed most heartily。
On their third visit to Buckingham Palace； Leopold； King of the Belgians； was also present。 He was highly pleased； and asked a multitude of questions。 Queen Victoria desired the General to sing a song； and asked him what song he preferred to sing。
〃Yankee Doodle；〃 was the prompt reply。
This answer was as unexpected to Mr。 Barnum as it was to the royal party。 When the merriment it occasioned had somewhat subsided； the Queen good…humoredly remarked； 〃that is a very pretty song； General； sing it； if you please。〃 The General complied； and soon afterward retired。
The Queen sent to Barnum a handsome fee for each of his visits； but that was only a small part of the benefits which his acquaintance with her brought to him。 Such was the force of Court example that it was now deemed unfashionable； almost disloyal； not to have seen Tom Thumb。 Carriages of the nobility； fifty or sixty at a time； were to be seen at Barnum's door in Piccadilly。 Egyptian Hall was crowded at every exhibition； and the net profits there were on the average more than 500 per day from March 20th to July 20th。 Portraits of the tiny General were for sale everywhere； and were eagerly purchased by thousands。 Musical compositions were dedicated to him； and songs were sung in his honor。 Week after week he was the subject of Punch's wittiest cartoons； and of course all this was just so much free advertising。 Besides his three public performances per day； the little General attended three or four private parties per week； for which they were paid eight to ten guineas each。 Frequently he would visit two parties in the same evening； and the demand in that line was much greater than the supply。 The Queen Dowager Adelaide requested the General's attendance at Marlborough House one afternoon。 He went in his court dress； consisting of a richly embroidered brown silk…velvet coat and short breeches； white satin vest with fancy colored embroidery； white silk stockings and pumps； wig； bagwig； cocked hat； and dress sword。
〃Why； General；〃 said the Queen Dowager； 〃I think you look very smart to…day。〃
〃I guess I do；〃 said the General； complacently。
A large party of the nobility were present。 The old Duke of Cambridge offered the little General a pinch of snuff； which he declined。 The General sang his songs； performed his dances； and cracked his jokes； to the great amusement and delight of the distinguished circle of visitors。
〃Dear little General；〃 said the kind…hearted Queen； taking him upon her lap； 〃I see you have no watch。 Will you permit me to present you with a watch and chain？〃
〃I would like them very much；〃 replied the General； his eyes glistening with joy as he spoke。
〃I will have them made expressly for you；〃 responded the Queen Dowager； and at the same moment she called a friend and desired him to see that the proper order was executed。 A few weeks thereafter they were called again to Marlborough House。 A number of the children of the nobility were present； as well as some of their parents。 After passing a few compliments with the General； Queen Adelaide presented him with a beautiful little gold watch； placing the chain around his neck with her own hands。
This watch； also； served the purpose of an advertisement； and a good one； too。 It was not only duly heralded； but was placed upon a pedestal in the hall of exhibition； together with the presents from Queen Victoria； and covered with a glass vase。 These presents； to which were soon added an elegant gold snuff…box mounted with turquois； presented by his grace the Duke of Devonshire； and many other costly gifts of the nobility and gentry； added to the attraction of the exhibition。
The Duke of Wellington called frequently to see the little General at his public levees。 The first time he called； the General was personating Napoleon Bonaparte； marching up and down the platform； and apparently taking snuff in deep meditation。 He was dressed in the well…known uniform of the Emperor。 Barnum introduced him to the 〃Iron Duke；〃 who inquired the subject of his meditations。 〃I was thinking of the loss of the battle of Waterloo；〃 was the little General's immediate reply。 This display of wit was chronicled throughout the country； and was of itself worth thousands of pounds to the exhibition。
General Tom Thumb had visited the King of Saxony and also Ibrahim Pacha； who was then in London。 At the different parties he attended； he met； in the course of the season； nearly all of the nobility。 Scarcely a nobleman in England failed to see General Tom Thumb at his own house； at the house of a friend； or at the public levees at Egyptian Hall。 The General was a decided pet with some of the first personages in the land； among whom were Sir Robert and Lady Peel； the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham； Duke of Bedford； Duke of Devonshire； Count d'Orsay； Lady Blessington； Daniel O'Connell； Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence； Lord Chesterfield； and many other persons of distinction They had the free entree to all the theatres； public gardens； and places of entertainment； and frequently met the principal artists； editors； poets； and authors of the country。 Albert Smith wrote a play for the General； entitled 〃Hop o' my Thumb；〃 which was presented with great success at the Lyceum Theatre； London； and in several of the provincial theatres。
Thus the London visit and the t