The Adventures of My Cousin Smooth

A series of comic sketches follows a boastful but naive provincial named Mr. Smooth as he pursues political advancement and misadventures at home and abroad. Episodes carry him through the bustle of the national capital, awkward audiences, domestic dinners, a chaotic White House kitchen, transatlantic encounters in London and Ostend, and an ill-fitting role on international commissions. Through slapstick mishaps, exaggerated manners, and pointed irony, the narrative satirizes patronage, American self-confidence, diplomatic pretensions, and social ambition while alternating travel anecdotes with reflections on national character.