[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gerard Hallock, Esq. – 2-4
Editorials – 4-5
The Lounger – 6-7
The Destruction of the Crystal Palace – 8-11
Pekin, the Capital of China – 11-14
The Poisoned Meal (continued from our last number) – 14-16
The Kiss – 16
Bird-Catching Extraordinary – 16-17
Cable Charms – 17
Darned Stockings – 17-18
The Button – 18-19
The Three Poets – 19
The Paraguay Expedition – 19-20
Chess Chronicle – 21
Cousin John – 21-22

Broadway Sketches – 23
Country Sketches – 24
The Pugilistic Revival – 25

[BroJoeK]

"The Paraguay Expedition – 19-20"

I scanned the impressive list of US Navy ships sent on a, ah, diplomatic mission to Paraguay and noticed one very familiar, Harriet Lane named after President Buchanan's niece (acting First Lady) and here called a "steamer of war".
She was USRC Harriet Lane, Captain John A. Faunce, commander.
Harriet Lane was recognized for her service in the Paraguay Expedition and, I suspect, will have a very renowned future (no spoilers here ;-) ).

By the way, we should take a moment to notice President Buchanan's "war fleet" to Paraguay, sent with obvious aggressive intentions, served it's purpose of bringing Paraguan authorities to the negotiating table and produced a highly favorable diplomatic outcome.

Question: what do you suppose might be the outcome if, hypothetically, let's say the next president after Buchanan were to send a similar, ah... "war fleet" to, oh, I don't know, maybe... Charleston harbor, SC??
Would such a "war fleet", including USRC Harriet Lane, produce a similar happy outcome?

The Panama Expedition, USRC Harriet Lane on the right: