This o'er, if Fortune prove your friend, you may you may guess, will be your lot tomorrow. [Baynes, a Charterhouse Boy.] CCLVII. THE IRISH FOOTMAN. An Irishman, who had carried some game to his Master's friend, waited some time for a present on the occasion. At last he scratched his head, and said to the Gentleman, "Sir, if my Master asks me what the gentleman gave me for myself, what would your honour like me to say ?" CCLVIII. BARBARISM. A parish clerk, finding fault with something written by a barber, told him it was a downright barbarism (barber-ism). CCLIX. WAIST. A witness confessed having insulted a decent female by putting his arm round her waist. Curran, the Barrister, replied: "I presume you mistook the waist (waste) for a common." CCLX. THE LANDLORD AND TENANT. A landlord told his tenant that he meant to raise his rent. "I am glad of it, Sir," said the tenant, "for I cannot raise it myself." CCLXI. PASSING SENTENCE. A judge sentenced a culprit to be flogged from one end of the street to the other. "Thank you, my Lord" hastily replied the criminal. "Stop," said the Judge, "and back again." CCLXII. A DUEL PREVENTED. A duel was on the point of being fought, when an empty hearse passed by. "Stop a minute," said one of the parties to the driver," and I'll send you a fare." The joke prevented the duel from taking place.' CCLXIII. ADMIRAL DUNCAN. Admiral Duncan, when about to engage De Winter, exhorted his men to keep up a good fire, as a severe Winter was approaching. CCLXIV. BOILEAU. A wretched poet, having read to Boileau a poem in which the letter G did not occur, asked him how it might be further improved. Boileau replied " If all the other letters were taken out of it." CCLXV. THE BROTHERS. An Irishman, meeting a friend, asked him whether it was he or his brother who had died lately. CCLXVI. SoWING AND REAPING. Two impertinent young fellows called out to a farmer who was sowing seed in his field, "Well done, old fellow, you sow, we reap the fruit." "May be you will" said the former, "for I'm sowing hemp." CCLXVII. HARES. A sportsman said he had shot 33 hares before breakfast. "Zounds sir," said a wit, "you must have been firing at a wig." CCLXVIII. SHAKING HANDS. Two gentlemen were on the point of fighting a duel, when one of the seconds proposed that they should shake hands. "Nay," said the other second, "that is quite unnecessary, as the hands of both have been shaking this last half-hour." CCLXIX. Insanity. THE FLEET, Jan. 8, 1838. W. H. CLARK informed me that GEO. IV asked Sir Henry Halford what particular fancies the old gentleman, his father, now had? Sir Henry said that he did not like to mention the prevailing one. The PRINCE begged him do so, when SIR HENRY said θατ έ φανσιεδ ἷς πηνις α ραδδισ ανδ ωας αλωους σκραπινγ ιτ. SCIPIO CLINT, the Sculptor, told to him that a gentleman dined with a medical man, not aware that the other gentlemen at the table were insane and under his management; the medical man observed one of then, who sat next to the stranger, conceal a knife under the table, and suspecting his intentions, immediately flung a mutton-chop into his face; the stranger did not comprehend the meaning of this movement, which his host afterwards explained to him; he told to him that they were insane patients of his,-that he had observed one of them secrete a knife, and suspecting that he meant mischief, flung the meat into his face to shew that he was observed— that he had asked the individual how he could think of meditating mischief against the stranger, when he said that he would stick a knife into every person, who came to table with so tight a belly. CCLXX. Snow. THE FLEET, Jan. 21, 1838. The ground is covered with frost and snow; yesterday was very fine; MAXON talking to GILES, said that it might be called a golden day,-nay, said GILES, you should say, silver,-nay then, replied MAXON, it must be silver-gilt, CCLXXI. Ireland the leaper. THE FLEBT-PRISON, Jan. 28, 1838. MR CHAMBERS says that Ducrow was groom to Ireland the leaper. Among the earliest ex : hibitions of his art was this; he was something of a botanist, and used to get talking to the gardener at Castle-Howard; one day the gardener perceived the Earl of Carlisle approach who was very particular he gave a hint to Ireland, who determined to make short work of his retreat, and so jumped across the adjacent canal; his Lordship perceived the movement, was astonished at the jump, inquired who he was, requested him to jump back again, and put up a stone with an inscription to commemorate the fact. He was 8 months in the Fleet, and was at all manner of tricks, gave out once that he should make a very extraordinary exhibition, erected a tent for the purpose, collected numerous shilling subscriptions; at length every thing was arranged, and the wonder was developed, viz. two tailor's Bills with receipts annexed. Inexhaustible laughter ensued, the shillings collected were dispersed on the poor side; at that time several persons were in the Fleet on account of tailor's Bills. On one occasion of leaping he broke two or three of his ribs, but shored them up on the spot, and continued leaping. The Duke of York was so astonished at his conduct, that he handed to him a £50 Note. He used to leap lengthways over a chaise or carriage: the General, who was inside on the fatal occasion, popped his head out of the carriage at the critical moment, which distracted Ireland's attention; he leaped on the spikes at the back, was three years in dying, is buried at Epping. His sister would take extraordinary leaps and jumps with weighty articles on her head. The son was also a great leaper. CCLXXII. LETTER FROM THEODORE HOOK CONCERNING THE DEVIL'S WALK. (Private) Sir Athenæum, Saturday, I am much obliged by your communication and much inte |