Faithful below he did his duty, And now he's gone aloft.” The Iris or the Sheffield Advertiser, April 20, 1824. XII. ANTHONY HENLEY. Convenient courage. The Peer congra "A certain Earl, having beaten Anthony Henley at Tunbridge, for some impertinence, the next day found Henley beating another person. tulated Henley on that acquisition of spirit. replied Henley, 'your lordship and I know 'Oh, my Lord!' whom to beat.' The Times, June 12, 1824. XIII. GEORGE III. "A curious occurrence took place at Plymouth during the royal visit to that Dock-yard in the year 1787. At this time the great North dock was constructing by Mr Parlby, the architect, by whom the docks and public buildings at that place and at Portsmouth were erected under the direction of the Navy-Board. The good old King, (George III,) always interested and inquisitive in the affairs of his Navy, discovered, by the plans laid before him, that the Builder was exceeding the dimensions given him, and inquired the reason of this deviation from his instructions. Mr Parlby informed his Majesty that the French were then building at Toulon a first-rate ship, so large, that not one of his Majesty's docks was capable of admitting her. He, therefore, considered it necessary to enlarge this one a little, that the Commerce de Marseilles might have one dock in England fit to receive her.' This so pleased his Majesty that he immediately called the Queen to let her know what Mr Parlby had told him, and both were highly delighted. It will be scarcely less gratifying to the English reader, than it was to Mr Parlby, to learn that the first Ship ever taken into that dock was this very Commerce de Marseilles, becoming ours at the surrender of Toulon in 1794. Ekins's Naval Battles." The Iris or the Sheffield-Advertiser, June 22, 1824. XIV. Verses on love. "A gentleman, paying a visit one morning, was shewn into a room, where on a writing desk was paper, on which a lady had begun to transcribe a song from the Opera of Love in a village. Remarking that she had left off at the end of the two following lines In love should there meet a fond pair, Untutor'd by fashion or art He took up a pen and completed the verse by adding, If on earth such a couple there are, I'll be whipt at the tail of a cart." The Courier, June 24, 1821. XV. WILKES. "There was in Wilkes's time a worthy person, who had risen from the useful, but unpolished business of a bricklayer to be lord Mayor of London. Among other of his early habits the civil dignitary retained that of eating every thing with his fingers. One day a choice bit of turbot having repeatedly escaped from his lordly grasp, Wilkes, who witnessed the dilemma, whispered, "My lord, you had better take your trowel to it." The Courier, July 1, 1824. XVI. BALAAM'S ASS. "Sometime ago, as a Lady of the Fortescue-family, who possessed great personal charms, was walking along a narrow lane, she perceived just behind her a hawker of earthenware driving an ass with two panniers laden with his stock in trade. To give the animal and his master room to pass, the lady suddenly started aside, which so frightened the poor animal, that he ran away, but had not proceeded far, when he unfortunately fell, and a great part of the crockery was broken to pieces. The Lady in her turn became alarmed, lest, when she came up to the man, he should load her with abuse, if not offer to insult her; but, to her surprise, when she arrived at the spot, the man with great good humour, gallantry, and wit exclaimed, Never mind, Madam, Balaam's ass was frightened by an Angel.” The Times, Aug. 24,'24. XVII. " THE RETORT. The Marquess del Carpio, a grandee of Spain, in giving the holy water to a Lady, who presented him, according to Lord Byron's Sardanapalus, 'her lank bird-like right hand,' ornamented with a fine diamond, said, loud enough to be heard, 'I had rather have the ring than the hand.' The Lady, taking him instantly by the golden collar of his Order, said, ‹ And I the halter rather than the Ass."" The Observer, Aug. 29,'24. XVIII. FooTE. A noble duke, who was much addicted to the bottle, on a masquerade-night asked Foote, with whom he was intimate, 'What new character he should go in ?''Go sober,' said Foote." The Times, Sept. 8, 1824. XIX. GENERAL MINA. "We have much pleaure in stating that General Mina is completely recovered from the indisposition, with which he was afflicted, when he arrived in this Country. He has had the advantage during that time of the skill and attentions of Sir Astley Cooper and Dr Gaitskell, who have both, in the handsomest manner, refused to accept any remuneration." The Times, Sept. 20, 1824. XX. Anecdote of a Welsh Judge. "A Welsh Judge, celebrated as a suitor for all sorts of places, and his neglect of personal cleanliness, was thus addressed by MR JEKYLL,- As you have asked the Ministers for every thing else, why have you never asked them for a piece of soap, and a nail-brush ?'” The Times, Oct 2, 1824. XXI. LORD ELDON AND JEKYLL. It was the practice of Lord Eldon to pronounce the word lien, lion; Sir Arthur Pigott always pronounced it lean. JeKYLL jocosely wrote the following lines, Sir Arthur, Sir Arthur, pray what do you mean By saying the Chancellor's LION is LEAN? Sir Arthur, Sir Arthur, what mean you by that? Is there nought in the Chancellor's kitchen can FAT? XXII. "AN EPITAPH : A little Spirit slumbers here, Oh, he was more than life or light, Its thoughts by day-its dream by night! To deck thy dear and consecrated ground; The Iris or the Sheffield Advertiser, Oct. 5, 1824. XXIII. SHERIDAN. "The late R. B. Sheridan being once on a Parliamentary Committee, happened to enter the room, when most of the Members were present and seated, though business had not yet commenced; when perceiving that there was not another seat in the room, he with his usual readiness said, 'Will any gentleman move that I may take the chair?" The Courier, Oct. 11, 1824. XXIV. MISS RANDLES. "Her late Majesty, Queen Caroline, then Princess of Wales, took great interest in the welfare of the celebrated little minstrel, Miss Randles: she was invited to pass a few days at Blackheath, where she was introduced to the Princess Charlotte, who became very much attached to her. One day, while amus ing themselves in some innocent pastime, the Princess Charlotte said to Miss Randles:- Do you know that my Grandfather is King of England, and my Father Prince of Wales?' 'Well,' quickly replied Bessy, and my Father is Organist of Wrexham.' Dictionary of Musicians." The Times, Oct. 30, 1824. XXV. Anecdote of a little girl. A little girl about ten years of age, was on her first arrival at the school kept by the Miss Hintons at Hayes in Middlesex, asked by some of the young ladies what her father was? She with great pomposity replied, 'My father is Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's and my uncle is Plenipotentiary at Madrid.' XXVI. Curran. "Mr. Curran being asked, 'What an Irish Gentleman, just arrived in England, could mean by perpetually putting out his tongue,' answered, 'I suppose he is trying to catch the English accent.' The Sunday-Times, April 24, 1825. XXVII. LORD BYRON'S LINES, FOUND IN HIS BIBLE. The mystery of mysteries. Oh! happiest they of human race, The Sunday Times, April 24, 1825. "They are not much like his Lordship's composition either in sentiment or diction, but they are worth preserving." The Iris or the Sheffield Advertiser, May 12, 1825. XXVIII. “MR CURRAN AND FATHER O'LEARY. One day Mr Curran said to Father O'Leary the well |