Most ViewedGrace After DinnerA Dog's Religion His Duel With Captain D'esterre The Upstart His Birth Wisdom A Certificate Of Marriage The Serenading Lover A Mistaken Frenchman A Courtier's Retort Least ViewedHis BirthRefusal Of Office His First Client Scene Between Fitzgibbon And Curran In The Irish Parliament O'leary Versus Curran Dr Sacheverell Mr Pulteney His Defence Of Archibald Hamilton Rowan His Duel With Bully Egan Epistolary Bores Random Irish HumourThe PiesPublic Absurdities In Ireland O'leary And John O'keefe Curran At A Debating Society Roger Cox The Closing Scenes Of His Life Lord Avonmore Short Charity Sermon His Birth A Fop |
His Triumph Over Dr JohnsonIrish Humour HomeO'Leary told us of a whimsical triumph which he once enjoyed over the celebrated Dr. Johnson. O'Leary was very anxious to be introduced to that learned man, and Mr. Arthur Murphy took him one morning to the doctor's lodgings. On his entering the room, the doctor viewed him from top to toe, without taking any notice of him; and, at length, darting one of his sourest looks at him, he spoke to him in the Hebrew language, to which O'Leary made no reply. 'Why do you not answer me, sir?' 'Faith, sir,' said O'Leary, 'because I don't understand the language in which you are addressing me.' Upon this, the doctor, with a contemptuous sneer, said to Murphy, 'Why, sir, this is a pretty fellow you have brought hither. Sir, he does not comprehend the primitive language.' O'Leary immediately bowed very low, and complimented the doctor in a long speech in Irish, to which the doctor, not understanding a word, made no reply, but looked at Murphy. O'Leary, seeing the doctor was puzzled at hearing a language of which he was ignorant, said to Murphy, pointing to the doctor, 'This is a pretty fellow to whom you have brought me. Sir, he does not understand the language of the sister kingdom.' The reverend padre then made another low bow, and quitted the room. Next: A Nolle Prosequi Previous: O'leary Versus Curran
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