A Doubtful Creed
JUDGE MAULE, in summing up a case of libel, and speaking of a defendant
who had exhibited a spiteful piety, observed, One of these defendants,
Mr. Blank, is, it seems, a minister of religion--of what religion does
not appear, but, to judge by his conduct, it cannot be any form of
Christianity. Severe.
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A Dear Speaker
SOON after the Irish members were admitted into the House of Commons, on the union of the kingdom in 1801, one of them, in the middle of his maiden speech, thus addressed the chair: And now, my dear Mr. Speaker, etc. This excited loud laughter. As s... A Deserved Retort
A SPENDTHRIFT, who had nearly wasted all his patrimony, seeing an acquaintance in a coat not of the newest cut, told him that he thought it had been his great-grandfather's coat. So it was, said the gentleman, and I have also my great-grandfather's ... A Dialogue
Pope. SINCE my old friend is grown so great, As to be minister of state, I'm told (but 'tis not true I hope) That Craggs will be ashamed of Pope. Craggs. ALAS! if I am such a creature, To grow the worse for ... A Difference
JERROLD one day met a Scotch gentleman, whose name was Leitch, and who explained that he was not the popular caricaturist, John Leech. I'm aware of that; you're the Scotchman with the i-t-c-h in your name, said Jerrold. ... A Difficult Task
YOU have only yourself to please, said a married friend to an old bachelor. True, replied he, but you cannot tell what a difficult task I find it. ... A Dilemma
WHILST a country parson was preaching, the chief of his parishioners sitting near the pulpit was fast asleep: whereupon he said, Now, beloved friends, I am in a great strait; for if I speak too softly, those at the farther end of the church cannot h... A Disappointing Subscriber
TO all letters soliciting subscriptions, Lord Erskine had a regular form of reply, namely: Sir, I feel much honored by your application to me, and beg to subscribe (here the reader had to turn over leaf) Myself, your very obedient servant, etc. ... A Distant Friend
MEETING a negro on the road, a traveller said, You have lost some of your friends, I see?--Yes, massa.--Was it a near or a distant relative?--Well, purty distant,--'bout twenty-four mile, was the reply. ... A Distant Prospect
THROUGH an avenue of trees, at the back of Trinity College, a church may be seen at a considerable distance, the approach to which affords no very pleasing scenery. Porson, walking that way with a friend, and observing the church, remarked, That it ... A Distressful Denouement
MR. MOORE having been long under a prosecution in Doctors' Commons, his proctor called on him one day whilst he was composing the tragedy of The Gamester. The proctor having sat down, he read him four acts of the piece, being all he had written; by ... A Dogged Answer
BOSWELL, dining one day with Dr. Johnson, asked him if he did not think that a good cook was more essential to the community than a good poet. I don't suppose, said the doctor, that there's a dog in the town but what thinks so. ... A Double Knock
ON Dr. K----'s promotion to the bishopric of Down, an appointment in some quarters unpopular, Archbishop Whately observed, The Irish government will not be able to stand many more such Knocks Down as this! ... A Double Times
A HUGE, double-sheeted copy of the Times newspaper was put into the hands of a member of the Union Club by one of the waiters. Oh, what a bore all this is, said the member, surveying the gigantic journal. Ah, answered another member, who overheard h... A Doubtful Compliment
THE speeches made by P---- are sound, It cannot be denied; Granted; and then it will be found, They're little else beside. ... A Doubtful Creed
JUDGE MAULE, in summing up a case of libel, and speaking of a defendant who had exhibited a spiteful piety, observed, One of these defendants, Mr. Blank, is, it seems, a minister of religion--of what religion does not appear, but, to judge by his co... A Dreadful Suspicion
A GENTLEMAN leaving the company, somebody who sat next to Dr. Johnson asked who he was. I cannot exactly tell you sir, replied the doctor, and I should be loath to speak ill of any person whom I do not know deserves it, but I am afraid he is an atto... A Drop
DEAN SWIFT was one day in company, when the conversation fell upon the antiquity of the family. The lady of the house expatiated a little too freely on her descent, observing that her ancestors' names began with De, and, of course, of antique French... A Dry Fellow
WELL, Will, said an Earl one day to Will Speir, seeing the latter finishing his dinner, have you had a good dinner to-day? (Will had been grumbling some time before.) Ou, vera gude, answered Will; but gin anybody asks if I got a dram after 't, what ... A Dull Man
LORD BYRON knew a dull man who lived on a bon mot of Moore's for a week; and his lordship once offered a wager of a considerable sum that the reciter was guiltless of understanding its point; but he could get no one to accept the bet. ... A Dutiful Daughter
THE father of Mrs. Siddons had always forbidden her to marry an actor, and of course she chose a member of the old gentleman's company, whom she secretly wedded. When Roger Kemble heard of it he was furious. Have I not, he exclaimed, dared you to ma... A Fair Distribution
WHEN the British ships under Lord Nelson were bearing down to attack the combined fleet off Trafalgar, the first lieutenant of the Revenge, on going round to see that all hands were at quarters, observed one of the men,--an Irishman,--devoutly kneel... A Fair Proposal
WHY don't you take off your hat? said Lord F---- to a boy struggling with a calf. So I wull, sir, replied the lad; if your lordship will hold my calf, I'll pull off my hat. ... A Fair Repulse
AT the time of the threatened invasion, the laird of Logan had been taunted at a meeting at Ayr with want of a loyal spirit at Cumnock, as at that place no volunteer corps had been raised to meet the coming danger; Cumnock, it should be recollected,... A Fair Substitute
WHEN Lord Sandwich was to present Admiral Campbell, he told him, that probably the king would knight him. The admiral did not much relish the honor. Well, but, said Lord S., perhaps Mrs. Campbell will like it.--Then let the king knight her, answered... A Fall In Mitres
ONE of the wooden mitres, carved by Grinly Gibbons over a prebend's stall in the cathedral church of Canterbury, happening to become loose, Jessy White, the surveyor of that edifice, inquired of the dean whether he should make it fast: For, perhaps,... A False Face True
THAT there is falsehood in his looks I must and will deny; They say their master is a knave: And sure they do not lie. ... A Familiar Friend
SYDNEY SMITH was annoyed one evening by the familiarity of a young gentleman, who, though a comparative stranger, was encouraged by Smith's jocular reputation to address him by his surname alone. Hearing the young man say that he was going that even... A Familiar Illustration
A MEDICAL student under examination, being asked the different effects of heat and cold, replied: Heat expands and cold contracts.--Quite right; can you give me an example?--Yes, sir, in summer, which is hot, the days are longer; but in winter, whic...