Comparative Virtue
A SHOPKEEPER at Doncaster had for his virtues obtained the name of the
little rascal. A stranger asked him why this appellation had been
given to him. To distinguish me from the rest of my trade, quoth he,
who are all great rascals.
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City Love
IN making love let poor men sigh, But love that's ready-made is better For men of business;--so I, If madam will be cruel, let her. But should she wish that I should wait And miss the 'Change,--oh no, I thank her, ... Classical Wit
DR. MAGINN dining with a friend on ham and chicken, addressed Sukey Boyle, his friend's housekeeper, thus: You know, Boyle, what old Ovid, in his 'Art of Love' (book iii.), says; I give you the same wish:-- 'Semper tibi pendeat hamus,' May ... Claw And Claw
LORD ERSKINE and Dr. Parr, who were both remarkably conceited, were in the habit of conversing together, and complimenting each other on their respective abilities. On one of these occasions, Parr promised that he would write Erskine's epitaph; to w... Clear The Court
AN Irish crier at Ballinasloe being ordered to clear the court, did so by this announcement: Now, then, all ye blackguards that isn't lawyers, must lave the coort. DLI--SCOTCH CAUTION. AN old shoemaker in Glasgow was sitting by the be... Clearing Emigrants
AN Irish gentleman, resident in Canada, was desirous to persuade his sons to work as backwoodsmen, instead of drinking champagne at something more than a dollar a bottle. Whenever this old gentleman saw his sons so engaged he used to exclaim, Ah, my... Clerical Wit
AN old gentleman of eighty-four having taken to the altar a young damsel of about sixteen, the clergyman said to him, The font is at the other end of the church.--What do I want with the font? said the old gentleman. Oh! I beg your pardon, said the ... Clerk Of Assize: What Have You To Say Why Judgment Should Not
be passed upon you according to law? Prisoner: Well, my Lord, my wife took up with a hawker, and run away five years ago, and I've never seen her since, and I married this other woman last winter. Mr. Justice Maule: I will tell you what you ought to h... Cold Comfort
A JURYMAN, kept several days at his own expense, sent a friend to the judge to complain that he had been paid nothing for his attendance. O, tell him, said the witty judge, that if ever he should have to go before a jury himself he will get one for ... Coleridge And Thelwall
THELWALL and Coleridge were sitting once in a beautiful recess in the Quantock Hills, when the latter said, Citizen John, this is a fine place to talk treason in!--Nay, Citizen Samuel, replied he; It is rather a place to make a man forget that there... Colonial Breweries
WHAT two ideas are more inseparable than Beer and Britannia? what event more awfully important to an English colony, than the erection of its first brewhouse?--S.S. ... Come Of Age
A YOUNG man met a rival who was somewhat advanced in years, and, wishing to annoy him, inquired how old he was? I can't exactly tell, replied the other; but I can inform you that an ass is older at twenty than a man at sixty! ... Come Said I
Give me a pen, it is but fair You take my note. Quoth he, Hold there; Jack! to the cash I've bid adieu;-- No need to waste my paper too. ... Common Politeness
TWO gentlemen having a difference, one went to the other's door and wrote Scoundrel! upon it. The other called upon his neighbor, and was answered by a servant that his master was not at home. No matter, was the reply; I only wished to return his vi... Comparative Virtue
A SHOPKEEPER at Doncaster had for his virtues obtained the name of the little rascal. A stranger asked him why this appellation had been given to him. To distinguish me from the rest of my trade, quoth he, who are all great rascals. ... Comparisons Are Odious
LORD CHANCELLOR HARDWICK'S bailiff, having been ordered by his lady to procure a sow of a particular description, came one day into the dining-room when full of company, proclaiming with a burst of joy he could not suppress, I have been at Royston f... Complimentary
LORD NORTH, who was very corpulent before a severe sickness, said to his physician after it, Sir, I am obliged to you for introducing me to some old acquaintances.--Who are they, my lord?--My ribs, replied his lordship, which I have not felt for man... Complimentary
A GENTLEMAN dining at an hotel, was annoyed by a stupid waiter continually coming hovering round the table, and desired him to retire. Excuse me, sir, said Napkin, drawing himself up, but I'm responsible for the silver. ... Computation
AN Irish counsellor having lost his cause, which had been tried before three judges, one of whom was esteemed a very able lawyer, and the other two but indifferent, some of the other barristers were very merry on the occasion. Well, now, says he, I ... Con-cider-ate
LORD BOTTETOT, in passing through Gloucester, soon after the cider tax, in which he was very unpopular, observing himself burning in effigy, he stopped his coach, and giving a purse of guineas to the mob, said, Pray, gentlemen, if you will burn me, ... Conceited But Not Seated
SEVERAL ex-members are announced as about to stand at the ensuing elections, and indeed it is probable many will have to do so after them, ... Concurrent Events
A YOUNG fellow, very confident in his abilities, lamented one day that he had lost all his Greek. I believe it happened at the same time, sir, said Dr. Johnson, that I lost all my large estate in Yorkshire. ... Conditional Agreement
DR. A----, when dangerously ill at an hotel, was applied to by the landlord to pass his bill. The doctor, observing that all the charges were very high, wrote at the bottom of the account, If I die, I pass this account; if I live, I'll examine it. ... Confidence
WHY, said a country clergyman to one of his flock, do you always sleep in your pew when I am in the pulpit, while you are all attention to every stranger I invite?--Because, sir, was the reply, when you preach I'm sure all's right, but I can't trust... Confidence
THE first time Jerrold saw a celebrated song-writer, the latter said to him:-- Youngster, have you sufficient confidence in me to lend me a guinea? Jerrold.--O yes; I've all the confidence, but I have n't the guinea. ... Confidencetaken From The French
ON the first night of the representation of one of Jerrold's pieces, a successful adaptator from the French rallied him on his nervousness. I, said the adaptator, never feel nervous on the first night of my pieces.--Ah, my boy, Jerrold replied, you ... Congratulation To One Who Curled His Hair
I'm very glad, to E--b--h said His brother exquisite, Macassar Draper, That 'tis the outer product of your head, And not the inner, you commit to paper! ...