Lord North Asleep
HIS Lordship was accustomed to sleep during the Parliamentary harangues
of his adversaries, leaving Sir Grey Cooper to note down anything
remarkable. During a debate on ship-building, some tedious speaker
entered on an historical detail, in which, commencing with Noah's Ark,
he traced the progress of the art regularly down-wards. When he came to
build the Spanish Armada, Sir Grey inadvertently awoke the slumbering
premier, who inquired at what era the honorable gentleman had arrived.
Being answered, We are now in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Dear Sir
Grey, said he, why not let me sleep a century or two more?