gravely, “Here, madam, take this shilling; go to the next toy-shop, buy a skipping rope, and use it every day it will do you more good than all my prescriptions."

GARRICK'S DIAMOND CROSS.-The late Mrs. Garrick was so struck with the acting of Kean that as a token of her estimation of his talents she presented him with a favourite diamond cross, left by the English Roscius to be sold on the death of Mrs. Garrick, with other personalities, the produce of which was directed by his will to be distributed among certain of his relations. It having been ascertained by the executors that in this cross she had but a life-interest, and could not in consequence dispose of it, they determined to get it back, and for this purpose applied to Mr. Kean, who, aware of their intentions, avoided the applicants by every means in his power, and for some time secluded himself in private lodgings. On being at length found, and on expressing a strong desire to retain possession of the cross, the executors consented to its being valued, and the amount thereof deducted from the legacy left at the disposal of Mrs. Garrick.

*

SINGULAR HUMANITY.-The following was posted up in the county of Kent, in the year 1821.-" Notice is hereby given that the Marquess of Camden, (on account of the backwardness of the harvest), will not shoot himself nor any of his tenants till the 14th of September."

T LORD CHESTERFIELD.-When Miss Chudleigh, afterwards Duchess of Kingston, once met Lord Chesterfield in the rooms at Bath, they in a tête-à-tête conversation began to talk of the company present, and the lady was very communicative in her narrative of things said of Lady Caroline, Miss Languishes, &c. &c. and concluded by remarking “ yet much of this may be scandal; for do you know, my lord, that since I

was lately confined to my chamber by illness, they have spread an infamous report of my being brought to bed of twins ?"—" (), , my dear lady, do not be uneasy," replied the peer; for my part I have long made it a rule to believe but half that the town says."

EFFECTS OF FRIGHT.-We have heard of many instances wherein fright, it is said, has produced very strange effects upon the human system. The following account we give upon the authority of a highlyrespectable medical gentleman resident in London. At the time of the funeral of his late Royal Highness the Duke of York a gentleman well known for his antiquarian researches, whose name we withhold, descended into the royal cemetery at Windsor, after the interment had taken place, and busily engaged himself in copying inscriptions from various coffins. While thus engaged, and absorbed in thought, he heard the door of the cemetery close with an appalling sound: the taper fell from his hand, and he remained petrified by the knowledge of his awful situation, entombed with the dead. He had not power to pick up the taper, which was soon extinguished by the noisome damp, and he imagined that the cemetery would not be re-opened until another royal interment should take place; and that thus he must soon, from the effects of famine, be numbered with the dead. He swooned, and remained insensible for some time. At length recovering himself, he rose upon his knees, placed his hands upon a mouldering coffin, and, to use his own words, "felt strength to pray." A recollection then darted across his mind, that he had heard the workmen say that about noon they should revisit the cemetery and take away some plumes, &c. which they left there. This somewhat calmed his spirits. Soon after 12 o'clock he heard the doors turn upon their grating hinges: he called for assistance, and was soon conveyed to the regions, of day. His clothes were damp, aud a horrible

dew hung upon his hair, which in the course of a few hours turned from dark black to grey, and soon after to white. The pain which he felt in the scapula during the period of his incarceration, he described to be dreadful. This is, perhaps, the best authenticated account upon record of a man's hair turning grey from fright.

THE LATE LORD VISCOUNT SACKVILLE.-This nobleman was not more distinguished for his abilities than for his amiable disposition. Of this his domestics felt the comfort, living with him rather as humble friends than as menial servants. His lordship one day entering his house in Pall Mall, observed a large basket of vegetables standing in the hall, and inquired of the porter to whom they belonged, and from whence they came? Old John immediately replied, "They are ours, my lord, from our country-house." "Very well," rejoined the peer. At that instant a carriage stopped at the door, and Lord George, turning round, asked what coach it was. "Ours," said honest John. "And are the children in it ours too?" said his lordship, laughing. "Most certainly, my lord," replied John, with the utmost gravity, and immediately ran to lift them out.

COURTSHIP AND MATRIMONY.-It is remarkable that there should be such a plentiful harvest of courtship before marriage, and generally such a famine afterwards. Courtship is a fine bowling-green road, all galloping ground; and sweethearting a sunshine holiday in summertime; but when once through matrimony's turnpike the weather becomes wintry. Courtship is matrimony's running footman, but seldom stays to see the stocking thrown, and what is worse, generally carries away with it those two grand preservatives of matrimonial happiness-delicacy and gratitude. The husband is often seized with a cold aguish disorder, to which the faculty give the name of indifference

and there is a disaster fatal to the honey-moon, which the ladies are sometimes seized with, and which the College of Physicians term the sullens. This distemper arises from some ill-conditioned speech with which the lady thinks she has been hurt; so leaning her elbow upon the table, her cheek upon the palm of her hand, her eyes earnestly fixed upon the fire, whilst her feet are beating ta-too time; the husband in the meantime biting his lips, pulling down his wristbands, and looking at his wife like the devil. At last he abruptly demands of her

What is the matter with you, madam ?—To which she replies— [n—nothing.

-N

And this quarrel first arose as they sat at breakfast, on the lady very innocently observing that the tea was made of the Thames water. The husband, piqued to think that the dignity of his taste was called in question, in not being able to make the discovery first, answered— Pugh! he was sure the tea-kettle was filled out of the New River.

GOUT.-A Frenchman being troubled with the gout was asked what difference there was between that and the rheumatism :-" One very great difference," replied Monsieur: " suppose you take one vice, you put your finger in, you turn de screw till you can bear him no longer— dat is de rheumatism-den 'spose you give him one turn moredat is de gout."

ANECDOTE, WIT, HUMOUR, GAIETY, AND GENIUS.

105

BIRDS OF PASSAGE.—A worthy citizen of Milk-street left his books, counting-house, and smoke of London, to sojourn a little week with his friend in Hampshire. He amused himself with his gun, and brought down a brace of birds; these he dispatched by the Telegraph to his friend H. in Bishopsgate-street, who sent them to the dry-salter in Bucklersbury; the dry-salter sent them to his friend Dr. D. in Soho ; the doctor wishing to be well with his patient, sent them to the rich Jew merchant in Finsbury; hence they passed to Finchley, the countryseat of a certain East India Director, back again to the city; twice they travelled from north to south of London, thrice they intersected the city from east to west; Hammersmith and Hendon, Tottenham and Tyburn; they visited the wards of Candlewick, Dowgate, Farringdon, and Portsoken. The money paid for carriage, porterage, and donations on account of these birds of passage, would have furnished a feast for an alderman. At length, when the honest citizen returned to Milk-street, the first object that met his eyes, and saluted his nose, were the identical two birds which he had shot a week before, just then brought home as a present from Mr. Deputy L. of Queenhithe !

ECONOMY IN THE NAVY.-Of Lord Collingwood's economy at all times of the ship's stores an instance was often mentioned in the navy as having occurred at the battle of St. Vincent. The Excellent,