order to prevent its being known to any one except themselves, who the contributors were. The only exception to this engagement of secresy, was a respectable baronet, who was deputed to learn from a friend of the minister's, in what manner the token of esteem and gratitude (as it was expressed) could be presented most acceptably to Mr. Pitt. Highly flattering as the offer was, and seasonable as the act would have been, the friend applied to entertained doubts of Mr. Pitt accepting the proffered bounty, and therefore thought it right to apprize him of the intention. This occasioned a long discussion on the subject, which ended in Mr. Pitt expressing a positive and fixed determination to decline the acceptance of this liberal and generous offer; a determination that nothing could shake; for when it was urged that it never could be known to him who the subscribers were, and that they were men whose fortunes put them out of all probability of ever soliciting the smallest favour from him, his reply was, "that if he should, at any future time of his life, return to office, he should never see a gentleman from the city without its occurring to him that he might be one of his subscribers." This positive determination was communicated to the baronet before alluded to, which put an end to the measure and in a few days after, Mr. Pitt, in conversing about his future plans, remarked, that had he lost his situation in the ministry, he had taken a fixed resolution to return to the bar, and to apply unremittingly to that profession, in order to extricate himself from his difficulties, and to secure, as far as he should be able, the means of future independence.

SWIFT.-The dean was both fond of conversing with the Irish common people and of amusing himself with their credulity. One day he observed a great rabble assembled before the deanery door, and was told they had met to see an eclipse. He sent for the beadle of

the town, and told him what to do. Away ran Davy for his bell, and after ringing it some time, bawled out, "O yes! O yes! all manner of persons concerned take notice that it is the dean's pleasure to put off the eclipse till this hour to-morrow. So God save the king and the dean!" The mob, excepting a few, immediately dispersed; but those few swore they would not lose another afternoon, for that the dean, who was a very comical man, might take it into his head to put off the eclipse again, and so make fools of them a second time.

WHAT IS MORNING?" Morning," said Captain Grose, “like noon and evening, has very different meanings in the mouths of different persons in different places. I once received an appointment to wait upon a noble lord the next morning. For want of duly considering his lordship's rank and amusements, I went at ten o'clock; but after knocking full half an hour, was convinced by a slip-shod and gaping footman that morning would not commence in that house till some hours after the sun had passed the meridian.—On a similar appointment from a Welsh 'squire, I was at his door punctually at eight, having been told he was an early man; but judge my surprise when his servant informed me his master went out in the morning. On inquiry I found morning in that house did not reach later than seven o'clock."

Wir.-Dryden's description of wit is excellent,-He says,

"A thousand different shapes wit wears,
Comely in thousand shapes appears,

'Tis not a tale, 'tis not a jest,

Admir'd with laughter at a feast;

Nor florid talk, which can this title gain,

The proofs of wit for ever must remain."