en rue.

CDLXIX.--INDEPENDENCE.

JEMMY GORDON, the Cambridge eccentric, when he happened to be without
shoes or stockings, one day came in contact with a person of very
indifferent character. The gentleman, pitying his condition, told him,
if he called at his house, he would give him a pair of shoes. "Excuse
me, sir," replied Jemmy, assuming a contemptuous air, "I would not stand
in _your shoes_ for all the world!"

CDLXX.--ON PRIDE.

FITSMALL, who drinks with knights and lords,
To steal a share of notoriety,
Will tell you in important words,
He _mixes_ in the best society.

CDLXXI.--BLACK LETTER.

AN old friend of Charles Lamb having been in vain trying to make out a
black-letter text of Chaucer in the Temple Library, laid down the
precious volume, and with an erudite look told Lamb that "in those old
books, Charley, there is sometimes a deal of very _indifferent
spelling_."

CDLXXII.--A HIATUS.

"DID you not on going down find a _party_ in your kitchen?" asked an
underbred barrister of a witness. "A _tea-party_, Mr. ----?" mildly
interposed Judge Maule.

CDLXXIII.--A REASONABLE REQUEST.

AN officer advising his general to capture a post, said: "It will only
cost a few men."--"Will _you_ make one of the few?" remarked the
general.

CDLXXIV.--A STRIKING POINT.

WHEN Mr. Gulley, the ex-pugilist, was elected Member for Pontefract,
Gilbert A'Beckett said: "Should any opposition be manifested in the
House of Commons towards Mr. Gulley, it is very probable the _noes_
(_nose_) will have it."

CDLXXV.--VERY PRETTY.

ONE day, just as an English officer had arrived at Vienna, the empress
knowing that he had seen a certain princess much celebrated for her
beauty, asked him if it was really true that she was the most beautiful
woman he had ever seen. "I thought so _yesterday_," he replied.

CDLXXVI.--AN ODD BIRD.

A LATE Duke of Norfolk had a fancy for owls, of which he kept several.
He called one, from the resemblance to the Chancellor, Lord Thurlow. The
duke's solicitor was once in conversation with his grace, when, to his
surprise, the owl-keeper came up and said, "Please you, my lord, Lord
Thurlow's _laid an egg_."

CDLXXVII.--INQUESTS EXTRAORDINARY.

FOUND dead, a rat--no case could sure be harder;
Verdict--Confined a week in Eldon's larder.
Died, Sir Charles Wetherall's laundres