_before_
reviewing it; _it prejudices one so_."

MDCLXIX.--WHITBREAD'S ENTIRE.

ON the approach of the election at Westminster, when Earl Percy was
returned, Mr. Denis O'Brien, the agent of Mr. Sheridan, said, that
"there were thousands in Westminster who would sooner vote for the Duke
of Northumberland's porter, than give their support to a man of talent
and probity, like Mr. Sheridan." Mr. Whitbread, alarmed for the
interests of Mr. S. by the intemperate language of his agent, wished him
to take some public notice of it in the way of censure; but Sheridan
only observed, "that to be sure his friend O'Brien was wrong and
intemperate, as far as related to the Duke of Northumberland's porter;
though he had no doubt there were thousands in Westminster who would
give the preference to Mr. Whitbread's _entire_."

MDCLXX.--A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

A YOUNG spendthrift being apprised that he had given a shilling when
sixpence would have been enough, remarked that "He knew no difference
between a _shilling_ and _sixpence_."--"But you will, young gentleman,"
an old economist replied, "when you come to be _worth eighteen-pence_."

MDCLXXI.--A GRIM JOKE.

DANIEL DEFOE said there was only this difference between the fates of
Charles the First and his son James the Second,--that the former's was a
_wet_ martyrdom, and the other's a _dry one_.

MDCLXXII.--INSURANCE ASSURANCE.

THE collector in a country church, where a brief was read for a sufferer
from fire, flattered himself that he had been unusually successful in
the collection, as he fancied he saw an agent to one of the fire-offices
put a note into the box. On examining the contents, however, he found
that the note had not issued from any bank, but merely bore these
admonitory words, "Let them _insure_, as they wish to be saved."

MDCLXXIII.--GENUINE LAZINESS.

A YOUNG farmer, inspecting his father's concerns in the time of
hay-harvest, found a body of the mowers asleep, when they should have
been at work. "What is this?" cried the youth; "why, me, you are so
indolent, that I would give a crown to know which is the most lazy of
you."--"I am he," cried the one nearest to him, still stretching himself
at his ease. "Here then" said the youth, holding out the money. "O,
Master George," said the fellow, folding his arms, "do pray take the
trouble of _putting it into my pocket_ for me."

MDCLXXIV.--CUTTING.

A CO