English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various Sources — John Shaqi
English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various SourcesVarious
General
English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various Sources
Various
Anecdotes -- England; English wit and humor
When the Earl of Clancarty was captain of a man-of-war, and was
cruising off the coast of Guinea, he happened to lose his chaplain,
who was carried off by a fever; on which the lieutenant, who was a
Scotchman, gave him notice of it, saying at the same time, “that he was
sorry to inform him he had died a Roman Catholic.” “Well, so much the
better,” said his lordship. “Hout awa, my lord; how can you say so of a
British clergyman?” “Why,” said his lordship, “because I believe I am
the first captain of a man-of-war that could boast of having a chaplain
_who had any religion at all_.”
A SCOTCH MOON.
An English lady was on a visit to a friend in Edinburgh, who was at
great pains to point out to her all the delightful prospects of that
romantic city. The stranger, assuming an air of consequence, generally
answered, “’Tis very well for a _Scotch view_!” One delightful evening,
walking along Queen Street, while the autumnal moon shone with uncommon
lustre, her friend could not help expressing her admiration of the
resplendent orb of night, when the Cockey remarked, “’Tis pretty well
for a _Scotch moon_!”
NEW MEANING OF THE WORD REMONSTRATE.
A worthy farmer in the north of England was once waited upon by a
tax-gatherer, who claimed taxes which had been already paid. The
receipt had been mislaid, and the farmer could not on the instant
produce it. The man of taxes became very abusive; and the farmer, in
his own phrase, _remonstrated_ with him. “Well, and to what effect did
you remonstrate with him?” asked a friend, who heard the story from
the farmer’s own mouth. “I don’t know,” was the reply; “but I know the
poker was bent, and I had to get a hammer to straighten it again.”
A BRIDLE FOR THE TONGUE.
A young nobleman, full of the follies of youth and the vanities of
his rank, was rattling away at a great rate one morning at the Smyrna
coffee-house. He, in particular, took great pains to let the company
know of what consequence he was abroad, by the number of valuable
presents made him at the several courts of Europe: “For instance, now,”
says he, “I have got a _bridle_ given me by the King of France, so
exceeding rich and elegant, that upon my soul, I do not know what use
to make of it.” “A _bridle_! my lord,” says an old gentleman, who sat
in the corner. “Yes, sir,” says his lordship. “Why, then, I think the
best use you can make of that is, _to put it about your tongue_.”
LORD HOLLAND AND THE CHAIRMEN.
The late Lord Holland (who was, perhaps, the fattest man of his height
in England), and his brother Charles, coming out of the Thatched-house
one night together, a chair was called for the former, who, altering
his mind, agreed to go home in his brother’s carriage, which was in
waiting: the chairmen, however, being disappointed, he gave them a
shilling. “Long life to your lordship,” says Paddy; “sixpence more to
the poor chairmen.” “What!” says he, “have I not given you your full
fare?” “O, yes, your lordship; but _consider the fright_.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account