At a trial about an engraving, where several distinguished artists were summoned to give evidence, Lord (then Mr.) Erskine, after flourishing away, made an attempt to puzzle Mr. Stothard, by drawing two angles on a piece of paper, an acute and an obtuse one, and asking, “Do you mean to say these two are alike?” “Yes, I do,” was the answer. “I see,” said Erskine, turning round, “there is nothing to be got by _angling_ here.” SMART REPARTEE. A officer in the army being entertained at a gentleman’s table while he was in Scotland, happened to commend very highly a dish of fish. A rigid parson of the kirk, looking upon him as a reprobate for being pleased with his dinner, said, “While you pamper the flesh, sir, I hope you do not starve the inward man; the soul is not fed at the mouth, and you ought not to lust after the food that perisheth.” The officer was somewhat surprised at this sermon in miniature; but perceiving that his monitor was, like Sir John Falstaff, hugely waisted, he replied, with a smile, fixing his eyes full upon the preacher’s protuberant paunch, “I will be admonished by your example, for I see plainly by your tabernacle, that your food does not perish.” He then proceeded to exercise his knife and fork with additional vigour, as the plump kirkman encouraged him by his _actions_ not to pay any regard to his words. FASHIONABLE DINNER HOUR. Some one remarking that the dinner hour was always getting later and later, “Aye,” quoth Sam Rogers, “It will soon end in our not dining till to-morrow.” THE INFERNAL MACHINE. The infernal machine exploded in the streets of Paris after Bonaparte’s carriage had passed, but before Josephine’s came up; which being the subject of conversation in a miscellaneous company in England, some one asked what they were talking of. “Nothing material,” answered a wit; “only a _blow up_ between the First Consul and his wife.” LORD THURLOW. Lord Thurlow, Lord Chancellor of England, was one of the sternest, and, at the same time, most tempestuous men that ever lived. A mace-bearer, who had attended him for years in awful silence, one day thought he perceived something like a bright streak of good humour enter the lurid horizon of his lordship’s face, and ventured to simper out, “My lord, there is a fine day.” “Damn you and the day too!” thundered out the black-browed chancellor. CONJECTURAL KNOWLEDGE. The following brief, but pithy dialogue, occurred on the Epsom road, between a Cockney and a countryman:-- _Cockney._ I say, Bill, my good fellow, vich is the way to Epsom. _Countryman._ How did you know that my name was Bill? _Cockney._ Vy, I guessed it. _Countryman._ But how do you know that I was a good fellow? _Cockney._ Vy, I guessed it. _Countryman._ Then, guess the way to Epsom. JAMES THE SECOND’S SINGLE GOOD THING.