_Ques._ Who gave you this name? _Ans._ My Sureties to the Ministry in my political charge, wherein I was made a member of the majority, the child of corruption, and a locust to devour the good things of this kingdom. The supplications in his Litany were of the following kind-- "O Prince! ruler of thy people, have mercy upon us thy miserable subjects." Some of Gillray's caricatures would not now be tolerated, such as that representing Hoche ascending to Heaven surrounded by Seraphim and Cherubim--grotesque figures with red nightcaps and tri-coloured cockades having books before them containing the Marseillaise hymn. In another Pitt was going to heaven in the form of Elijah, and letting his mantle drop on the King's Ministers. It must be admitted that there is often a great difficulty in deciding whether the intention was to ridicule the original writing or the subject treated in the Parody. A variety of circumstances may tend to determine the question on one side or the other, but regard should especially be had as to whether any imperfection in the original is pointed out. The fault may be only in form, but in the best travesties the sense and subject are also ridiculed, and with justice. Such was the aim in the celebrated "Rejected Addresses," and it was well carried out. This work now exhibits the ephemeral character of humour, for, the originals having fallen into obscurity, the imitations afford no amusement. But we can still appreciate a few, especially the two respectively commencing:-- "My brother Jack was nine in May, And I was eight on New Year's day; So in Kate Wilson's shop, Papa, (he's my papa and Jack's,) Bought me, last week, a doll of wax, And brother Jack a top."... And-- "O why should our dull retrospective addresses, Fall damp as wet blankets on Drury Lane fire? Away with blue devils, away with distresses, And give the gay spirit to sparkling desire. "Let artists decide on the beauties of Drury, The richest to me is when woman is there; The question of houses I leave to the jury; The fairest to me is the house of the fair." The point in these will be recognised at once, as Wordsworth and Moore are still well known. CHAPTER XIV. Theodore Hook--Improvisatore Talent--Poetry--Sydney Smith--The "Dun Cow"--Thomas Hood--Gin--Tylney Hall--John Trot--Barbara's Legends.