937. Dr. Busby, whose figure was beneath the common size, was one day
accosted in a public coffee-room, by an Irish baronet of colossal
stature, with, May I pass to my seat, O Giant? When the doctor, politely
making way, replied, Pass, O Pigmy! Oh, sir, said the baronet, my
expression alluded to the size of your intellect. And my expression,
sir, said the doctor, to the size of your’s.
938. An apothecary, who used to value himself on his knowledge of drugs,
asserted that all bitter things were hot. No, said a gentleman present,
there is one of a very different quality―a bitter cold day.
939. Philip, Earl Stanhope, whose dress always corresponded with the
simplicity of his manners, was once prevented from going into the House
of Peers by a door-keeper who was unacquainted with his person. Lord
Stanhope was resolved to get into the house without explaining who he
was; and the door-keeper, equally determined on his part, said to him,
Honest man, you have no business here; honest man, you can have no
business in this place. I believe, rejoined his lordship, you are right;
honest men have no business here.
940. When the late King of Denmark was in England, he very frequently
honoured Sir Thomas Robinson with his company, though the knight spoke
French in a very imperfect manner, and the king had scarce any knowledge
of English. One day, when Sir Thomas was in company with the late Lord
Chesterfield, and boasted much of his intimacy with the king, and added,
that he believed the monarch had a greater friendship for him than any
man in England, How report lies, exclaimed Lord Chesterfield; I heard no
later than this day, that you never met but a great deal of bad language
passed between you.
941. One of the most flattering and ingenious compliments Frederick ever
paid, was that which he addressed to the celebrated General Laudohn, at
the time of his interview with the emperor at the camp of Neiss. After
they had discoursed for about an hour, the two monarchs sat down to
dinner, with the princes and general officers in their train. Marshal
Laudohn, who had been invited among the rest, was about to seat himself
at the bottom of the table, but the king bade him come and sit by him,
saying, Come here, General Laudohn; I have always wished to see you on
my side, instead of fronting me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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