Of all the essays of Elia, the paper on "Roast Pig" is perhaps the most read, the most quoted, the most admired. 'T is even better, says an epicurean friend of mine, than the "crisp, tawny, well-watched, not over-roasted crackling" it descants upon so eloquently. Certainly Lamb never writes so richly and so delightfully as when he discourses of the dainties and delicacies of the table. Though all our readers are doubtlessly familiar with Elia's beautiful little article entitled "Thoughts on Presents of Game," very few of them have read the letter he wrote in acknowledgment of a present of a pig from a farmer and his wife. 'T is a rare bit, a choice morsel of Lamb's best and most delicious humor, and will be perused with great pleasure and satisfaction by all admirers of its witty and eccentric author. Here it is. TO A FARMER AND HIS WIFE. _Twelfth Day, 1823._ The pig was above my feeble praise. It was a dear pigmy. There was some contention as to who should have the ears; but, in spite of his obstinacy, (deaf as these little creatures are to advice,) I contrived to get at one of them. It came in boots, too, which I took as a favor. Generally these pretty toes--pretty toes!--are missing; but I suppose he wore them to look taller. He must have been the least of his race. His little foots would have gone into the silver slipper. I take him to have been a Chinese and a female. If Evelyn could have seen him, he would never have farrowed two such prodigious volumes; seeing how much good can be contained in--how small a compass! He crackled delicately. I left a blank at the top of my letter, not being determined which to address it to: so farmer and farmer's wife will please to divide our thanks. May your granaries be full, and your rats empty, and your chickens plump, and your envious neighbors lean, and your laborers busy, and you as idle and as happy as the day is long! VIVE L'AGRICULTURE! How do you make your pigs so little? They are vastly engaging at the age: I was so myself. Now I am a disagreeable old hog, A middle-aged gentleman-and-a-half. My faculties, thank God, are not much impaired! I have my sight, hearing, taste, pretty perfect; and can read the Lord's Prayer in common type, by the help of a candle, without making many mistakes. Believe me, that, while my faculties last, I shall ever cherish a proper appreciation of your many kindnesses in this way, and that the last lingering relish of past favors upon my dying memory will be the smack of that little ear. It was the left ear, which is lucky. Many happy returns,--not of the pig, but of the New Year, to both! Mary, for her share of the pig and the memoirs, desires to send the same. Yours truly, C. LAMB. FOOTNOTES: