Goldsmith was hugely delighted with Whitefoord’s ‘lucky inventions’ when they first became popular in 1766. ‘He declared, in the heat of his admiration of them, it would have given him more pleasure to have been the author of them than of all the works he had ever published of his own’ (Northcote’s _Life of Reynolds_, 2nd ed., 1819, i. 217). What is perhaps more remarkable is, that Johnson spoke of Whitefoord’s performances as ‘ingenious and diverting’ (Birkbeck Hill’s _Boswell_, 1887, iv. 322); and Horace Walpole laughed over them till he cried (Letter to Montagu, December 12, 1766). To use Voltaire’s witticism, he is _bien heureux_ who can laugh now. It may be added that Whitefoord did not, as he claimed, originate the ‘Cross Readings.’ They had been anticipated in No. 49 of Harrison’s spurious _Tatler_, vol. v [1720]. The fashion of the ‘Ship-News’ was in this wise: ‘August 25 [1765]. We hear that his Majestys Ship _Newcastle_ will soon have a new figurehead, the old one being almost worn out.’ The ‘Mistakes of the Press’ explain themselves. (See also Smith’s _Life of Nollekens_, 1828, i. 336–7; Debrett’s _New Foundling Hospital for Wit_, 1784, vol. ii, and _Gentleman’s Magazine_, 1810, p. 300.) That a Scot may have humour, I had almost said wit. Goldsmith,—if he wrote these verses,—must have forgotten that he had already credited Whitefoord with ‘wit’ in l. 153. Thou best humour’d man with the worst humour’d muse. Cf. Rochester of Lord Buckhurst, afterwards Earl of Dorset:— The best good man, with the worst-natur’d muse. Whitefoord’s contribution to the epitaphs on Goldsmith is said to have been unusually severe,—so severe that four only of its eight lines are quoted in the _ Whitefoord Papers_, 1898, the rest being ‘unfit for publication’ (p. xxvii). He afterwards addressed a metrical apology to Sir Joshua, which is printed at pp. 217–8 of Northcote’s _ Life_, 2nd ed., 1819. See also Forster’s _ Goldsmith_, 1871, ii. 408–9. SONG FOR ‘SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.’ Boswell, to whom we are indebted for the preservation of this lively song, sent it to _The London Magazine_ for June, 1774 (vol. xliii, p. 295), with the following:— ‘To the Editor of _The London Magazine_.