* * * * * JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN.--Mr Curran happening to cross-examine one of those persons known in Ireland by the significant description of half-gentlemen, found it necessary to ask a question as to his knowledge of the Irish tongue, which, though perfectly familiar to him, the witness affected not to understand, whilst he at the same time spoke extremely bad English. “I see, sir, how it is: you are more ashamed of knowing your own language than of not knowing any other.” A barrister entered the hall with his wig very much awry, and of which not at all apprised, he was obliged to endure from almost every observer some remark on its appearance, till at last, addressing himself to Mr Curran, he asked him, “Do you see any thing ridiculous in this wig?” The answer instantly was, “_Nothing but the head_.” Bills of indictment had been sent up to a grand jury, in the finding of which Mr Curran was interested. After delay and much hesitation, one of the grand jurors came into court to explain to the judge the grounds and reasons why it was ignored. Mr Curran, very much vexed by the stupidity of this person, said “You, sir, can have no objection to write upon the back of the bill _ignoramus_, for self and fellow-jurors; it will then be a _true_ bill.” Mr Hoare’s countenance was grave and solemn, with an expression like one of those statues of the Brutus head. He seldom smiled; and if he smiled, he smiled in such a sort as seemed to have rebuked the spirit that could smile at all. Mr Curran once observing a beam of joy to enliven his face, remarked, “Whenever I see smiles on Hoare’s countenance, I think they are like tin clasps on an oaken coffin.” * * * * * Printed and published every Saturday by GUNN and CAMERON, at the Office of the General Advertiser, No. 6, Church Lane, College Green, Dublin.--Agents:--R. GROOMBRIDGE, Panyer Alley, Paternoster Row, London; SIMMS and DINHAM, Exchange Street, Manchester; C. DAVIES, North John Street, Liverpool; SLOCOMBE and SIMMS, Leeds; FRASER and CRAWFORD, George Street, Edinburgh; and DAVID ROBERTSON, Trongate, Glasgow. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 35, February 27, 1841, by Various