WHEN Patrick Henry, who gave the first impulse to the ball of the American Revolution, introduced his celebrated resolution on the Stamp Act into the House of Burgesses of Virginia (May, 1765), he exclaimed, when descanting on the tyranny of the obnoxious Act, "Caesar had his Brutus; Charles I. his Cromwell; and George III...."--"Treason!" cried the speaker; "treason, treason!" echoed from every part of the house. It was one of those trying moments which are decisive of character. Henry faltered not for an instant; but rising to a loftier attitude, and fixing on the speaker an eye flashing with fire, continued, "_may profit by their example_. If this be treason, make the most of it." DCCCIV.--ROGERS--POET AND SKIPPER. ROGERS used to say that a man who attempts to read all the new publications must often do as the flea does--_skip_. DCCCV.--OUR ENGLISH LOVE OF DINNERS. "IF an earthquake were to engulf England to-morrow," said Jerrold, "the English would manage to meet and dine somewhere among the rubbish, just to celebrate the event." DCCCVI.--EPIGRAM. WHEN by a jury one is tried, Twelve of _his equals_ are implied; Then W---- might attempt in vain, This sacred privilege to obtain. Since human nature ne'er on earth Gave to _twelve equal_ scoundrels birth. DCCCVII.--REFORMATION. JUDGE BURNET, son of the famous Bishop of Salisbury, when young, is said to have been of a wild and dissipated turn. Being one day found by the Bishop in a very serious humor, "What is the matter with you, Tom?" said he, "what are you ruminating on?"--"A greater work than your lordship's History of the Reformation," answered the son. "Ay! what is that?" said the Bishop. "The _reformation of myself_, my lord," answered the son. DCCCVIII.--THE JEST OF ANCESTRY. LORD CHESTERFIELD placed among the portraits of his ancestors two old heads, inscribed Adam de Stanhope, and Eve de Stanhope: the ridicule is admirable. Old Peter Leneve, the herald, who thought ridicule consisted in not being of an old family, made this epitaph for young Craggs, whose father had been a footman: _Here lies the last who died before the first of his family!_ Old Craggs was one day getting into a coach with Arthur Moore, who had worn a livery too, when he turned about, and said, "Why, Arthur, I am always going to get up behind; are not you?" The Gordons trace their name no farther back than the days of Alexander the Great, from Gordonia, a city of Macedon, which, they say, once formed part of Alexander's dominions, and, from thence, no doubt, the clan must have come! DCCCIX.--EQUAL TO NOTHING. ON being informed that the judges in the Court of Common Pleas had little or nothing to do, Bushe remarked, "Well, well, they're _equal to it_!" DCCCX.--FAMILIARITY.