WHILST inspecting a farm in a pauperized district, an enterprising agriculturist could not help noticing the slow, drawling motions of one of the laborers there, and said, "My man, you do not sweat at that work."--"Why, no, master," was the reply, "_seven shillings_ a week isn't _sweating_ wages." MLXXVII.--ON MR. GULLY BEING RETURNED M.P. FOR PONTEFRACT. STRANGE is it, proud Pontefract's borough should sully Its fame by returning to parliament Gully. The etymological cause, I suppose, is His breaking the bridges of so many noses. MLXXVIII.--WRITING FOR THE STAGE. PEOPLE would be astonished if they were aware of the cart-loads of trash which are annually offered to the director of a London theatre. The very first manuscript (says George Colman) which was proposed to me for representation, on my undertaking theatrical management, was from a nautical gentleman, on a nautical subject; the piece was of a tragic description, and in five acts; during the principal scenes of which the hero of the drama declaimed from the _main-mast_ of a man-of-war, without once descending from his position! A tragedy was offered to Mr. Macready, or Mr. Webster, in _thirty_ acts. The subject was the history of Poland, and the author proposed to have five acts played a night, so that the whole could be gone through in a week. MLXXIX.--A COMPARISON. "AN attorney," says Sterne, "is the same thing to a barrister that an apothecary is to a physician, with this difference, that your lawyer does not deal in _scruples_." MLXXX.--GAMBLING. I NEVER by chance hear the rattling of dice that it doesn't sound to me like the funeral bell of a whole family.--D.J. MLXXXI.--SWEEPS. WE feel for climbing boys as much as anybody can do; but what is a climbing boy in a chimney to a full-grown suitor in the Master's office! MLXXXII.--SELF-CONCEIT. HAIL, charming power of self-opinion! For none are slaves in thy dominion; Secure in thee, the mind's at ease, The _vain_ have only _one_ to please. MLXXXIII.--JAMES SMITH AND JUSTICE HOLROYD.