At a public dinner, Captain R. commencing a conversation with a gentleman next to him, was astonished at not being able to elicit one word in answer. At length his silent neighbour turned to him, and said, with a look and tone suitable to the _importance_ of the communication, "Sir, whenever you are at a venison feast, let me advise you _never to speak during dinner_. In endeavouring to reply to you, I have actually at this moment swallowed _entire_ a fine piece of fat, _without tasting it_!" J.G.R. * * * * * An Englishman, named _Drinkwater_, was nearly drowned the other day off Boulogne; on hearing which, a wag observed that he had "almost taken a drop too much." * * * * * FLY WATER. Prussic Acid has been obtained from the leaves of _green tea_, in so concentrated a state, that one drop killed a dog almost instantaneously. A strong infusion of Souchong tea, sweetened with sugar, is as effectual in poisoning flies as the solution of arsenic, generally sold for that purpose. * * * * * There may now be seen, written on a board on a new house in the Blackfriars-road, the following words:--"Hird robeish may be had heare." BILLY. * * * * * NO JOKE OR RIDDLE. A house with wings extended wide, A racket-ground to play in, Two porters' lodges there beside, And porters always staying To guard the inmates there within, And keep them from the town; From duns as free as saints from sin, And sheriffs of renown. To get white wash'd it is their plan, 'Tis such a cleansing thing-- Then out they come with blacker hands Than when they first went in. P.H.H. * * * * * The following lines are copied from a seat in Greenwich Park, written in chalk; and from their style, they may be supposed to have been written by one who meditated suicide:-- Oh! deaf to nature and to heav'n's command, Against thyself to lift the murd'ring hand, Oh! damn'd despair to shun the living light, And plunge thy guilty soul to endless night. Written also in the same hand:--Charlotte Rumpling, you did not use me well, but I forgive you--God bless you. EDWIN W----. * * * * * WANTS A WIFE.