1063. A spark being brought before a magistrate, on a charge of
horse-stealing, the justice, the moment he saw him, exclaimed, I see a
villain in your countenance. It is the first time, said the prisoner,
very coolly, that I knew my countenance was a looking-glass.
1064. A jockey lord met his old college tutor at a great horse fair. Ah!
doctor, exclaimed his lordship, what brings you here, among these high
bred cattle? Do you think you can distinguish a horse from an ass? My
lord, replied the tutor, I soon perceived you among these horses.
1065. A French officer was speaking at a table-d’hote of his first
impressions on seeing English soldiers, and attempted to ridicule them,
by saying, that they had faces as round as Cheshire cheeses. An English
officer replied, Monsieur, you are very polite; and allow me to say,
that if your soldiers had shown us a little more of their faces, and
less of their backs, I should be very happy to return you the
compliment.
1066. The late Right Hon. Charles James Fox, in the course of a speech
he made in the House of Commons, when enlarging on the influence
exercised by government over the members, observed, that it was
generally understood that the minister employed a person as manager of
the House of Commons; here there was a general cry of Name him! name
him! No, said Mr. Fox, I don’t choose to name him, though I might do it
as easy as say Jack Robinson. This was really his name.
1067. A traveller relating some of his adventures, told the company,
that he and his servant made fifty wild Arabians run; which exciting
surprise, he observed there was no such great matter in it; for, said
he, we ran, and they ran after us.
1068. A certain young clergyman, modest almost to bashfulness, was once
asked by a country apothecary, of a contrary character, in a public and
crowded assembly, and in a tone of voice sufficient to catch the
attention of the whole company, How it happened that the patriarchs
lived to such extreme old age? To which question he immediately replied,
Perhaps they took no physic.
1069. Two English gentlemen, some time ago, visited the field of
Bannockburn, so celebrated for the total defeat of the English army, by
Robert Bruce, with an army of Scottish heroes, not one fourth their
number. A sensible countryman pointed out the positions of both armies,
the stone where the Bruce’s standard was fixed during the battle, &c.
Highly satisfied with his attention, the gentleman, on leaving him,
pressed his acceptance of a crown-piece. Na, na, said the honest man,
returning the money, keep your crown-piece; the English hae paid dear
enough already for seeing the field of Bannockburn.