med,
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!