a gentleman, finding it rather
difficult to open, incautiously applied a dessert-knife to the lid. Poor
Brummell was on thorns; at last he could not contain himself any longer,
and, addressing the host, said, with his characteristic quaintness,
"Will you be good enough to tell your friend that my snuff-box is _not
an oyster_."

MCCLIV.--NOT SICK ENOUGH FOR THAT.

LORD PLUNKET is said to have acutely felt his forced resignation of the
Irish Chancellorship, and his _supersedeas_ by Lord Campbell. A violent
tempest arose on the day of the latter's expected arrival, and a friend
remarking to Plunket how sick of his promotion the passage must have
made the new comer; "Yes," replied the ex-chancellor, ruefully, "but it
won't make him _throw up the seals_."

MCCLV.--A SEASONABLE JOKE.

ADMIRAL DUNCAN'S address to the officers who came on board his ship for
instructions previous to the engagement with Admiral de Winter, was
both laconic and humorous: "Gentlemen, you see a severe _winter_
approaching; I have only to advise you to keep up a _good fire_."

MCCLVI.--GETTING A LIVING.

THE late Duke of Grafton, when hunting, was thrown into a ditch; at the
same time a young curate, calling out "Lie still, your Grace"; leaped
over him, and pursued his sport. On being assisted to remount by his
attendants, the duke said, "That young man shall have the first good
living that falls to my disposal; had he _stopped_ to have taken care of
me, I never would have patronized him," being delighted with an ardor
similar to his own, or with a spirit that would _not stoop to flatter_.

MCCLVII.--GOOD EYES.

A MAN of wit being asked what pleasure he could have in the company of a
pretty woman who was a loquacious simpleton, replied, "I love to _see_
her talk."

MCCLVIII.--INDIFFERENCE TO LIFE.

A SOLDIER, who was being led to the gallows, saw a crowd of people
running on before. "Don't be in such a hurry," said he to them. "I can
assure you nothing will be done _without me_."

MCCLIX.--A LAST RESOURCE.

VILLIERS, Duke of Buckingham, was making his complaint to Sir John
Cutler, a rich miser, of the disorder of his affairs, and asked him what
he should do to avoid the ruin. "Live as I do, my lord," said Sir John.
"That I can do," answered the duke, "when _I am ruined_."

MCCLX.--A DULL MAN.

LORD BYRON knew a dull man who lived on a _bon mot_ of Moore's for a
wee