k; and his lordship once offered a wager of a considerable sum that
the reciter was _guiltless_ of understanding its point; but he could get
no one to accept the bet.

MCCLXI.--WHITE TEETH.

PROFESSOR SAUNDERSON, who occupied so distinguished a situation in the
University of Cambridge as that of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics,
was _quite blind_. Happening to make one in a large party, he remarked
of a lady, who had just left the room, that she had very _white teeth_.
The company were anxious to learn how he had discovered this, which was
very true. "I have reason," observed the professor, "to believe that the
lady is not a _fool_, and I can think of no other motive for her
laughing incessantly, as she did for a whole hour together."

MCCLXII.--A PLEASANT PARTNER.

A FARMER having bought a barn in partnership with a neighbor who
neglected to make use of it, plentifully stored his own part with corn,
and expostulated with his partner on having laid out his money in so
useless a way, adding, "You had better do _something_ with it, as you
see I have done."--"As to that, neighbor," replied the other, "every man
has a right to do what he will with his own, and _you_ have done so; but
I have made up my mind about my part of the property,--I shall set it on
fire."

MCCLXIII.--TWO CARRIAGES.

TWO ladies disputed for precedency, one the daughter of a wealthy
brewer, the other the daughter of a gentleman of small fortune. "You are
to consider, miss," said the brewer's daughter, "that my papa keeps a
coach."--"Very true, miss," said the other, "and _you_ are to consider
that he likewise keeps a _dray_."

MCCLXIV.--EXCUSABLE FEAR.

A HUSBAND, who only opposed his wife's ill humor by silence, was told by
a friend that he "was afraid of his wife."--"It is not _she_ I am afraid
of," replied the husband, "it is _the noise_."

MCCLXV.--COLERIDGE AND THELWALL.

THELWALL and Coleridge were sitting once in a beautiful recess in the
Quantock Hills, when the latter said, "Citizen John, this is a fine
place to _talk_ treason in!"--"Nay, Citizen Samuel," replied he; "It is
rather a place to make a man _forget_ that there is any necessity for
treason!"

MCCLXVI.--A FLASH OF WIT.

SYDNEY SMITH, after Macaulay's return from the East, remarked to a
friend who had been speaking of the distinguished conversationalist:
"Yes, he is certainly more agreeable since his return fr