"Now, Moore," replied Scott, "there ye have just the advantage of us:
there was no want of enthusiasm here; the Scotch folk would have done
anything in the world for his majesty, except _pay the turnpike_."

MCCCXXVI.--RUNNING ACCOUNTS.

THE valet of a man of fashion could get no money from him, and therefore
told him that he should seek another master, and begged he would pay him
the arrears of his wages. The gentleman, who liked his servant, and was
desirous of keeping him, said, "True, I am in your debt, but your wages
are _running on_."--"That's the very thing," answered the valet; "I am
afraid they are _running_ so fast, that I shall never _catch_ them."

MCCCXXVII.--ON BLOOMFIELD, THE POET.

BLOOMFIELD, thy happy-omened name
Ensures continuance to thy fame;
Both sense and truth this verdict give.
While _fields_ shall _bloom_, thy name shall live!

MCCCXXVIII.--SCOTCHMAN AND HIGHWAYMEN.

A SCOTCH pedestrian, attacked by three highwaymen, defended himself with
great courage, but was at last overpowered, and his pockets rifled. The
robbers expected, from the extraordinary resistance they had
experienced, to find a rich booty; but were surprised to discover that
the whole treasure which the sturdy Caledonian had been defending at the
hazard of his life, was only a crooked sixpence. "The deuse is in him,"
said one of the rogues: "if he had had _eighteen-pence_ I suppose he
would have _killed_ the whole of us."

MCCCXXIX.--IRISH IMPRUDENCE.

IN the year 1797, when democratic notions ran high, the king's coach was
attacked as his majesty was going to the House of Peers. A gigantic
Hibernian, who was conspicuously loyal in repelling the mob, attracted
the attention of the king. Not long after, the Irishman received a
message from Mr. Dundas to attend at his office. He went, and met with a
gracious reception from the great man, who praised his loyalty and
courage, and desired him to point out any way in which he would wish to
be advanced, his majesty being desirous to reward him. Pat hesitated a
moment, and then smirkingly said, "I'll tell you what, mister, make a
_Scotchman_ of me, and, by St. Patrick, there'll be no fear of my
gettin' on." The minister, dumfounded for the moment by the
_mal-apropos_ hit, replied, "Make a _Scotchman_ of _you_, sir! that's
impossible, for I can't give you _prudence_."

MCCCXXX.--THE PIGS AND THE SILVER SPOON.