than to say Luther is mistaken,
and nothing more difficult than to _prove_ him so."

MCCCXXXVII.--SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.

SHERIDAN was once talking to a friend about the Prince Regent, who took
great credit to himself for various public measures, as if they had been
directed by his political skill, or foreseen by his political sagacity.
"_But_," said Sheridan, "_what his Royal Highness more particularly
prides himself in, is the late excellent harvest_."

MCCCXXXVIII.--FAIRLY WON.

THE only practical joke in which Richard Harris Barham (better known by
his _nom-de-plume_ of Thomas Ingoldsby) ever personally engaged, was
enacted when he was a boy at Canterbury. In company with a schoolfellow,
D----, now a gallant major, he entered a Quakers' meeting-house; when,
looking round at the grave assembly, the latter held up a penny tart,
and said solemnly, "Whoever speaks first shall have this pie."--"Go thy
way, boy," said a drab-colored gentleman, rising; "go thy way,
and----"--"The pie's _yours_, sir!" exclaimed D----, placing it before
the astonished speaker, and hastily effecting his escape.

MCCCXXXIX.--A FORTUNATE EXPEDIENT.

A GENTLEMAN of Trinity College, travelling through France, was annoyed
at the slowness of the pace, and wishing to urge the postilion to
greater speed, tried his bad French until he was out of patience. At
last it occurred to him that, if he was not understood, he might at
least frighten the fellow by using some high-sounding words, and he
roared into the ear of the postilion: "_Westmoreland, Cumberland,
Northumberland, Durham_!" which the fellow mistaking for some tremendous
threat, had the desired effect, and induced him to increase his speed.

MCCCXL.--ON THE FOUR GEORGES.

GEORGE the First was always reckoned
Vile,--but viler, George the Second;
And what mortal ever heard
Any good of George the Third?
When from earth the Fourth descended,
God be praised, the Georges ended.

MCCCXLI.--WHAT EVERYBODY DOES.

HOPKINS once lent Simpson, his next door neighbor, an umbrella, and
having an urgent call to make on a wet day, knocked at Simpson's door.
"I want my umbrella."--"Can't have it," said Simpson. "Why? I want to go
to the East End, and it rains in torrents; what am I to do for an
umbrella?"--"Do?" answered Simpson, passing through the door, "do as _I_
did, _borrow one_!"

MCCCXLII.--WHAT IS AN ARC