expected to kneel, and present him with a nosegay; but the princess
declared, that as she was of royal blood, she would prefer death to such
degradation. The King received her graciously, notwithstanding her
obstinacy; but her governess sent the child to bed immediately after
dinner. "_Bon pour la digestion_," exclaimed the princess; which so
enraged the governess, that she took her out of bed and whipped her
soundly. "_Bon pour la circulation_," said the princess; and the next day
the governess resigned.--_Atlas._

* * * * *

PLAIN SPEAKING.

At St. Augustine's Sessions, in an appeal case, a witness was asked by Sir
Edward Knatchbull, to relate what took place between him and his master,
which he did as follows:--"I told him he was a liar." Chairman--"Very
improper language." Witness--"Can't help that, I am come here to speak the
truth, and you have got it."--_Kent and Essex Mer_.

* * * * *

THE DEAD HAND.

It is an opinion very prevalent among the "finest pisantry in the world,"
that a lighted candle placed in a dead man's hand will not be seen by any
but those by whom it is used; and also that, if a candle in a dead hand be
introduced into a house, it will prevent those who may be asleep from
awaking! Under the influence of this superstition, a party, a few nights
since _armed with a dead man's hand_ and lighted candle, attacked the
house of Mrs. Leonard (the mother of the priest), in the town of Oldcastle,
county of Meath; but, unfortunately for the credit of the creed, the
inmates were alarmed, and the robbers fled, leaving the hand behind them.

* * * * *

EPIGRAMS.

"Upon his arrival at Perthshire, his Majesty is to be received by a band
of two hundred men, _entirely of the Mac clan_, arrayed in the ancient
national costume."--_Scotsman_.

In Scotia our king's to be blessed with a treat,
A _balle_ting one if the Scotch have their nacks,
For the papers put forth he's at Perthshire to meet,
Dressed in tartan and bonnet, _a band of all "Macs."_ (Almacks.)

Which wert thou, cruel Bishop Bonner,
A savage _wit_, or senseless _noddy_,
When to extinguish Ridley's faith,
Thou _mad'st a bonfire_ of his body?

Disdain'd by the Helen he fondly had wooed,
A love-stricken swain in a region _campestris_,
Thus "clerkly" gave vent to his sorrowful mood,
_Ah! vota si mea valissent cum Vestris