Dr. Jowett, who was a small man, was permitted by the head of his college to cultivate a strip of vacant ground. This gave rise to some jeux d'esprit among the wags of the University, which induced him to alter it into a plot of gravel, and Porson burst forth with the following extemporaneous lines:—
A little garden little Jowett made,
And fenced it with a little palisade;
Because this garden made a little talk,
He changed it to a little gravel walk;
And now, if more you'd know of little Jowett,
A little time, it will a little show it.
CMLXXXIV.—BREVITY OF CHARITY.
Brevity is in writing what charity is to all other virtues. Righteousness is worth nothing without the one, nor authorship without the other.
CMLXXXV.—HIGH GAMING.
Baron N., once playing at cards, was guilty of an odd trick; on which his opponent threw him out of the window of a one-pair-of-stairs room. The baron meeting Foote complained of this usage, and asked what he should do? "Do," says the wit, "never play so high again as long as you live."
CMLXXXVI.—HARD OF DIGESTION.
Quin had been dining, and his host expressed his regret that he could offer no more wine, as he had lost the key of his wine-cellar. While the coffee was getting ready the host showed his guest some natural curiosities, and among the rest an ostrich. "Do you know, sir, that this bird has one very remarkable property—he will swallow iron?"—"Then very likely," said Quin, "he has swallowed the key of your wine-cellar!"
CMLXXXVII.—A MONSTER.
Sydney Smith said that "the Court of Chancery was like a boa-constrictor, which swallowed up the estates of English gentlemen in haste, and digested them at leisure."