Toast—A Sott.
| “A toast is like a sot; or what is most Comparative, a sot is like a toast; For when their substances in liquor sink, Both properly are said to be in drink.” |
It will be seen, however, that anagrams have chiefly been made upon proper names, and a reversing of their letters may sometimes pay the owner a compliment; as of the poet Waller:
| “His brows with laurel need not to be bound, Since in his name with laurel he is crowned.” |
George Thompson, the well-known anti-slavery advocate, was at one time solicited to go into parliament for the more efficient serving of the cause he had so much at heart. The question whether he would comply with this request or not was submitted to his friends, and one of them gave the following for answer:
| George Thompson, O go, the Negro’s M.P.! |
This clever instance was given in “Notes and Queries” a short time ago:
| Thomas Carlyle, A calm holy rest. |
The following are additional instances.
| Sir Francis Bacon, Lord Keeper— Is born and elect for a rich speaker. |