SHAKSPEARE.
The late Lord Clonmel, who never thought of demanding more than a shilling for an affidavit, used to be well satisfied provided it was a good one. In his time the Birmingham shillings were current, and he used the following extraordinary precaution to avoid being imposed upon by taking a bad one:—"You shall true answer make to such questions as shall be demanded of you touching this affidavit, so help you God. Is this a good shilling?"
SCRAPS.
The Court Journal, describing a Study in Windsor Castle, says—"The first of a series in the plain English style. The ceiling is white, with a cornice of simple Grecian design!"
According to a recent traveller, fat sheep are so plentiful in the Brazils that they are used as fuel to feed their lime-kilns.
Supposing the productive power of wheat to be only six-fold, the produce of a single acre would cover the whole surface of the globe in fourteen years.
A Philadelphia Paper announces the arrival of the Siamese Twins in that city, in the following manner:—"One of the Siamese twins arrived here on Monday last, accompanied by his brother."
The term Husting, or Hustings, as applied to the scaffold erected at elections, from which candidates address the electors, is derived from the Court of Husting, of Saxon origin, and the most ancient in the kingdom. Its name is a compound of hers and ding; the former implying a house, and the latter a thing, cause, suit, or plea; whereby it is manifest that husding imports a house or hall, wherein causes are heard and determined; which is further evinced by the Saxon dingere, or thingere, an advocate, or lawyer. [Hus and thing (thong) a place enclosed, a building roped round.]—Atlas.