Cardinal de Retz desired Menage to favour him with a few lectures on poetry; “for,” said he, “such quantities of verses are brought to me every day, that I ought to seem, at least, to be somewhat of a judge.”—“It would,” replied Menage, “be difficult to give your eminence many rudiments of criticism, without taking up too much of your time. But I would advise you, in general, to look over the first page or two, and then to exclaim, Sad stuff! wretched poetaster! miserable verses! Ninety-nine times in a hundred you will be sure you are right.”
A NOMINAL ACCIDENT.
To the Editor.
It is rather extraordinary that of the two pork-butchers in Clare-market, one of their names should be “Hum,” the other’s “Shum.”—Fact! upon honour!—See for yourself; one is at the corner of Blackmore-street, the other in the street adjoining Clement’s Inn.
F. C. N.
August 9, 1827.