surprised how they can call your Lordship Malagrida, Malagrida was an honest man."

Goldsmith valued himself very much on his bon mots; and, were we to judge from his publications, we might conceive not without reason, but in conversation the point was lost; As he was extremely vain in general, he was peculiarly so in what concerned his colloquial powers, not only trying new jests, but repeating those he made in other companies; and was much mortified if they did not produce the intended laugh. Hawkins, in his Life of Johnson, tells us that a common preface of Goldsmith to a story was, "I'll tell you a story of myself, which some people laugh at and some do not." One evening, as the company was breaking up, he told them if they would call for another bottle they should hear one of his bon mots. They agreed, and he began thus,: "I was once told that Sheridan the player, in order to improve himself in stage gesture, had looking-glasses, to the number of ten, hung about his room, and that he practised before them; upon which I said,--then there were ten ugly fellows together." The company not discovering much humour in this story, and perhaps wishing to mortify his anxious solicitude for praise, did not laugh He went away in a great passion, without tasting the wine.

The members often amused themselves with making puns. Goldsmith was eager to try any means to attain praise; and not only tried his

He had

invention, but endeavoured to retail the puns he heard in other companies as his own. heard the pun about sending stale pease to Hammersmith, as that was the way to (turn'em green) Turnham Green. Believing that pun new, he resolved to use it as his own, and at supper, pretending to think the pease too old, called to the waiter to send the pease to Hammersmith. "To Hammersmith, Sir?" "Yes, (says Goldsmith) that's the way to make them green." He was very angry that the company found no jest, blundering out, "it was a very good joke when I heard it last night." He affected the manner of Johnson; and the club, to vex him, called him Dr. Minor, giving to John. son, as all must acknowledge he deserved among any Doctors,, the appellation of Dr. Major. He was greatly affronted with the application of the title of Dr. Minor to him. Johnson had a custom of contracting the names of his friends, as Mund for Edmund. Goldsmith was much displeased with the contraction of Goldy as a diminution of his importance, and said, "I wish, Sir, you would not call me Goldy, but Dr. Goldsmith." His vanity extended even to his dress. He was as anxious to be thought well attired as an ig. norant beau, or a boarding-school girl, but had no earthly taste in the choice of habiliments. He one day came to the club in a very glaring bloom-coloured coat, and strutted about,

looking at his clothes, and seemingly wishing them to attract the attention of the company. Some of them ridiculed his dress. He, to prove how wrong they were, said, "let me tell you, gentlemen, when my taylor brought home this coat, he begged of me to tell all my friends who made it." 66 Why (said Johnson) that was because he knew the strange colour would attract crouds to gaze at it, and thus they might hear of him, and see how well he could make a coat even of so absurd a colour."

By such frivolities did the author of the Deserted Village, of the Vicar of Wakefield, and the Travellers, often expose himself to men greatly his inferiors in intellectual powers.

In the club, Burke frequently amused himself with punning; but his efforts generally produced some resemblance of thought, imagery, or sentiment, not merely a play of words. One recorded by Boswell was on the mob chair. ing Wilkes. This being mentioned at the club, Burke made a small change in the words in which Horace describes Pindar's numbers:-Fertur numeris lege solutis. He (Pindar) is carried (by the force and rapidity of his genius) in numbers uncontrouled by law, (the rules of versification). Burke, instead of numeris made bumeris. He (Wilkes) is carried on shoulders uncontrouled by law. Even here, besides the play of words, we see that he, though a friend to liberty, satirizes the licentiousness of a mob.

Burke, from the exuberance of his mind, took a considerable share in the conversation; but was always unassuming and polite, listening with attention to the observations of others, and endeavouring to descend to an equality with every member. His manners and colloquial talents rendered him the delight and admiration of the company, but most of all of Johnson, who was the most capable of appreciating his excellence. He remarked, that whenever he was in company with Burke he went away more knowing and wiser than he came, and that every time they conversed, his mind was kept on the full stretch. The members of the club, and other friends of both, ob. served that Johnson never discoursed with greater animation and energy than when his powers were excited by Burke.

Soon after the institution of the club, Mr. Garrick, who had been on his travels, returned to England, and being well acquainted with most of the members, gave some intimation that he would be one of their number, supposing that the least hint of such a desire would be eagerly embraced. Johnson, who, though he loved Garrick, undervalued his profession, was offended at what he esteemed the presumption of an offer where he ought to have made a request. "He will be one of us!-how does he know we will let him " Burke, who equally regarded Garrick, and thought much more.

highly of theatrical talents, wished he might be introduced; but Johnson exclaimed, " He will disturb us with his buffoonery." Neither Burke, nor others, who were disposed to admit him, insisted on his admission; so that he did not become a member immediately, but was afterwards received into the club. Sir John Hawkins, therefore, is inaccurate in his assertion, that Garrick was never elected. It is a matter of notoriety that he was chosen a member, and that he continued so to his death. Sir John states himself to have left it, because the hours were later than agreeable to him, and convenient to his family. Most men, who had taste and comprehension of intellectual excellence, would have, for such company, continued an hour or two longer, even though not altogether conformable to their usual practice, and the regulations of their family. To men of talents such company as Johnson and Burke would be a much higher treat than an opera or a ball to the frivolous votaries of fashionable amusements. According to Boswell, who very faithfully recorded whatever related to the club, Sir John, one evening, attacked Burke so rudely, that all the company testified their displeasure. At their next meeting they received Hawkins so coolly as to prevent his fu ture visits.

Burke made considerable progress in a confu. tation of the visionary theories of Berkley and