The two epigrams which follow were communicated to me many years ago by the
Rev. George Loggin, M.A., of Hertford College, long one of the masters of
Rugby School. He died July 15, 1824, at the age of forty; and this
reminiscence of their old tutor's name will be welcomed by many a Rugbæan.
They were represented to have proceeded from the pen of Thomas Dunbar of
Brasenose, who, from 1815 to 1822, was keeper of the Ashmolean Museum. I
have never seen them in print, or even in writing. They were recited
_memoriter_, and from memory I write them down; and hence, no doubt, there
will be some deviations from the true text. But they seem too good to be
lost; and I am not {175} without hope that a correct copy may eventually be
elicited from some of your correspondents.
With regard to the first, whether the lines were really made on the
occasion stated, or the occasion was invented (as I am inclined to suspect)
to suit the lines, is perhaps not very material:
"_Reply to Miss Charlotte Ness, who inquired the meaning_
_of the logical terms_ ABSTRACT _and_ CONCRETE.
"'Say what is _Abstract_, what _Concrete_?
Their difference define.'
'They both in one fair person meet,
And that, dear maid, is thine.'
'How so? The riddle pray undo.'
'I thus your wish express;
For when I lovely Charlotte view,
I then view loveli-_Ness_.'"
On a certain D.D. (who, from a peculiarity in his walk, had acquired the
_sobriquet_ of Dr. Toe) being jilted by Miss H----, who eloped with her
father's footman:
"'Twixt Footman Sam and Doctor Toe
A controversy fell,
Which should prevail against his foe,
And bear away the belle.
The lady chose the footman's heart.
Say, who can wonder? no man:
The whole prevail'd above the part,
'Twas _Foot_-man _versus_ _Toe_-man."