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_Heraldry._--A sanguine Frenchman had so high an opinion of the
pleasures to be enjoyed in the study of heraldry, that he used to
lament, as we are informed by Menage, the hard case of our forefather
Adam, who could not possibly amuse himself by investigating that
science, nor that of genealogy.
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_A Threat explained._--“Your unchristian virulence against me,” said a
Huguenot who had been persecuted for preaching, “shall cost hundreds of
people their lives.” This menace brought the author into trouble; he was
cited to a court of justice, and was charged with harbouring the most
bloody designs against his fellow-subjects. “I am innocent,” said he,
“of all you lay to my account. My only meaning was, that I intended
(since I could not act as a minister) to practise as a physician.”--If
the Huguenot had practised without the requisite knowledge he would have
kept his promise.
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_Pride._--A Spaniard, rising from a fall, whereby his nose had suffered
considerably, exclaimed, “Voto a tal, esto escaminar por la tierra!”
“This comes of walking upon earth!”
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_Advertisements._--We are sometimes astonished at the impudent
assertions of quacks in their public announcements at the present day.
Their predecessors, however, went somewhat further, as the two following
advertisements taken from the original edition of the Spectator will
show:--“An admirable confect which assuredly cures stuttering and
stammering in children or grown persons, though never so bad, causing
them to speak distinct and free without any trouble or difficulty; it
remedies all manner of impediments in the speech, or disorders of the
voice of any kind, proceeding from what cause soever, rendering those
persons capable of speaking easily and free, and with a clear voice, who
before were not able to utter a sentence without hesitation. Its
stupendous effects in so quickly and infallibly curing stuttering and
stammering, and all disorders of the voice and difficulty in delivery of
the speech, are really wonderful. Price 2_s._ 6_d._ a pot, with
directions. Sold only at Mr. Osborn’s Toy-shop, at the Rose and Crown,
under St. Dunstan’s church, Fleet-street.”
“Loss of memory, or forgetfulness, certainly cured, by a grateful
electuary, peculiarly adapted for that end; it strikes at the primary
source, which few apprehend, of forgetfulness, makes the head clear and
easy, the spirits free, active, and undisturbed; corroborates and
revives all the noble faculties of the soul, such as thought, judgment,
apprehension, reason, and memory, which last in particular it so
strengthens as to render that faculty exceeding quick, and good beyond
imagination; thereby enabling those whose memory was before almost
totally lost to remember the minutest circumstance of their affairs, &c.
to a wonder. Price 2_s._ 6_d._ a pot. Sold only at Mr. Payne’s, at the
Angel and Crown, in St. Paul’s Church-yard, with directions.”
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_Doubtful Improvement._--A set of parish officers applied to Snetzler (a
celebrated organ builder) to examine their organ and to make
improvements on it--“Gentlemen,” said the honest Swiss, “your organ be
wort von hondred pound, just now--well--I will spend von hondred pound
upon it, and it shall then be wort fifty.”
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