Odds And Ends Of Wit And Humour.

To the student of English Literature who is ambitious to make the acquaintance of the wits and humourists of the 18 th century , I cannot do better than recommend to his attentive perusal Thackeray ' s " Lectures . " They are so admirably

described : so much is said in so few words ; the men after Thackeray ' s oivn heart , Fielding , Steele and Goldsmith , are sketched with so loA'ing a hand ; the characters of Swift and others , equally great but not so pleasant to contemplate

, are drawn Avith a masterly skill Avorthy of admiration . His sententious description of SAvift as " a humourous philosopher , Avhose truth frightens one , and Avhose laughter makes one melancholy "; of Congreve ( who it must be owned was

somewhat of a scapegrace playrightthough considered in his clay the greatest living comic poet ) , as a " humourous observer of another school to Avhoin the Avorld seems to have no moral at all , and Avhose ghastly doctrine seems to be that we

should eat , drink and be merry Avhen Ave can , ancl go to the deuce ( if there be a deuce ) Avhen the time comes" ;—are both of them Avonderfully suggestive , and in few

words accurately describe the men and their works . In that charming paper in the Tatler in which Steele records his father ' s death , his mother ' s griefs , his OAVU most solemn and tender emotions , he says he is interrupted by the arrival of a

hamper of wine—the same as is to be sold at Garraways next Aveek—upon the receipt of which he sends for three friends , and they fall to instantly drinking two bottles a piece with great benefit to themselvesand not separating till 2 o ' clock in

, the morning . Thackerary says— "His life Avas so , Jack the Drawer Avas always interrupting it , bringing him a bottle from the Rose , or inviting him over to a bout there Avith Sir Plume and Mr . Diver , and Dick wiped his eyes Avhich Avere whimpering

over his papers , took down his laced hat , put on his sword and wig , kissed his wife and children , told them a lie about pressing business ancl Avent of to the Rose to the jolly felloAvs . " Could anything be put more tersely ? I think not . Steele ' s play of

" The Funeral" suppliesan admirable stroke of humour , one which Sydney Smith has used as an illustration of the Faculty in his lectures . The undertaker is

talking to his Avorkmen about their duty . Sable— "Ha ! you . A little more upon the dismal ; ( forming their countenances ) this felloAv has a good mortal look , place him near the corpse : that wainscot-faced man , must be a top of the stairs ; that fellow's

almost in . a fright ( that looks as if he were full of some strange misery ) at the end of the hall . So—but I'll fix you all myself . Let ' s have no laughing now on any provocation . Look yonder that hale , Avell-looking puppy ! you ungrateful

scoundrel ! did not I pity you , take you out of a great man ' s service and show you the pleasure of receiving wages ? Didnot I give you ten , then 15 , andtlien 20 shillings a week to be sorrowful 1—And the more I give you I think the gladder you are . "

Sir Richard Steele , at a time Avhen he was much occupied Avith theatrical affairs , built himself a pretty private theatre , and before it Avas opened to his friehds and guests was anxious to try Avhethei the hall was Avell adapted for hearing . Accordingly he placed himself in the most remote part

of the gallery and begged the carpenter Avho hacl built the house to speak up from the stage . The man at first said he was unaccustomed to public speaking and did not know what to say to his honour , but the good-natured kni g ht called to him to

say Avhatever Avas uppermost , and after a moment the carpenter began in a voice perfectly audible , — "Sir Richard Steele " he said , "for three months past me and my men has been a working in this theatre and Ave ' ve never seen the colour of your

honour ' s money ; Ave will be very much obliged if you'll pay it directly , for until you do Ave Avon't drive in another nail . " Sir Richard said that his friend's elocution Avas perfect , but that he did'nt like his subject much . This is genuine repartee ;

Avhat one might call wit under difficulties . HOAV capitally Thackeray sums up in feAv words his character : " He had a small share of book learning , but a vast acquaintance with the Avorld . He had known men and taverns . " In truth Steele might have been the author of " Five Reasons for Drinking

";" If all be well as I do think , There be five reasons men should drink Good Avine ; a friend ; or bein ^ dry ; Or lest we should be by ancl by—Or any other reason Avhy . " ¦ 2 N -