ter, to make use of SHALL and WILL; which, of themselves, have a fixed meaning, and are neither of them applicable to a simple future. In this case, either is naturally as good as the other. The Scotch, and many of the Irish, have taken one side the English the other. Both are equally correct in fact; or rather equally wrong: but both Scotch and Irishmen must write English; and here the difficulty lies.

:

"The Germans have a third verb for a simple future, viz. :-WERDEN, to become:-as ICH WERDE, I am to become. This is partially English, and accounts for the use of our word WERE, which has puzzled the grammarians in phrases such as Were I to do this' It were wise to do so,' &c.

"WOULD and SHOULD are governed by, and fetter the rules for, SHALL and WILL."

Sir Francis Burdett one evening was speaking most affectionately of his grandfather; and, among other agreeable recollections of the days of his boyhood, he stated that his progenitor had been also in the habit of playing a game at whist

every night and it is curious," he added,

:

that one night, just as he had said 'Clubs were trumps!' and won the game, he fell back in his chair and expired!”

Curran, who had not yet said a good thing, instantly observed, "Baronet, you surely have Imade a mistake: he must have said Spades were trumps;'" and pointed significantly towards the ground, as if in the act of digging.

JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN.

JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN was, on one occasion, the subject of conversation at Brookes's, when several amusing anecdotes were related of his wit, eloquence, and ingenuity; a few of which are as follow:

Mrs. Lefanu, sister to Mr. Sheridan, was very fond of dramatic entertainments; and at one time had a very neat private theatre fitted up at her own house. The play of Douglas being cast, the hostess herself, who was a remarkably fat woman, chose to enact the part of Lady Randolph; and hand-bills were accordingly distributed among the amateurs and their friends, announcing the performance. On the morning of the day on which the entertainment was to take place, a gentleman met Mr. Curran, who had just returned from a

professional tour, and begged the favour of his company that night to Mrs. Lefanu's; at the same time telling him that the lady herself was going to perform; and bidding him guess what part she had chosen ?

"What part!" replied Curran, " One of the Grampian hills, I suppose. I know no other part in the play that will suit her."

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In the year 1790, the representation of the County of Down was strongly disputed between the eldest son of the then Lord Hilsborough, and the late Lord Castlereagh and amongst the lawyers engaged for the occasion, was Mr. William Downes, afterwards Chief Justice of the King'sBench. Previously to his setting out for Downpatrick, Mr. Downes happened to meet Curran, to whom he mentioned that he was retained for one of the parties; and added, that he was sorry to understand that much ill-will was expected to display itself—insomuch that it was not unlikely but that the partisans of the candidates would proceed to duelling and bloodshed. For my part," continued he, " I shall keep clear of every subject but that connected with my professional duties.”

"No doubt," said Curran," you are perfectly

well prepared."

"O yes," replied Downes, " I have made myself master of all the election cases."

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Very good," replied Curran; " yet, however desirous you may be of keeping yourself clear of controversy and quarrels, some irritable bully may run foul of you; therefore, I would recommend strongly that you should have Wogden's case at your fingers ends."

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Wogden's case!" observed Downes, with surprise," I never heard of that case before-I am much obliged to you, my dear fellow, for mentioning it—where shall I find the report of it?"

"I am surprised," returned Curran," that you. so conversant with elections, should never have heard the report of Wogden's case !" There are twenty shops in town where you can procure the case itself."

Mr. Downes, pleased with the hint, deferred his journey towards the theatre of war for that day; the whole of which he employed in ransacking every bookseller's shop in Dublin.-At length, he mentioned his difficulty to a brother barrister,