siderable paternal estate at starting in the world, and who have died at fifty, have left so large a fortune at their decease.

good; and you will see the end of it before long. However, it sha'n't be said that your mother encouraged such sinful waste; for I mean to set off in the coach for Devonshire to-morrow morning."

All Dunning's rhetorical efforts to detain his mother in town were of no avail. The old lady kept her word.

XI.

BLUE HANGER.

LORD COLERAINE, formerly known by the familiar appellation of Blue Hanger, from the colour of his clothes, was perhaps the best dressed man of his age; and he was no less remarkable for his politeness and good humour. Heavy losses at play, when he was a young man, compelled him to retire into France, in order to avoid his creditors; and there he remained upwards of twelve years, until the death of his elder brother; when he came to the title, and returned to this country a complete Frenchman.

On his Lordship's first visit to Drury-lane Theatre, his natural turn for pleasantry brought him into a rencontre that gave him some un

easiness.

Seeing a gentleman in boots enter the box where he was sitting, in the dress-circle, and place himself on the seat just before him, rather abruptly, his ideas of etiquette could not well brook what in France would have been considered a breach of decorum. Accordingly, he addressed him in the following words beg, Sir, you will make no apology!"

66.

:

"I

Apology, Sir!" replied the stranger; "apology for what?"

"Why," returned his Lordship, pointing down towards the boots, "that you did not bring your horse with you into the box."

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Perhaps it is lucky for you, Sir,” retorted the stranger," that I did not bring my horsewhip; but I have a remedy at hand, and I will pull your nose for your impertinence." Some other gentlemen in the box now interfered; an exchange of cards took place, and both parties left the theatre.

Blue went immediately to his brother George, at Brookes's; and having stated the particulars, begged his assistance to get him out of the scrape; "which," said he, "may

end in bloodshed.-I acknowledge," he continued, "that I was the first aggressor; but it was too bad to threaten to pull my nose. What had I better do?"

"Soap it well," replied George," and then it will easily slip through his fingers."* George, however, accommodated the affair to the satisfaction of all parties, by explaining to the stranger, that his brother had resided so long in France, as almost to forget the customs of his countrymen.

* This method of avoiding a hearty tweak of the proboscis appears to have been a favourite of Colonel Hanger's, for he recommends it even in the Memoirs of his Life; he says, that whenever any person is inclined to calumniate a gentleman behind his back, he ought to take the precaution of soaping his nose first.

XII.

SELWYNIANA.

FOR several years, George Selwyn was reckoned to be the prince of wits, not only at Brookes's but in private society; and many persons still remember, that, in the generality of his repartees, there was a sting of attic poignancy which rendered him, in a peculiar manner, the scourge of folly and self-pretension :-this will be fully exemplified in the following anecdotes.

One morning, whilst he was drinking chocolate with the Duke of Queensberry, a newly appointed Commissioner of Taxes made his appearance at his Grace's house in Piccadilly, to pay his compliments. This man was in a