to the attention of the company. This was effected at a blow; he looked harshly on the parson, kindly on the ladies; surveyed all, and threw on himself an eye of contempt, so as to shew signs of self-inferiority: and flinging loose his folded arms, burst forth into a loud exclamation-Oh! I wish to Jasus I was back again in Dublin, and that I had never put my foot in this inhospitable and unpolite country!" The point was carried: the doctor smirked and smiled at the ladies, as much as to say, we have a rare treat here, this -Hirish is red hot from his bogs. A perfect selfsufficiency began to beam on the doctor's countenance; and elated with a victory he had never won, he proceeded to pluck the laurels.

then I perceive, my good friend, you are Hirish." "Yes, your honour, and, by Jasus, I would rather than the £40 I brought over with me, to buy threads, and tapes, and needles, at one of your manufacturing towns, to be back again: for. I don't hope for luck, or grace, or happiness, while ever I stay among you." "Then, I suppose, you are in trade?" "Oh yes! I am a Dublin shopkeeper, and it is there the first gentleman in the land, or in the city, would speak civilly and politely to his fellow creature." "What pleasure do you find in that country? what amusements have you?" "Amusements! were you never in Dublin? were you never in the upper gallery in Crow-street? or if you weren't, where were you

born? God Almighty help you, it is there you would see the fun, and the wit. It would be worth your while to step across; and if you were never there, that is the only spot in the known world worth talking of." Surely, my good pass all your time

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friend, it cannot be, you should

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there! there are nights you cannot spend in this manner." " 'Tis very true, Sir, but it isn't my fault; for if I could help it, it is there I would pass every night.' "But, Sir, on other nights, as soon as your shop is shut, how do you dispose of yourself?" "I go in and read a book for my wife, while she rocks the cradle."." What books do you read, give me leave to ask?" "What books, why Erasmus, and a pretty book it is." "Very well, indeed. And pray, do your women understand Latin ?" Yes, and Greek too; and often do I read the Greek of Homer to her, and she to me." "Oh, my friend, it is impossible that either your wife or you can understand these books. Do you mean to say she understands the Greek and Latin languages?" "You are welcome to try me, Doctor; and as for the wife, she being a Kerry woman, could answer for herself, if she were here (and I wish to God she were), much better than I for myself." "Did you ever read the Naufragium?" "Oh yes, where the shipwreck was, and where the lovely lady was perishing, and a lovelier never yet was seen, except the two beautiful creatures I am now gazing upon

with so much pleasure; and may God préservé their beautiful faces from suffering either by sea or by land! And I think one of them is as like Helen in Homer, whom old King Priam contrived to fall in love with, and the other so like Venus, that they were the very images of those now before me."

The ladies began now, for the first time, to look with a softer air of condescension; and Mr. Curran, having by that whiff of incense secured a party, proceeded with more courage. "Now, Doctor, as I have answered all your questions, may I be allowed to ask you in turn, if you have read Echo in Erasmus?" "" Why, not very well; it was written by a Popish priest, and its doctrines are not in our Church held to be Orthodox, yet it may be, though I cannot say that I have read it; but what of that?" "Why, Doctor, this of that, that though Erasmus was a Popish priest, he has taught Echo many witty things; when he asks, Quidnam querunt, qui querunt sacerdotium? Echo answers, otium, and asks again, quidnam aliud querit Sacerdos? Echo, Kerdos. Now, Doctor, that the ladies may know all, for instance, supposing (and I beg their pardons), that they have not been taught these languages, since they and the old religion went out of fashion long before their time, with Queen Elizabeth; the substance translated is, that the clergy are fond of ease and

gain, and this, doctor, accounts for your fat and fine clothes." The ladies saw the point, they saw the Doctor in danger, though the Church was safe. The tide began to turn. The Doctor resorted to anger, the last refuge of dulness and of detected ignorance, and told the shop-keeper he was wastly wulgar; that these hairs did not become him, and, like Lubin Log in the play, hastily asked for his Numparrel.

Mr. Curran perceiving the distress, and wishing to lighten it for the moment, told some anecdotes directed to the taste and understanding of the ladies; preserving in all he said a strict attention to Grammar, and occasionally enriching his tones with all the fatness of the Irish brogue, He still kept the Doctor in view, and gave him only time to recover, that he might with more effect finish with him. He amused them with anecdotes of the turn, wit, and humour of the peasantry of his country. An Irish witness, he said, was called on the table to give evidence, and having a preference for his own language, first, as that in which he could best express himself; next, as being a poor Celt, he loved it for its antiquity; but above all other reasons, that he could better escape cross-examination by it: and wishing to appear mean and poor, and therefore a mere Irish, he was observed, on coming into court, to take the buckles cunningly out of his

shoes. The reason of this was asked by counsel, and one of the country people, his opponent in the suit, cried out, "The reason, my lord, is, that that fellow does not like to appear to be master of two tongues." He now and then amused the Doctor's prejudices by stories of Irish priests. On the first visit which a young clergyman of this order made to Paris, he discovered his uncle, who, though a Doctor of the Sorbonne, was not so learned as the young friar was taught to expect. The uncle came to see him in his lodgings, badly provided with furniture, and with a very meagre library: on taking leave he said, " Vale, Doctor, sine Libris!" (farewel, Doctor, without Books). The nephew returned the visit, and on departing, surveyed the splendid apartments, and well stocked library of his uncle; and bowing, said, "Valete Libri, sine Doctore!" (farewel Books, without a Doctor). The ladies felt the allusion, and the Doctor was lost in the laugh; they, however, thought they could trace a resemblance.

He entertained them with an anecdote of an Irish tenant in Kerry, who came to pay his rent of £500, and the lady of the house perceiving he had a propensity to play, she being very ugly, of a musty, dingy countenance, with a bad squint, and who never looked straightly at any object 'but a pack of cards, or the money set on the game. She prevailed on him, however, to play,