"Get away,

spied out a fat man standing before the jury box. you fat man!" exclaimed the judge. "So I will, my lord," replied the stout gentlemen, "If you will tell this other fat man to go first," pointing to a stouter man than himself, who happened to be beside him; "how can I get through him?" The first fat man was John Bowley, a lawyer, long in practice and well known at Nottingham-a fellow of infinite jest and humour; one of those men of whom it might be said, "You could spare a better man." Bowley once again came before Judge Alderson, but then in the witness box. An attempt had been made in cross-examination to show he was mixed up in some not very creditable transactions; but this failing, the judge, on the witness being about to retire, said, "Mr. Bowley, you go out of court with clean hands." "I wish I did, my lord." exclaimed Bowley, "they are devilish dirty ones-look here!" holding them up to view; and black enough they were, for while he was giving evidence he had dipped them in an inkstand that stood on each side, forgetting, in the excitement of the moment, he had done so.

66 MATTER ENOUGH."

When the Venerable Archdeacon Wilkins, Vicar of Nottingham was engaged in revising the "proofs" of his wellknown work, entitled Body and Soul, Dr. Marshall Hall, F. R. S., resided near him, and he sent him some of the proof sheets for perusal. Dr. Marshall Hall having retained these longer than was convenient to Mr. Wilkins, he facetiously wrote a note to the following effect :

"Dear Dr. Hall,

Do send me back my body and soul; I cannot exist any longer without them."

The note was given to Dr. Hall's man-servant, whose curiosity led him to press its sides so as to be able to read the contents, for it was long before the modern fashion of envelopes. He rushed aghast, into the kitchen, exclaiming, "Cook, I can't live any longer with the doctor!" Why, what's the matter ?" "Matter enough! our master has got Dr. Wilkin's body and soul, and I have too much regard for my character to stay where there are such goings on!"

AN OLD HEAD ON YOUNG SHOULDERS.

Dr. Marshall Hall, F. R. S., Medical Author, being in London some months after the publication of his “ Diagnosis," called upon the celebrated Dr. Baillie, who received him very kindly and said, "I hope your father is well; I, for one, am much indebted to him for his extraordinary work on 66 Diagnosis." When Dr. Hall modestly told him that he, not his father, was the author of the work, Dr. Baillie exclaimed, “Impossible! it would have done credit to the greyest-headed philosopher in our profession." He then invited Dr. Hall to breakfast with him.

MISTAKEN ATTENTION.

When Mrs. Marshall Hall was travelling in Italy, her name "Marshall Hall" gave rise, in several instances to erroneous impressions as to her position. It was evident that it was supposed to denote some high rank. On one occasion when she appeared before the custom-house officers at Naples, they rose en masse, and the profusion of their obeisance quite astounded her, for she could not imagine to what she owed such extraordinary marks of deference. On board an Italian steamer, she was informed, with the utmost respect, that the best cabin had been reserved for "The Marchesa."

RICHARD'S HIMSELF AGAIN.

When Whitley, manager of the Nottingham company, was enacting Richard, he showed a tolerable proof of having constantly an eye to his interest. In the language of the so-called crookbacked tyrant, he exclaimed :

:

"Hence, babbling dreams! you threaten here in vain,”

(that man in the brown wig there has got into the pit without paying) -"Richard's himself again."

When "Jane Shore" was being played at the Nottingham Theatre in the spring of 1876, by Miss Heath, a laughable incident was witnessed. During the time that "the unfortunate Jane" was wandering along the streets hungry and cold—and the people were interdicted from supplying her with food under penalty of death, she was subjected to rough usage at the hands of several hired ruffians. This unmanly treatment to one of the "softer sex" roused the ire of one of the audience who excitedly cried out "Cheese it, will you ?"—(a Nottinghamshire provincialism expressive of discontinuance.)

THE TALE-BEARER PUNISHED.

Wallett, in his Autobiography, relates the following story of a practical joke played at Nottingham. "There was a townsman,

a friend of Mr. Cooke, (the Circus proprietor) and a constant visitor to the circus, called "Old Jack Hattersley." He had the bad habit of tale-bearing; and made great mischief between the Cookes and the members of their company. He suffered terribly from asthma, and was in the habit of taking a seat nightly in the orchestra just over one of the entrances to the ring of the circus. Now I determined to punish him for his mischief-making. Accordingly, on the first night of the representation of St. George and the Dragon, I contrived to reverse the ordinary sides of action in the drama, so as to let off blue and red fire immediately beneath our asthmatic friend. I watched the effect of my treatment, and soon perceived symptoms resembling the gasping of gold fish in their transparent globes. The addition of a few ounces of blue fire composition then operated so violently that he was obliged to be carried over the front of the boxes into the open air, more dead than alive. It had a beneficial and lasting effect; for at any time on his intrusion the slightest hint that blue fire was to be used in the piece would hurry him off with all the alacrity that short legs and short breath would permit.

SIR GERVASE CLIFTON.

Sir Gervase Clifton was a true sample of the old English gentleman: he kept open house, and allowed parties to view his grounds on certain days in the week. He was an eccentric character, but much beloved by those who served under him, or who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He always examined his tradesmen's accounts, and mostly on a Sunday morning, in his pew at church!