A person observing that Mr. Arnold, the proprietor of the English Opera, was an _ill-tempered_ man, but a _fortunate_ one, Charles Westmacott replied, "he knew that to be true, for he was indebted for both his _cash_ and _success_ to _pique_." (Peake his dramatist and treasurer.)
Appeared originally during the oppressive heat of the season 1825, at the English Opera House: when Arnold observing that the piece did not _run_ according to his expectations, Peake dryly replied, "How can you expect a _stout man to run in such very hot weather_?"
The late Mr. Charles Bannister going with Mr. Parsons into a shop where there was an _electric eel_, the latter said, "Charles, what sort of a pie would that eel make?" He answered, "A _shock-ing one_."
Mr. Canning seeing a certain nobleman rowing a wherry on the Thames, with all the power and skill of a waterman, observed, "Your grace is certainly prepared for the worst extremities, for by your _skull_ you could always keep your _head above water_."
BEN JONSON AND THE COUNTRYMAN. _Simplicity_ v. _Wit_.
A country booby boasting of the numerous acres he enjoyed, Ben Jonson peevishly told him, "For every acre you have of land, I have an acre of wit." The other, filling his glass, said, "My service to you, Mr. _Wise-acre_!"
DENNIS THE PUNSTER. _Tria juncta in uno._
Mr. Dennis, a gentleman who died about 1764, and was famous for his puns, was once ridiculed for it in a copy of verses by three gentlemen, whose names were Goodwin, Johnstone, and Marshall; he answered them in the following manner: "If _Good_ be the better half of thy name, it is so little in thy nature as not to be perceived, though in conjunction with thy friend _John_, thou hast helped to make such a noble copy of verses that they ought to be engraven on _stone_. I would have given steel the preference, if a certain person did not _Mar_ your works, so _shall_ say no more of the matter."
"A fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy."
[There are very few literary persons in London, at least among those connected with the public press, who have not occasionally enjoyed the pleasant, _punning_, conversational powers of my friend W. R. V. whose whim, wit, and great good nature are not more esteemed, than his unaffected manners, and sincerity of disposition justly entitle him to.]