Another bon-mot, not in connection with politics, is reported by Walpole as incomparable.’  Lord George Gordon asked him if the Ludgershall electors would take him (Lord George) for Ludgershall, adding, ’if you would recommend me, they would choose me, if I came from the coast of Africa.’—­’That is according to what part of the coast you came from; they would certainly, if you came from the Guinea coast.’  ‘Now, Madam,’ writes his friend, ’is not this true inspiration as well as true wit?  Had any one asked him in which of the four quarters of the world Guinea is situated, could he have told?’ Walpole did not perhaps know master George thoroughly—­he was neither so ignorant nor so indifferent as he seemed.  His manner got him the character of being both; but he was a still fool that ran deep.

Though Selwyn did little with his two votes, he made them pay; and in addition to the post in the Mint, got out of the party he supported those of Registrar to the Court of Chancery in the Island of Barbadoes, a sinecure done by deputy, Surveyor of the Crown Lands, and Paymaster to the Board of Works.  The wits of White’s added the title of ‘Receiver-General of Waif and Stray Jokes.’  It is said that his hostility to Sheridan arose from the latter having lost him the office in the Works in 1782, when Burke’s Bill for reducing the Civil List came into operation; but this is not at all probable, as his dislike was shown long before that period.  Apropos of the Board of Works, Walpole gives another anecdote.  On one occasion, in 1780, Lord George Gordon had been the only opponent on a division.  Selwyn afterwards took him in his carriage to White’s.  ‘I have brought,’ said he, ’the whole Opposition in my coach, and I hope one coach will always hold them, if they mean to take away the Board of Works.’

Undoubtedly, Selwyn’s wit wanted the manner of the man to make it so popular, for, as we read it, it is often rather mild.  To string a list of them together:—­Lady Coventry showed him her new dress all covered with spangles as large as shillings.  ‘Bless my soul,’ said he, ’you’ll be change for a guinea.’

Fox, debtor and bankrupt as he was, had taken lodgings with Fitzpatrick at an oilman’s in Piccadilly.  Every one pitied the landlord, who would certainly be ruined.  ‘Not a bit of it,’ quoth George; ’he’ll have the credit of keeping at his house the finest pickles in London.’

Sometimes there was a good touch of satire on his times.  When ’High Life Below Stairs’ was first acted, Selwyn vowed he would go and see it, for he was sick of low life above stairs; and when a waiter at his Club had been convicted of felony, ‘What a horrid idea,’ said he, ’the man will give of us in Newgate!’

Dining with Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, he heard him say, in answer to a question about musical instruments in the East, ’I believe I saw one lyre there.’—­’Ay,’ whispered the wit to his neighbour, ’and there’s one less since he left the country.’  Bruce shared the travellers’ reputation of drawing the long-bow to a very considerable extent.