Forster’s Perennial Calendar.

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GENERAL WOLFE.

The minds of some men are so elevated above the common understanding of their fellow-creatures, that they are by many charged with enthusiasm, and even with madness.  When George II. was once expressing his admiration of Wolfe, some one observed that the general was mad.  “Oh! he is mad, is he?” said the king with great quickness; “then I wish he would bite some other of my generals.”—­Thackery’s Life of the Earl of Chatham.

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LORD ELLENBOROUGH.

An amateur practitioner wishing upon one occasion, in the court of king’s-bench, to convince Lord Ellenborough of his importance, said, “My lord, I sometimes employ myself as a doctor.”—­“Very likely, sir,” said his lordship drily; “but is any body else fool enough to employ you in that capacity?”—­Mems., Maxims, and Memoirs.

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“FOUR THIEVES’ VINEGAR.”

A report of the plague in 1760 having been circulated, Messrs. Chandler and Smith, apothecaries, in Cheapside, had taken in a third partner, (Mr. Newsom,) and while the report prevailed, these gentlemen availed themselves of the popular opinion, and put a written notice in their windows of “Four Thieves’ Vinegar sold here.”  Mr. Ball, an old apothecary, passing by, and observing this, went into the shop.  “What,” said he, “have you taken in another partner?”—­“No.”—­“Oh!  I beg your pardon,” replied Ball, “I thought you had by the ticket in your window.”—­Ibid.

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SNAKE EATING.

To show the extreme desire of sailors for fresh animal food, towards the end of a long voyage, we may mention the following circumstance.  A Dutch East Indiaman, after beating about for some time in the Indian ocean, became short of provisions.  One day, as the crew were scrubbing the deck, a large sea-snake raised itself out of the water, and sprang or crawled aboard.  The sailors, who for some time had not tasted any thing fresh, immediately despatched the snake, and, regardless of consequences, cooked and ate it for dinner—­Weekly Review.

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[Illustration:  New Suspension Bridge, Hammersmith.]

NEW SUSPENSION BRIDGE, HAMMERSMITH.