SHAKSPEARE.

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ELEGANT COMPLIMENT.

A French officer, having arrived at the court of Vienna, the empress, knowing that he had seen the Princess de * * *, asked him if he thought this princess was, as reported, the handsomest person in the world?  “Madam,” replied the officer, “I thought so yesterday.”

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  Should women sit in parliament,
    A thing unprecedented,
  A great part of the nation, then
    Would be Miss-Represented.

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ON A STONE IN THE WALL OF CHISWICK CHURCHYARD.

This wall was made at ye charges of ye Right Honorable and trulie pious Lorde Francis Russell, Earle of Bedford, out of true zeale and care for ye keeping of this church-yard, and ye wardrobe of Godd’s saints, whose bodies lay theirin buried from violation by swine, and other prophanation.—­So witnesseth William Walker, Vo.  A.D. 1623.

O.W.

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A singular custom was formerly observed in the city of Middelburg, in the Netherlands.  When any inhabitant died, a bundle of straw was placed before the house, with the ears towards the street, if the deceased was a man; but towards the house, if a woman.

G.W.N.

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SINGULAR SUICIDE.

In 1767, a gentleman, named Davers, (who was descended from Sir Robert Davers, of Roughham, in the county of Suffolk, bart.) died at the Angel Inn, Islington, by poison.  A card, which he was seen to write a few hours before his death, contained the following words:—­“Descended from an ancient and honourable family, I have, for fifteen years past, suffered more indigence than ever gentleman before submitted to.  I am neglected by my acquaintance, traduced by my enemies, and insulted by the vulgar.”  Beneath the above was written:—­

  “Of laudanum, an ample dose
  Must all my present ills compose;
  But the best of laudanum all,
  I want; not resolution, but a ball.”

G.W.N.

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POLYGAMY.

It is well known that the Turks avoid answering questions put to them concerning their religion, to prevent being exposed to criticism and raillery.  A lady of quality reproached a Turkish ambassador, on the Mahometan religion allowing them to have several wives.  The ambassador, without entering into any discussion, replied, “It permits it, that we may be able to find in several, all the graces which are concentrated in you alone.”

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John Daens, merchant and citizen of Antwerp, having lent the Emperor Charles V. a million of gold, invited his majesty to dinner.  After a royal entertainment, he threw the emperor’s bond into a fire made of cinnamon.