THE GATHERER.
Reading edition
A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. SHAKSPEARE.
THE REFORM BILL.
(For the Mirror.)
The debate relating to the Reform Bill lasted seven nights. There are many curious circumstances attached to the number seven—viz. the seven golden candlesticks, the seven wise men of the east, the seven colours, the seven sounds, the seven stars, the seven wonders of the world. Ancient Rome was built upon seven hills, &c. The gift of prophecy and the power of healing is attributed to the seventh son of a seventh son. When the several members rose late, or rather early in the morning on the seventh night's debate on the Reform Bill, the House caught the idea of Macbeth, and exclaimed, "Another yet! a seventh! I'll see no more'!"—and the House of Russell dispersed the House of Commons.
P.T.W.
EPITAPH.
The following lines were written by my father, on the death of his first child, who died in infancy:—W.H.H.
Nipt in the bud, the father's hope here sleeps, And o'er her first-born child the mother weeps. Why weep! the disencumber'd soul that's flown Now shines another cherub round the throne! Ah! who can tell what cares, what hopes, what fears, Had been the portion of its lengthen'd years? A better lot proportion'd Heaven design'd, And bade it leave this sin-fraught world behind!
PATRIOTISM.
When Admiral Sir George Rooke, who took Gibraltar, in the reign of Queen Anne, came to make his will, it surprised those that were present; but Sir George exclaimed—"I do not leave much, but what I have was honestly gotten; it never cost a sailor a tear, or the nation a farthing."
JAC-CO.
SILK MANUFACTURE.
In 1734, Sir Thomas Lambe erected, in an island on the Derwent, near Derby, a curious mill for the manufacture of silk. He brought the model, the only one of the kind in the kingdom, from Italy, at the hazard of his life. This machine was deemed so important, that, at the expiration of Sir Thomas's patent, parliament voted him 14,000l. for the risk he had incurred, and the expense attending its completion.
T.S.
INN RHYMES.
The following was written under the sign of the White Horse, on the Old Bath Road, but which has since disappeared. I believe the origin of it was, "a poor devil of an author, who, after having had a good filling out, found that he had not wherewith to pay; at which 'mine host' was of course in a 'way' (as he had a right to be); when the author told him, that if he would get a sign painted, he would try to put some lines upon it which should ensure him custom. He did so, and the following was the result. He had a White Horse for his sign:
"My White Horse shall beat the Bear, And make the Angel fly, Shall turn the Ship quite bottom up, And drink the Three Cups dry."
The Bear, Angel, Ship, and Three. Cups, were public-houses in the neighbourhood. He succeeded, and got their custom.
On one of the windows also is—
"His liquor's good, his pot is just, The landlord's poor, and cannot trust, For he has trusted to his sorrow,— So pay to day, he'll trust to-morrow."
G. ST. CLAIR.
ROYAL FAVOUR.
The Prince of Orange was defeated by the French under Luxemburg, in 1677: in attempting to rally his dispersed troops, the prince struck one of the runaways across the face with his sword. "Rascal!" cried he, "I will set a mark on you at present, that I may hang you afterwards."
JAC-CO.
Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; G.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers.