Page images
PDF
EPUB

as for the Press, I am myself a
gentleman of the Press,' and I
bear no other scutcheon. I know
well the circumstances under which
we have obtained in this country
the blessing of a free Press."

a great master of gibes and
flouts and jeers.

BENJAMIN DISRAELI [Earl of
Beaconsfield] (1804-81)-referring
to Lord Salisbury (b. 1830) in 1874.
He also spoke of him as not being
a man who measures his phrases.'
Ah, a German and a genius! a

prodigy, admit him!

DEAN SWIFT (1667-1745)—Last words, when Händel (1685-1759) was announced. Another version: "It is folly; they had better leave it alone," alluding to preparations that were being made for honouring his birthday anni versary.

a hasty plate of soup.

GENERAL WINFIELD Scort (1786-1866)—in a letter to Governor Marcy (1786-1857) in 1846. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse.

Attributed to Richard III (145285) at the battle of Bosworth Field (Aug. 23, 1485), where he was slain. (Shakspere, King Richard III, act 5, sc. 4, l. 7): See All my possessions for one moment of time.

Ah! very well.

Last words of DR. THOMAS ARNOLD (1795-1842)—to his physician, Dr. Bucknill (Stanley's Life of Arnold).

A jealous love lights his torch from the firebrands of the furies.

EDMUND BURKE (1729-97)-in his speech on the plan for Econoical Reform, Feb. 11, 1780.

[blocks in formation]

PRESIDENT J. A. GARFIELD (1831-81)-in an address on the death of O. P. Morton. He also wrote "All free governments are managed by the combined wisdom and folly of the people"-in a private letter from him, dated Apr. 21, 1880. All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act is founded on compromise and barter.

EDMUND BURKE, (1729-97)—in a speech on Conciliation with America, March 22, 1775.

All human knowledge here is but methodized ignorance.

All

DR. PARR (1747-1825).

my possessions for one moment of time.

QUEEN ELIZABETH (1533-1603) -said to have been her dying words. Another version is that, in answer to the question who should succeed her, she said, "I will have no rogue's (rascal's) son in my seat," alluding to Lord Beauchamp, son of the attainted Earl of Suffolk. See A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!

[blocks in formation]

All wise men are of the same religion.

Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, afterwards first EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, (1671-1713)-attributed to, by John Toland, Clidophorus, 1720, ch. 13. When asked by a lady what that was, he replied "Madam, wise men never tell." In a note by Speaker Onslow to Burnet's History ofhis Own Times, ed. 1823, vol. i, p. 164, it is given as "People differ in their discourse and profession about these matters, but men of sense are really but of one religion.. Madam, men of sense never tell it." And, further, J. A. Froude in Short Studies on Great Subjects, vol. i: A Plea for the Free Discussion of Theological Difficulties 'Of (ed. 1888, p. 216) writes:

what religion are you, Mr. Rogers?' said a lady once. What religion, madam? I am of the religion of all sensible men.' And what is that?' she asked. All sensible men, madam, keep that to themselves.' Lord Beaconsfield has As for that,' said Waldershare, 'sensible men are all of the same religion. And pray what is that?' inquired the prince. 'Sensible men never tell.' (Endymion).

A man may be a fool to choose a

profession, but he must be an idiot to give it up.

LORD CHARLES BOWEN (1835-94) -to the Dean of Wells. Preceded

by "I simply hate law."

A man may be allowed to change his opinions, never his principles. GEORGE III (1738-1820)-on appointing Sir James Mackintosh (1765-1832) to the Recordership of Bombay, being assured of the change in Mackintosh's views. (W. Jerdan, Men I have known, 1866, p. 299)

A man's best gift to his country— his life's blood.

PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY (1843-1901)-in a speech at San Francisco, May 23, 1901.

A man should pass a part of his
time with the laughers.
DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-84).
A man, sir, should keep his

friendship in constant repair. DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-84) -to Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92). See A friend may be often found and lost &c. Preceded by "If a man does not make new acquaintance as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone."

A man who attempts to read all the new productions, must do as the fleas do- skip. SAMUEL ROGERS (1763-1855).

A man who could make so vile a pun would not scruple to pick a pocket.

JOHN DENNIS (1657-1734)-to Rowe, referring to a pun made by Dr. Garth (1660-1719), the Doctor having sent his snuff-box to the lastnamed, with the two Greek letters

P (Phi Ro) written inside the lid. (Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 51, p. 324 note). Another version is: "Sir, the man that will make such an execrable pun as that in my company, will pick my pocket.' (Benjamin Victor, An Epistle to Sir Richard Steele (1722, p. 28) In this account the pun is stated to have been

made by DANIEL PURCELL (c. 1660-1717.)

A man will turn over half a lib

rary to make one book.

DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-84) Preceded by "Yes, sir, when a man writes from his own mind, he writes very rapidly. The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading in order to write; a man" &c. (Boswell, Life of Johnson, 1775, ed. 1824, vol ii, p. 322.)

Amazing, amazing glory! I am having Paul's understanding.

CHARLES READE (1814-84)-last words, alluding to 2 Corinthians, xii, 1-4, which had been recently discussed.

Amen.

W. E. GLADSTONE (1809-98)— last words. Also of GEORGE BULL, Bishop of St. David's (1634-1710).

America must be conquered in France: France can never be conquered in America.

CHARLES JAMES FOX (1749-1806) -in the House of Commons, referring to the assistance given by France to the American colonies and the resulting hostilities between England and France.

. . amicably if they can, violently if they must.

JOSIAH QUINCY (1772-1864)— in a speech, Jan. 14, 1811, to Congress, referring to a Bill for the admission of the Orleans territory as a State (Abridged Cong. Debates, vol. iv, p. 327). HENRY CLAY (1774-1852) in a speech Jan. 8, 1813, said that "the gentleman [Mr. Quincy] cannot have forgotten his own sentiment, uttered even on the floor of this House, Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must'."'

Am I not a man and a brother?

JOSIAH WEDGWOOD (1730-95)— inscription on a medal (1768) representing a negro in chains, in a supplicating posture. Adopted as a seal by the Anti-Slavery Society of London.

An ambassador is an honest man sent abroad to lie (or to lie abroad) for the commonwealth.

See Legatus est vir bonus &c. A national debt is a national blessing.

DANIEL WEBSTER (1782-1852)— in his speech Jan. 26, 1830, replying to Hayne, of South Carolina, said: "The gentleman has not seen how to reply to this otherwise than by supposing me to have advanced the doctrine that a national debt is a national blessing."

A nation is not governed which is perpetually to be conquered.

EDMUND BURKE (1729 97)— alluding to the character of the Americans.

[ocr errors]

and he adores his maker. JOHN BRIGHT (1811-89)-when told that he ought to give Benjamin Disraeli (1804-81) credit for being a self-made man.

And, if this inauspicious union be not already consummated, in the name of my country I forbid the banns. WILLIAM PITT (1759-1806) — Conclusion of one of his speeches. And is it so, sweetheart? then

are we perfect friends again. HENRY VIII (1491-1547)—to his wife, Catherine Parr (1513-48), after a theological argument. The king, on the queen declining the conversation, had said, "You are

[blocks in formation]

OLIVER CROMWELL (1599-1658) -when dissolving the second Parliament of the Protectorate, Feb. 4, 1658.

And they know the reason why.

SIR JAMES GRAHAM (1792-1861) -in a speech on the advantages derived from the recent measures of commercial legislation. Alluded to by BENJAMIN DISRAELI (1804-81) in his speech in the House of Commons, Dec. 16, 1852, on the Budget. "Well, I've , given him now the reason why.'

And you, madam I may not call

you; mistress I am ashamed to call you: so I know not what to call you, but yet I do thank you.

QUEEN ELIZABETH (1533-1603) -on taking leave of Archbishop Parker's wife, after being entertained at Lambeth Palace. The Queen greatly disapproved of marriage among the clergy.

an irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces.

WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD (180172)-in a speech at Rochester, N.Y., Oct. 25, 1858, referring to the antagonism between freedom and slavery.

A noble life, crowned with heroic death, rises above and outlives the pride and pomp and glory of the mightiest empire of the earth.

PRESIDENT J. A. GARFIELD

(1831-81)—in the house of Representatives, Dec. 9, 1858.

A noble manhood, nobly consecrated to men, never dies. PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY (1843-1901) in a speech at Albany, Feb. 12, 1895.

another place.

A formula used to refer to the House of Lords in the House of Commons or vice versa. It occurs in the former sense several times in Benjamin Disraeli's (1804-81) speech of Apr. 11, 1845, on the Maynooth Bill. The same statesman applied the term to the House of Commons in his speech in the House of Lords, Mar. 28, 1879. Cf. "Sir, you have taught me to look for the sense of my subjects in another place than the House of Commons" (Walpole, Memoirs of the Reign of George II, vol. ii, p. 331). It was also used by GEORGE II (1683-1760) to WILLIAM PITT, Earl of Chatham (1708-78) when the latter pleaded unsuccessfully with him for Admiral Byng (Feb. 1757), urging that the House of Commons was inclined for mercy. (See also Dict. Nat. Biog., vol. lix, p. 203).

delusion that the majority

of the House of Commons is the majority of the nation" (Marchmont Papers, vol. ii, p. 123). Also by SIR ROBERT WALPOLE (1676-1745) -see Dict. Nat. Biog., vol. lix, p. 203.

an untoward event.

The DUKE OF WELLINGTON (1769-1852)-alluding to the battle of Navarino (Oct. 20, 1827), because it appeared likely to disturb the balance of power.' The phrase occurs in the speech of George IV. at the opening of Parliament in 1828. "His Majesty deeply regrets that this conflict should have occurred with the naval force of an

ancient ally; but he still entertains a confident hope that this untoward event will not be followed by further hostilities" (S. Walpole, Hist. of England, vol. ii, pp. 556-7; see also Dict. Nat. Biog., vol. lx, p. 195).

Any man can do what any other man has done.

[blocks in formation]

SIR ROBERT WALPOLE (16761745) to his son, who offered to read history to him. (Walpoliana, 1799, vol. i. p. 60, No. 79) See Voilà ce que c'est l'histoire; cf. . . "History, a distillation of Rumour " (Carlyle, French Revolution, Pt. i, bk. 7, ch. v).

A painter is a companion for

kings and emperors.

BENJAMIN WEST (1738-1820)— in the course of a conversation.

'Apologies only account for that

which they do not alter.' Quoted by BENJAMIN DISRAELI [Earl of Beaconsfield] (1804-81)— in a speech on the prosecution of war, May 24, 1855, and in another on the order of business, July 28, 1871.

A precedent embalms a principle.

BENJAMIN DISRAELI [Earl of Beaconsfield] (1804-81)-in a speech in the House of Commons on the expenditure of the country, Feb. 22, 1848. Cf. The acts of to-day become the precedents of to-morrow.

A reform is

a correction of abuses: a revolution is a transfer of power.

LORD LYTTON (1805-72)—in the House of Commons, alluding to the Reform Bill of 1866.

Are the doctors here?

PRESIDENT BENJAMIN HARRISON (1833-1901)-Last words, to his wife, who enquired whether he wanted anything.

Are we not children, all of us? JANE TAYLOR (1783-1824)—Last words.

a safe and honourable peace. BENJAMIN DISRAELI [Earl of Beaconsfield] (1804-81)-Concluding words of a resolution moved in the House of Commons, May 24, 1855. See also Peace with honour. As a man advances in life, he gets what is better than admiration-judgment, to es timate things at their true value.

DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON (170984) (Boswell's Life of Johnson, ed. 1824, vol ii, p. 335).

as good as a play (a comedy). CHARLES II (1630-85)-said to have been uttered by him when listening to a debate on Lord Ross's Divorce Bill (see Macaulay, Review of the Life.. of Sir William Temple).

A shocking bad hat.

FREDERICK AUGUSTUS, DUKE OF YORK (1763-1827), second son of George III-referring to Walpole, who was wearing a low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat at Newmarket. He said: "Then the little man wears a shocking bad hat." He had previously asked who the stranger [Walpole] was. (Capt. R. H. Gronow, Recollections, 4th Series, 1866, pp. 153-4).

« PreviousContinue »