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ARTICLE II.--AN ANECDOTE.
  Foote, the play-actor, or perhaps it would be better to call him the play-writer or perhaps still better to sum both his qualifications in one word, the play-actor-play-writer, for he likewise wrote plays. But Foote, I say, thee play-actor-play-writer, while in the prime of life, or perhaps we had better distinctly mention his age, since the opinions of the learned greatly vary as to the age which ought to be called the prime of life, though to speak the truth I agree with neither one nor the other, inasmuch as I think, or more properly consider, the term "thinking" being applied rather to a passing thought, than a well-grounded opinion, an opinion indeed, which the fancy first evolved, upon which the brain then revolved, and which finally the judgment resolved; I think, I say, that the prime of a man's life is the time when man is at his prime, but this time I conceive to vary, inasmuch as that man, who as Shakespeare has it, in one of his most beautiful dramatic productions, for I will not call it the most beautiful, inasmuch as I consider the characters of Pistol in Tragedy, of the cock in Hamlet in comedy, and of Lady Macbeth in broad farce, as perhaps the finest specimens of the master hand which designed, and of the patient research which finished them, not that I think it at all unlikely that many may have a different opinion, nor indeed would I hold it myself unless I had seen them in the hands of some of the best actors that have ever appeared on the English stage, which stage, I may take this opportunity of saying, I do not consider, with many fanatics, as a disgrace to a nation possessing Christianity, though I must be allowed to suggest, that their Christianity, or more properly speaking, Protestantism, has become rather doubtful, since the unlooked-for and terrible issue of the Catholic question, a question which has for so many years agitated the minds of the nation, and which has finally been gained, not by the superior talents of the defenders of Catholic Emancipation, but by the ever-to-be-regretted-and-always-to-be-despised desertion of those whom the Protestant Church was proud to rank among her chiefest ornaments; and here let me solemnly declare, that I use not the word "church" as applicable to the building, as if I should say, St. Mary's church, or
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even the little round church in Bridge-street, but I apply it solely to the congregation or congregations assembled in the church or churches in this united kingdom, whose members, though professing Protestantism, a religion whose characteristics are liberality and good will towards all mankind, yet with the obstinacy of bigotry disgraced themselves in the late Session of Parliament, by denying that to others which they themselves enjoyed; can any thing be more barbarous?--can any thing be more inconsistent with the spirit of true religion?----
  [[italic]] The above is the interesting medium through which we generally intend to convey to the world our literary and political opinions. This anecdote will therefore be continued till further notice. [[/italic]]
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ARTICLE III.--MRS. RAMSBOTTOM IN CAMBRIDGE.

              [[italic]] Radish Ground Buildings. [[/italic]]
  DEAR SIR,--I was surprised to see my name in Mr. Bull's paper, for I give you my word I have not written a syllabub to him since I came to reside here, that I might enjoy the satiety of the literary and learned world.
  I have the honour of knowing many extinguished persons. I am on terms of the greatest contumacy with the Court of Aldermen, who first recommended your weekly dromedary to my notice, knowing that I myself was a great literati. When I am at home, and in the family way, I make Lavy read it to me, as I consider you the censure of the anniversary, and a great upholder of moral destruction.
  When I came here, I began reading Mechanics (written by that gentleman whose name you whistle). I thought it would be something like the Mechanics Magazine, which my poor dear Ram used to make me read to him, but I found them very foolish. What do I want to know about weights and measures and bull's-eyes, when I have left off trading. I have therefore begun a course of ugly-physics, which are very odd, and written by the Marquis of Spinningtoes.
  I think the Library of Trinity College is one of the most admiral objects here. I saw the busks of several gentlemen whose statues I had seen at Room, and who all received there edification
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[[poem handwritten in ink]]

To Charles Green. Aëronaut.
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Another Icarus is seen!
Th' intrepid, daring, fearless GREEN;
  Behold him in the Air!
Soaring in his huge balloon:
One day, perhaps he'll reach the Moon,
  And make her people stare.
2
Success attend him in his flight
On some new world, one day he'll 'light
  And be a wonder there;
The undaunted Aëronaut, no doubt,
Will bring the mighty scheme about
  And reign the Prince of Air!
3
How puny to his eyes must seem
The works of Man beneath I deem,
  Whilst mounted in the Air;
The highest palaces that are
Shrink to a point beneath his Car;
  And Men like Mites appear.

Copied by William Upcott
Aug:17. 1840
102 Upper Street, Islington.
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4
Ambition's highest flights how low,
Compar'd with those of GREEN we know;
  How mean is every plan
Of greatest Ministers of State.
They ne'er can rise at such a rate,
  Nor equal such a man.
5
He must have had a strong Cuirasse
Of triple steel or double brass,
  Who tempted first the Main;
Thus Roman Horace wrote I mean
But had he known our English GREEN,
  Oh! what had been his strain!
6
Fearless aloft the Aëronaut,
By the winds of Heaven caught,
  Behold him sail along;
To soar in my way too, I mean,
And celebrate the name of GREEN,
  The subject of my song -
T.S.H.

Portsea 22 July, 1829.
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