"FLASHES OF MERRIMENT;" OR, A NEW ROAD TO WIT AND PLEASANTRY, CUT THROUGH THE NEWSPAPERS. [From the Morning Post.]" Ecce iterum, Momus. ""Tis pleasant to amuse, By clippings from the News." THE Opera of False Alarms Нов. Went off at score, and kept the lead the whole way to the end. Whatever may be the event of war "All in the Wrong" has, of late, been performed both "At Home and Abroad." Twenty Shares of 100l. each Wanted, by some Gentlemen in the Rules of the King's Bench, board and lodgings. On a Motion in the House by Mr., sitting Member for the debate took a long and interesting turn; when a ballot being demanded and taken, the Ayes had it by a great majority, for the Question of N. B. Dinner on Table at six precisely. having metThey discharged a pistol cach without effect; when the affair was amicably adjusted by the interference of the seconds. As the Watchman of St.-n's parish was going his rounds The burglary was committed without the least interruption, the family being all from home on a Christmas festival. Prince Jerome has not yet obtained The wages due to his past conduct: the Magistrate, justly observed, he deserved a halter, and that, for the present, he had had a miraculous escape, The difference of opinion between Ministers and Mr. Whitbread We are led to believe began and ended in smoke only, as no fire appeared on a general search being made by the firemen. The prevalent rage of mad dogs and puppies, about town It is said the gang were too numerous to be suppressed; but his Worship has issued proper orders on so alarming an occasion, and hopes are entertained of their being properly dealt with. ་་་ Persons afflicted with the Rheumatism, when all other things fail, may find a sure remedy— In dying-the hair to any colour, these oils are found most efficacious. As two Gentlemen were sauntering down Jermyn Street, they were suddenly stopt By the rattling of the dice-box-much business is supposed to be carried on in a neighbouring square, due west. There is no truth in the report of Bonaparte Being taken and carried to the office in Marlborough Street, and was committed for further examination, on suspicion, various implements of burglary being found upon him. Non constat-but he's the man. Mr. Morton's new Comedy, entitled Town and Country Yesterday underwent a final examination, and was committed for immediate trial. The malicious reports of Madame Catalani and her husband being suspected as Spies Mr. Kelly, Acting Manager of the Opera House, has reset in his happiest manner, and may be had at his Saloon Music-shop in Pall Mall-By Authority. > The rage of Private Theatricals is such, that Doctors' Commons was never known so full of employ, as for the ensuing Term. It It may be truly said of the Opposition, that— On hearing the evidence on both sides, his Lordship informed the Jury they must find all the parties guilty, but would do well to recommend them to mercy. MOMUS. THE MILLER WITH THREE THUMBS: MR. EDITOR, A PROPHECY. [From the British Press.] ALL persons at all conversant with English prophecies, are very familiar with the predictions of Nixon, the Cheshire prophet, who delivered his oracles in the reign of James I. Nixon was a peasantboy, bred up on the estate of the Cholmondeley family, at Vale Royal, in the county of Chester. About the age of 15 or 16, he neglected his work, and began to utter those prophecies which have, excited the wonder, and the accomplishment of which forms part of the creed, of the good people of Cheshire, even to this hour. His prophecies, that the park wall would fall down, and the owner of the mansion be hanged before his own door, having been fulfilled, the first unaccountably, and the second by the accident of Mr. Cholmondeley's getting his neck entangled in the loop of a hay-rope as he was riding into his courtyard, at night, gave him a reputation through the kingdom, which has since been enhanced by the accomplishment of the prophecy, that he should himself be starved to death. The prophecy which now particularly engrosses the attention of the. people of this county, is that in which Nixon foretels, that- in the reign of George, the son of George, the son of George, the son of George, a Miller shall be born with three thumbs, who shall hold the horses of three kings, Jetween between whom England shall be bought and sold.” The people here observe, that, at the time this prophecy was spoken by the boy, for he could neither read nor write, it was impossible for any one to foresee, otherwise than by inspiration, that there would have been even one sovereign, much less a line of them, of the name of George, in this country. Now, Sir, for the strange solution given here to this prediction. We all recollect the interview between Bonaparte and the Emperor of Austria at a mill, the then residence of the former, which, amongst us, is deemed sufficient to constitute him a miller. The difficulty which would next present itself respecting the three thumbs, is completely removed by a story prevailing amongst us, that Bonaparte was born with the impression of a thumb on his left ear, in consequence of his father, who was a surly jealouspated little Corsican, having pulled his wife's ear rather sharply, when the good dame was pregnant with the embryo Emperor. If this account be correct, (and who will take Bonaparte by the ears to ascertain it?) this mark, in addition to his two natural thumbs, as far as relates to the Miller with three thumbs, is a literal fulfilment of the prediction. With respect to holding the horses of three kings, that is equally easy of solution. We have only to suppose, what indeed must at all events be probable, that, when the interview took place at Bonaparte's mill, the two Emperors were on horseback. Now, these two in themselves constitute three Kings; as Bonaparte is King of Italy, and the Emperor Francis, King of Bohemia and King of Hungary. In respect to holding the horses, it does not signify whether Bonaparte himself was the groom upon that occasion or not. It is sufficient that they were held, and that he, the Miller, was the means of doing it; for it is not necessary that a prophecy should be fulfilled in the manner! that that people may understand at the time, otherwise the prophecy which related to Mr. Cholmondeley, would not have been verified by the accident of his riding into the yard, so as to have his neck entangled in the loop of a hay-rope, as was the fact, or unless he was executed by a course of law. We come now, Sir, to the last and most important point, of England being bought and sold, at this conference between the Kings, which must be left for time and events to determine; for, at present, I think it a mere matter of conjecture. It is not unusual for people to buy and sell, upon speculation, that which they never may be in possession of; but, though my opinion is, that it is not in the power of those, or any other kings, to barter between them a single acre of Old England, the attention of some of my neighbours is, however, so much engrossed with this prophecy, that I fear there is danger of our being, this year, deprived of a considerable part of that excellent old Cheshire cheese, for which, perhaps, you, as well as myself, have ininitely more relish than for all the boding prophecies hat Nixon ever uttered. Chester, January 11. DAVID FLUEllen.. I CHARACTER OF THE LATE MR. PITT.. MR. EDITOR, SHALL be obliged by your early insertion of the following article; which, from your liberal plan of holding your Paper open to free discussion, may be published without pledging you to any agreement in its principle. "De mortuis nil nisi bonum." This sentiment has, from its humanity, obtained at general concurrence, and it has been deemed illiberal |