IGNORANCE FROM EXPECTED INTELLIGENCE.

The professor of music in the university is not likely to be so well acquainted with the classics, as with the harmony of sweet sounds. A candidate for a degree is always presented in a Latin address to the vice chancellor, in full senate, by the professor in the faculty in which the degree is to be conferred. It became the duty of the professor of music to present a candidate for the degree of doctor of music. Of Latin he knew not a word, and was half inclined to resign his professorship: but, upon being told that it was a mere form, and that he had only to repeat the words which he would find in the book, he summoned courage, and resolved to meet the arduous duty. The awful day arrived, and the professor with the book in his left hand, and the candidate in his right, walked slowly up the senate-house. Arrived at the vice chancellor's chair, he made the usual obeisance; and read in an audible voice; "Presento tibi, domine, vice cancellar, hunc virum vel hos viros; quem vel quos credo esse idoneum vel idoneos ad intrandum in arte musicâ."

Another, and rather common feeling of superiority of this species arises from the particular mode in which professional men view all subjects.

In the year 1765, the important question with respect to the propriety of taxing America, as she

was not represented in Parliament, was discussed in the House of Commons. The debate occupied the attention of the house for three successive days, and called forth all the abilities of the country. At the conclusion of the third debate, at three o'clock in the morning, Sir James Marriott, Judge of the Court of Admiralty, rose. He said, "That upon this important subject, he could not conscientiously give a silent vote, particularly as the question appeared to him during the whole argument, to have been entirely mistaken. The question discussed had been with respect to the propriety of taxing America, as she was not represented; whereas, in truth, and in fact, America was represented: for upon our first landing in America, we took possession of that continent, as part and parcel of the manor of East Greenwich, in the county of Kent." This curious legal discovery produced such a convulsion of laughter that the business of the house was interrupted for many minutes. This laughter was the best answer to the learned civilian's argument.

LAUGHTER IN PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES.

In public assemblies, as houses of the legislature, courts of justice, places of worship, the pomps of office are outward signs of superiority, by which each of the audience may easily under

stand that he is relatively inferior; every thing therefore, that lowers this artificial solemnity and removes the restraint, raises the audience.

House of Commons.

A man fell asleep in the gallery of the House of Commons. He awoke suddenly, and in the midst of a speech, he called out, "Let's have a song!" The house was in a convulsion of laughter. The speaker, with the agitation of offended dignity, called out, "Sergeant at Arms, bring him to the bar." The serjeant at arms instantly proceeded to the gallery and demanded the culprit. The whole gallery pointed to a Quaker, who was sitting in quiet solemnity. To his horror he was dragged to the bar. He assured the house that they were wickedly imposed upon, that he never sung in his life, and that it was contrary to the tenets of his persuasion to yield to such intemperate mirth, and, having said this, he stood as motionless as a statue.-The laughter was irresistible.

Courts of Justice.

In courts of justice, almost any absurdity excites laughter.

An Irishman being arraigned for felony, the clerk of the arraigns said in his usual audible voice, "How will you be tried?" "By no one, an' please your lordship," said the prisoner.

K

In an assault cause, the counsel for the plaintiff, in stating his case to the jury, said, “The defendant, a foreigner, a powerful athletic man"-Up rose a little creature and cried out, "Me, powerful athletic man!"

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Some years ago, when I was on the circuit, the judge in the midst of a trial, to the astonishment of us all, leaped up and stood upon the bench on which he had been sitting. velin man!" he called out with a loud voice, "take away this dog, he has bit my leg." The javelin man instantly arrived. He stooped down to take the dog, who growled tremendously. "Please you, my lord, I dar'nt touch him," said the javelin man.

Churches.

Laughter, in places of worship is of the same nature, although, perhaps, greater in degree from the greater solemnity.

Lackington, in his life, says, "This reminds me of a fact which happened a few years since at W. As the good doctor, who was one of the most absent of living beings, and was extremely fond of music, was going one Sunday morning to the cathedral, he heard a woman crying "Mackerel, all alive, alive O!"

And on his ar

rival at the church, he began the service as follows: "When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful

and right, he shall save his soul alive, alive O!” These last words the doctor proclaimed aloud in the true tone of the fish-woman, to the great surprise of the congregation; but the good man was so studious and absent, that he knew not what he had done.

"Who is your spiritual pastor?" said an excellent clergyman to one of the charity girls. "The Devil," answered the child.

Upon the death of a rector of a parish in the country, there was a dispute between the neighbouring clergymen, who should officiate during the vacancy, a dispute which originated in the supposition that the temporary supply of the vacancy might be a recommendation to the patron in the gift of the living. One of the competitors was a very thin man; his opponent was short and fat. The tall thin man, in order that he might secure the performance of the duty, took his seat in the reading desk at six o'clock in the morning, which was an effectual bar to his opponent, as the only mode of ascending the pulpit was through the reading desk. When the communion service was concluded, the tall priest slipped off his surplice, and ascended solemnly up the pulpit-stairs. The little man instantly arose upon a hassock in the pulpit, and said "Let us pray."-He had been there all night.

The ticklish nature of laughter, the fine thread upon which it depends, may be seen by the mode