I have always had a regard for dunces,--those of my own school days were among the pleasantest of the fellows, and have turned out by no means the dullest in life; whereas, many a youth who could turn off Latin hexameters by the yard, and construe Greek quite glibly, is no better than a feeble prig now, with not a pennyworth more brains than were in his head before his beard grew." "In the winter of 1824, there set in a great flood upon the town of Sidmouth, the tide rose to a terrible height.

In the midst of this sublime and terrible storm, Dame Partington, who lived upon the beach, was seen at the door of her house, with mop and pattens, trundling her mop, squeezing out the sea-water, and vigorously pushing away the Atlantic Ocean.

The Atlantic was roused.

Mrs.Partington's spirit was up: but I need not tell you the contest was unequal; the Atlantic Ocean beat Mrs.Partington.She was excellent at a slop or a puddle, but she should not have meddled with a tempest." How many Dame Partingtons there are of both sexes, and in every walk of life! The young swan is restless and uneasy until she finds the element she has never before seen.

Then, "With arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows Her state with oary feet." What a wretched failure was that of Haydon the painter.