I cannot speak or talk, as it were, because I am not particularly ready at the making of a speech, due partly to the fact that I am not much of a talker anyhow, and seldom if ever speak.

I will therefore not bore you by attempting to speak, since a speech by one who like myself is, as you are possibly aware, not a fluent nor indeed in any sense an eloquent speaker, is apt to be a bore to those who will be kind enough to listen to my remarks, but will read instead the first five chapters of the _Vicar of Wakefield_." "Who suggested any such night as this, anyhow ?" growled Carlyle.

"Five chapters of the _Vicar of Wakefield_ for a starter! Lord save us, we'll need a Vicar of Sleepfield if he's allowed to do this!" "I move we adjourn," said Darwin.
"Can't something be done to keep these younger members quiet ?" asked Solomon, frowning upon Carlyle and Darwin.
"Yes," said Douglas Jerrold.

"Let Goldsmith go on.

He'll have them asleep in ten minutes." Meanwhile, Goldsmith was plodding earnestly through his stint, utterly and happily oblivious of the effect he was having upon his audience.
"This is awful," whispered Wellington to Bonaparte.
"Worse than Waterloo," replied the ex-Emperor, with a grin; "but we can stop it in a minute.