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 am sorry," said the lady, "I never had the pleasure of hearing of it." "No!" said Dicky; "you surprise me, ma'am. I will venture to say, it is a history that contains views, neither to be found in Hume, Robertson, or Gibbon." The lady answered, "I have not the least doubt of it, sir." At this reply, our hero perceiving that the lady comprehended Mr. Scribble, burst out into a laugh. Scribble turning about angrily, to his great surprise saw that Hamilton was the laugher, and was sitting close by him. "Hamilton," said Scribble, "is it you that are making so boisterous a noise? You seem to form your manners on the model of Squire Western, whose character you so greatly admire; though, as I have often demonstrated, it contains not one particle of humour, but to please the very grossest taste and conception."