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" made a collection," said Walpole, "of the witty sayings of Charles II., and a collection of bon-mots by people who only said one witty thing in the whole course of their lives." Both these collections are, it is believed, unfortunately lost. The former deficiency I have however attempted to supply (I fear imperfectly) in the following chapter; regarding remarkable sayings as among the very best illustrations of individual character and manners.

The satirical epitaph written upon King Charles II. at his own request, by his witty favourite the Earl of Rochester, is said to be not more severe than it is just:

How witty was the reply. "The matter," he observed,