Page:Life of Edmond Malone.djvu/404

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MALONIANA.
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who though one of the weakest and most ignorant boors I have ever known, had got the common blackletter of Westminster Hall pretty ready, as soon as Harward had done, exclaimed, “You don’t suppose, Mr. Harward, that I take this to be law?” “Indeed, my Lord,” replied Harward, with his usual shrug and cough, ‘‘I don’t suppose you do!”


April 15, 1788.—Mr. Courtenay happening to dine yesterday with Lord Lansdown, took occasion to mention the Harley Papers which his lordship was said to have bought from the executors of Mr. West. The fact was so; but the much-talked-of letter of the Duke of Marlborough was not among them. Lord Lansdown said that Harley intended at first to have sent the original letter to Lord Duplin, but on second thoughts substituted an exact copy, lest the duke should destroy the original. When this copy was shown to the duke, he desired it might be given to him, and is supposed to have destroyed it. (See further particulars on this subject, p. 440.)


When the thermometer is as low as thirty-six, all vegetation ceases.—Sir J. Banks.


In a late conversation with Mr. Flood, speaking of my late uncle, Anthony Malone, he observed that such was Mr. Malone’s perspicuity and method, that, during the many years they sat in Parliament together, Mr. Flood never remembered a single instance where any one part of Mr. M.’s speech could be transferred with advantage. Every part seemed to follow