4O6 MACKLIN. sarcasm; but in wit and humour, Foote was greatly his superior. Foote likewise had the talent of keeping his temper, which still added to his superiority. One night as Macklin was preparing to begin his lecture, and hear ing a buz in the room, he spied Foote in a corner, talking and laughing most immoderately. This he thought a safe time to rebuke him, as he had not begun his lecture, and consequently could not be subject to any criticism: he therefore cried out with some authority, “Well, Sir, you seem to be very merry there: but do you know what I am going to say now * “No, Sir,” says Foote, “Pray do you?” The ready and unembarrassed manner of this reply drew on such a burst of laughter, as silenced the lecturer for some minutes; nor could he then get on, till called upon by the general voice of the company. Another time Macklin undertook to shew the causes of duelling in Ireland; and why it was much more the practice of that nation than any other. In order to do this in his own way, he began with the earliest part of the Irish history, as it respected the customs, the education, and the animal spirits of the inhabitants; and after getting as far as the reign of Queen Elizabeth, he was again pro ceeding, when Foote spoke to order. “Well, Sir; what have you to say on this subject?”—“Only to crave a little attention, Sir,” says Foote, with much seeming modesty, “when I think I can settle this point in a few words.” “Well, Sir; go on.” “Why then, Sir,” says Foote, “to begin, what o'clock is it?” “O'clock!” says Macklin, “what has the clock to do with a dissertation on duelling " “Pray, Sir,” says Foote, “be pleased to answer my question.” Macklin, on this, pulled out his watch, and reported the hour to be half-past ten. “Very well,” says Foote; “about this time of the night, every gentleman in Ireland, that can possibly afford i t , i s i n his , third bottle o f claret, consequently i s i n a fair way o f get ting drunk; from drunkenness proceeds quarrelling, and from quarrelling duelling; and s o there's a n end o f the chapter.”—The company seemed fully satisfied with this
