Chapter XL

Artists, medical men, and engineers are much to be feared by those persons who are apt to talk a little sometimes on matters which they do not very well understand. If, reader, you are, like me, subject to this infirmity, mind what you are about when any professional men are present.

R. P.

_Whitehall, February, 1842._

London: Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street

FOOTNOTES:

[G] Acting on this principle, I was once supposed to have killed a brace less than nothing, viz., I went out partridge shooting with two other persons. At the end of the day one of these said that he had killed twelve brace, and the other claimed eleven brace. When the birds were afterwards counted, the number of them was forty-four. I therefore conclude that the brace which was wanting must have been considered as my share of the day's sport.

[H]

"Whose iron scourge and torturing hour
The bad _extract, and clean_ the best."

[I]

"Thus fell two heroes, one the pride of Thrace,
And one the leader of the Epeian race;
Death's sable shade at once o'ercast their eyes:
_In dish_, the vanquish'd and the victor lies."

_Pope says_, "In dust."

[J] _e. g._ Vide quotation, p. 56.

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Transcriber's Notes:

The original text does not have a table of contents. One was created for this version.

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Page 6, illustration caption, "asssitant" changed to "assistant" (an expert assistant)

Page 37, "your's" changed to "yours" (heavier than yours)

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