IX.THAT THE WORST PUNS ARE THE BEST.

Compare the reflections on puns in the essay on "Distant Correspondents."

Cary's account of a punning contest after Lamb's own heart makes the company vie with each in puns on the names of herbs.

Cary, H.F., his verses on Lamb, 426. on Lamb's puns, 441. Cave, Edward, 344.

his grandmother, 115. on Blakesware, 116. on distant correspondents, 118. on Lord Camelford's whim, 121. on puns, 122. on Australia, 122. on chimney-sweepers, 124. on Saloop, 125. and fine teeth, 127.

on disputants, 291. on puns, 292.

THE WORST PUNS ARE THE BEST, 292, 440.

Each Inmate shall be permitted to make Puns freely from eight in the morning until ten at night, except during Service in the Chapel and Grace before Meals.

At ten o'clock the gas will be turned off, and no further Puns, Conundrums, or other play on words will be allowed to be uttered, or to be uttered aloud.

Inmates who have lost their faculties and cannot any longer make Puns shall be permitted to repeat such as may be selected for them by the Chaplain out of the work of Mr. Joseph Miller.

Violent and unmanageable Punsters, who interrupt others when engaged in conversation, with Puns or attempts at the same, shall be deprived of their Joseph Millers, and, if necessary, placed in solitary confinement.

7. Certain Puns having been placed on the Index Expurgatorius of the Institution, no Inmate shall be allowed to utter them, on pain of being debarred the perusal of Punch and Vanity Fair, and, if repeated, deprived of his Joseph Miller.

The following are also prohibited, excepting to such Inmates as may have lost their faculties and cannot any longer make Puns of their own: "your own hair or a wig"; "it will be long enough," etc., etc.; "little of its age," etc., etc.; also, playing upon the following words: hospital; mayor; pun; pitied; bread; sauce, etc., etc., etc.

" His first letter to her overflows with nonsense and meaningless rhymes, puns, and quibbles, such as: "Ich hoffe, Sie werden auch meinen Brieftrief, welchen ich Ihnen aus Mannheim geschrieben erhalten habenschaben.

" With her name he puns on Bäsle and Bass, thence, "Bäschen oder Violoncellchen"a little bass-viol or violoncelline.

He revels in puns and gossip.

Each Inmate shall be permitted to make Puns freely from eight in the morning until ten at night, except during Service in the Chapel and Grace before Meals.

At ten o'clock the gas will be turned off, and no further Puns, Conundrums, or other play on words, will be allowed to be uttered, or to be uttered aloud.

Inmates who have lost their faculties and cannot any longer make Puns shall be permitted to repeat such as may be selected for them by the Chaplain out of the work of Mr. Joseph Miller.

Violent and unmanageable Punsters, who interrupt others when engaged in conversation, with Puns or attempts at the same, shall be deprived of their Joseph Millers, and, if necessary, placed in solitary confinement.

7. Certain Puns having been placed on the Index Expurgatorius of the Institution, no Inmate shall be allowed to utter them, on pain of being debarred the perusal of Punch and Vanity Fair, and, if repeated, deprived of his Joseph Miller.

The following are also prohibited, excepting to such Inmates as may have lost their faculties and cannot any longer make Puns of their own: "your own hair or a wig"; "it will be long enough, "etc., etc.; "little of its age," etc., etc.;also, playing upon the following words: hospital; mayor; pun; pitied; bread; sauce, etc., etc., etc. See INDEX EXPURGATORIUS, printed for use of Inmates.

Mr. White tells us that on and one were pronounced alike, because Speed puns upon their assonance.

We believe the pronunciation of Shakspeare's day to have been so qualified with perfectly understood provincialisms as to have allowed puns and rhymes impossible now.

A book of interesting and amusing puns.