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I do not mean to be disrespectful, but the attempt of the Lords to stop the progress of reform, reminds me very forcibly of the great storm of Sidmouth, and of the conduct of the excellent Mrs. Partington on that occasion. In the winter of 1824, there set in a great flood upon that town-the tide rose to an incredible height: the waves rushed in upon the houses, and everything was threatened with destruction. In the midst of this sublime and terrible storm, Dame Partington, who lived upon the beach, was seen at the door of her house with mop and pattens, trundling her mop, squeezing out the sea water, and vigorously pushing away the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic was roused. Mrs. Partington's spirit was up; but I need not tell you that the contest was unequal. The Atlantic Ocean beat Mrs. Partington. She was excellent at a slop or a puddle, but she should not have meddled with a tempest.

SYDNEY SMITH-Speech at Tuunton. Oct., 1831.

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L'institut des Jesuites est une épée dont la poignée est à Rome et la pointe partout.

The Order of Jesuits is a sword whose handle is at Rome and whose point is every where.

ANDRÉ M. J. DUPIN-Procès de tendance. (1825) Quoted by him as found in a letter to MLLE. VOLAND from ABBÉ RAYNAL. ROUSSEAU quotes it from D'AUBIGNÉAnti-Coton, who ascribes it to the saying of the Society of Jesus which is "a sword, the blade of which is in France, and the handle in Rome."

22

I do not find that the age or country makes the least difference; no, nor the language the actors spoke, nor the religion which they professed. whether Arab in the desert or Frenchman in the Academy, I see that sensible men and conscientious men all over the world were of one religion.

EMERSON Lectures and Biographical Sketches. The Preacher. P. 215.

(See also BURNET)

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