The National Register.
London, England, 1815-11-05 00:00:00

THE REGIMENT OF WANTS.

About the year 1704, a gentleman who was about six feet
five inches in height, was walking through the streets of Bath
a genteel looking passenger, surprised at his stature, sopped
suddenly to gaze upon him, and having contemplated him
with minute astonishment, began at last to freiceive that the
tall man looked displeased, and that he himself had transgress.
ed the rules of good breeding. Ile, therefo. e, apologised--
and having got into conversation with the of ji,et of his won-
der, ventured to inquire what countryman he was I. lam
au Irishman, Sir," said his new acquaintane.e—" Indeed)
and pray, Sir, are there many of your countrymen equal to
you in stature ?"--‘6 Lotd, Sir," replied the man of length.
"I am looked upon as a mere dwarf, in that country. lam
a member, Sir, of a volunteer corps near Cookstown, which is
divided into grenadiers, battalion, and light infantry men.
I am the centre man of the rear rank of the light infantry
body, and with the help of high heeled shoes, I d. not much
disgrace the appearance of the corps; but, `4ir. if you ho•
hour me with your company to-morrow to breakfast litre is
my card), I will introduce von to one of our g end ,iers amid
two of wit- battalion men." The Englishman g'acily a cepted
the invitation. At the appointed how he made his appear-
ance, and was ushered into the breakfast-room, where, be•
sides his tall host, he saw three other men, wit,. seemed to
him to be the giantic and many-toed sons of the Philistine
Rapna risen from the grave. The tali Iliheri.ian introduced
his taller ft iends—" This gentleman, Fit," said he, as he pre-
sented to his new acquaintance a man of eight feet two
inches in height, • is Mr. Bums, fly; grenadier of whom I
spoke." An uncouth smi'e played on the rough and im-
measurable visage of this second Goliath, as it soared aloft in
the confines of the ceiling. Ile thrust .orth his band. broad
as a mall 'hovel and fleshy Asa ham ,f pot k, and gave the
Lilliputian hands of the gazing Englishit an a hearty shake.

Mr. J. Knipe and his brother, the two tall battalion men,
were nuw introduced to the Englishmen. " These Gentle-

715

/nen (aid the bust) are each but seven feet two inches in •
it:time—they have degenerated from the magnitude of their
ancestors--however, when you consider that they arc twins—
this circumstance will account for the falling lift"
The fact was, that Minis (jusily called the It ish giant, and
the two K nitres, whose extraordinary statnre many ef ourrrad-
yrs must well remember, had artived the pee( ding day at
Bath, and had intended to exhibit themselves for money. Of
this the It ish gentleman, who was a bunimis:, had got notice,
and logl engaged them to play off this trick on the credulous
%Viten this party sat dawn to breakfast, the Englishman
looked like a wren that had accidentally introduced itself
amongst a flock of tut ke3s at their morning meal—or a
itidgeon amidst it family of stately flamingoes.
When Burns was a growing lad of ab,,ut seven feet ten !II
Inches in height, he was exhibited as a show in the city of
Aimagh. His bead was laige—his fare broad and ferocious
looking—his limbs strong. A shoe of his was left with Mr.
Peter Christy, of that place, who probably may et have it
p,•ssession.
The two Knives, who also were hil,ited tnnncy in
Armagh, were handsome, well made men, with nothing fierce, I
disgusting, or displeasing in their asvects. One of them was •
married to a very little woman. They possibly are vet alive.
Burns died y,unt..t in Looden through exces•ive drinking.
jtt complance with his will, his body was sunk in a loaded
pitriu at Graveseed. We believe it was rai,td tip by Sur-
geon Hunter's
.ifi(ler, and a skeleton made of ate bones.—
( Fria:vitas Journal.)