American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-06-25
CLERICAL ANECDOTES.
From the EdlnJurgh Magazine.

john DlSset was popuiar preacher anu Puohshc'
of sermons in Aberdeen, which rendered him an
object of dislike, IT not of envy, to some OF his
more indolent brethren. On one occasion he had
published sermon, which appeared from the press
on the day previous to meeting OF Presbytery -
On his way to the ecclesiastical court, a wagglsh
member called at tobacconiss, bought penny
worth OF snuff, and took private opportunity OF
wrapping it in the title page Of MIR Bissets newly
published sermun.-Eyery one knows that 1t is the
custom OF the reverend brethren to dine together,
when the business of the day is despatched After
the removal Of The cloth, some OF the company be-
gan to talk of Mr. Bissets's sermon, complimenting
him upon his interchangeable industry in publishing.
Vanity is, more or less the beselng sin Or to speak
more gently, the foible of all authors, from the
youthful poetascr, whose appear in an ephc-
neral newspaper, to the reverend divine, whose
preface tells you that his sole motive for publishing,
is the instruction OF the ignorant 1t would there
fore be exempting Mr. Bisset from the frailtes of
his species, to suppose that he utterly uncon-
scous OF the dignity OF authorship: il is even relat
ed that he rather oversepped the modesty which
should have attached to his cloth, affirming that his
sermon was calculated to be eminently useful to the
public. When the social glass had by its circula-
ton, produced hilarity and good humor the face
tious brother sent his snuff box round the table u
Upon being told that it was empty, " have SUPP
ply IN my pocket" SAID he, " send the box hhcr."
Having shaken the conterlts from the portentous
paper, he affected to give it hasty glance, and
tossing ii across the table, exclaimed All Johnny,
man, look at that This is hasly death indeed !!
scarcely ever saw the light Came from the press
only yesterday, and in the snuff-shop this morning
Sic transit gloria niundi However, our reverend
brother is rights you see that his publication is still
useful" The modification of the hapless author
was such, that out of compassion, before parting,
the jocose brother informed him that the whole had
its origin in a stroke of hu or.
Although little out of place here, the writer of
this begs to observe that the first time he saw
Roscoe's beautiful and nimitable Elegy to the me-
mory OF Burns, was on the fragment oil newspaper
which came from the tobacconists shop; which CO.
lpY he has still in his possession, pasted in book of
scraps.
Much about the same period as that of Mr. Bisset,
the Rev. X. S. was minister of &c; he used
to relate the following adventure, in which he was
engaged during his attendance at the University oil
st. Andrews 1t then happened as perhaps it does
STILL that many OF the students in divinity were the
children OF parents in the lower ranks Of life ; andI
instead OF having money TO spend in luxurious plea
sures, their finances were barely sufficient to supply
the hecessaries OF Lille; and many Of them were of
necessity obliged to live in the planes and most
frugal manner. number of them were in the
practice OF employing a cobler in the city, in the
way OF his profession; he was an old bachelor, a
dro sort of humorist, and fond of good living, both
IN eating and drinking. In the course Of their vi
sits to the son of St. Crispn it had been observed
that large stock of hams hung in the chimney 81
and more than one of them dec AIRED that the sight
made their mouths water AT last one more artful
than the rest, related to them that he had dreamed
OF having descended the cobler's chimney and made
prize OF some excellent hams, of which he was Just
about to make meal when he awoke.
ThIs as he afterwards acknowledged was fiction /
toll fnnl bo 49,
upon de4f acto exploit One of the party observ-
ed that there would be no great difficulty in pcr-
forming the teat, as the cobler's tenement was only
OF one story, and himself the sole occupant of the
premises and concluded by saying were it not for
the turpude OF the action, he should think it good
Joke. The leigned dreamer now struck in, and I'M.
dertook 70 prove logically that so far from being
criminal 1t would be vrtuous action to deprive the
cober of his hams For said he, we have all OBJ
served, that this vamper of our undersfandings is
much given TO tpplingin excess even to beas,y in
toxlcaton whereby he de5ases the man, Injuries
MS health, squanders his hard earned money, and
negiects MS business now neither man nor beastI
drinks, except when thirsty; and thirst is promoted
and increased by the injudicous and too frequent
use OF sailed and smoked meats. Ergo, take away
the cause and the effect will cease hence you must
an De convinced that the cobler would be gamer
by being deprived of few of his superluous HAMS
Thus, between Jest and earnest. the measure was
proposed and ultimately arranged, that maraudpp
party of three should make the attempt; one TO-
watch In front, another in the rear, and third to
make his descent by the chimney. Mr. S. was one
OF the trio drawn by lot and night fixed for the
expedition '
The nocturnal depredator descended with facility. s
ana had succeeded in stringing the plumber round
his neck; but I
-facilis descensus Averni,
20 v0c ad,p,
Hic labor, hoe opus est,
says the prince Of Roman poets and so il hammer.
ed here; for the marauder in reascendinp ost his
bold, either with hands or feet /. and he snddanIr