1827.] A Lecture on Giants, 599 



more likely was it that people were oppressors because they were giants, 

 than that they should be deemed giants because they were cruel. This, 

 however, is saying but very little for the excellencies of character attri- 

 butable to the mighty ; and it is allowed, in fact, that the old ones of all 

 were very bad people. But come we to more modern times, and vou really 

 shall find your giant a remarkably civil man, to say the least much to his 

 credit, too especially if all the rude boys of the village run after and 

 hoot at him. Now, though to speak of the living is riot the most polished 

 act in the world, pray let it be said, that M. Louis is as courteous, 

 obliging, and well-behaved a man as any little English grasshopper would 

 like to see. Jt is really quite amusing sometimes to observe the placability 

 and self-comfort of large men. On a stage-coach, now, this may be seen. 

 You may notice a little dapper, dwarfish fellow giving himself prodigious 

 airs, and rustling about the conveyance in a hundred ways; and, no 

 doubt, without meaning it, he will touch, as roughly as his capacity 

 will permit, some grave, huge barbarian (not in an obnoxious sense) on 

 the side of him. The man of might will sit quiet as a lamb not regard- 

 ing in the slightest an action which might do great credit to an insect, or 

 some small animal. Giant O' Bryan was a very polite, well-conducted 

 giant, as far as one can learn from report ; and, upon the whole, although 

 seven or eight feet are not quite so much as fifteen or twenty, there is a 

 sufficient difference between eight, and five feet two, three, or four inches, 

 to make a great fellow highly pleased with himself aye, and cruel, too 

 but that he has the good sense to adopt the manners and customs of his 

 more enlightened age. 



Perhaps some of the critics in giantships may not be particularly pleased 

 that the Patagonians are not mentioned ; but they must know that, in the 

 first place, it is not respectful to speak of living characters ; and, in the 

 next, that there are two or three stories abroad already about these same 

 Patagonians. 



Most likely some of our voyaging authors saw persons not much above 

 six feet, when they expected a tribe ccelo capita altaferentes ;* and others 

 Byron, for instance might have popped upon some pleasant-looking 

 party of seven feet at a time, when he was indulging no idea of man beyond 

 English pygmies ; and when, moreover, he was perhaps shrunk much into 

 himself for want of something to eat. 



But you will s&ydesine plum precor we have had enough of giants ; 

 what can be said of dwarfs ? 



" The lesse the subject, greater is the wit, 

 That undertaking for to treate on it, 

 Makes almost nothing something." 



Of Nature's " rarest gems in smallest cabinets," this paper cannot be 

 allowed to speak for it must now be closed. In parting, however, let us 

 indulge a gentle recollection of good Will Evans and poor little Jefferie 

 Hudson : the first was King Charles the First's porter, and only seven 

 feet and a half high ; the other was his dwarf, of three feet nine inches, 

 and owed his introduction at court to the delicacies of a cold baked pie, in 

 which he was served up. This compendious little Sir had many squabbles 

 with Master Will Evans, and was one day drawn forth out of the said big 

 man's pocket at a masque pourfaire rire. Yet, goaded and pickled by 



* " Bearing their high heads to heaven." 



