fJC)!. anecdotes. 135 



the last century, an esteemed work, entitled, " Ac- 

 count of Denmark." This writer spoke of the ar- 

 bitrary government of that kingdom, with that free- 

 dom whicii the liberty of England inspires. The king 

 of Denmark then reigning was ofFended at some re- 

 fl ctions of the author, and ordered his minister to 

 complain of them to William ill. king of England. 

 " What would you have me to do?" said W Uiam : 

 ' Sire,' replied the Da ilh jninister, ' if you had 

 complained to the king, my master, of such an offence, 

 he would have sent jou the head of the author.' 

 " That is what I neither will, nor can do ;" replied 

 the king ; " but, if you desire it, the author fhall 

 put what you have told me into the second edition of 

 his work." 



ANECDOTE OF A SAILOR. 

 One of the men who had been round the world 

 with commodore Byron, soon after his return to Eng- 

 land, went to his native place, where he was consi- 

 dered as a very extraordinary personage, and was in- 

 vited to a club of his townsmen, who expected to be 

 greatly edified by his conversation. It was plain 

 that a man who had been round the world must know 

 more of it than any other body. But the circumna- 

 vigator could give tliem but very little information 

 with respect to what he had seen in his voyage ; ahd 

 seemed to have very little to say for himself, till 

 some of the club began to question him about the 

 world being round : then he opened with a tone of 

 authority, '• as to that, I'll tell you what it is ; they 

 say the world is round ; but I have been all round it, 

 and, by G— d, it is isjlat as this table." 



