MR. CARROLL'S JOKES. loi 



machine which was then just new, and the first ever used 

 in the Vale of Aylesbury, and how pleased the Chief 

 Justice was. The machine did its work well, although 

 one of the earliest ever turned out by Walter Wood. 

 It had a wooden frame, and was made at Hoosick 

 Falls, U.S., America, and Colonel Cranston (Mr. Wood's 

 partner) came down specially to drive and start it. The 

 Rev. Christopher Erie died at a ripe old age, and was 

 buried in Hartwell Churchyard, regretted by all who 

 knew him. By his will he left a considerable sum of 

 money to build a convalescent ward to the Bucks 

 General Infirmary. 



Mr. Wm. Carroll, of Suffolk Street, Pall Mall, was 

 wine merchant to the Royal Hunt Club, as he had been 

 an original member of the club, but a little extra gaiety 

 and sport had brought down " his noble to ninepence." 

 Carroll was an Irishman of the most genial type, and as 

 a post-prandial conversationalist he has been rarely 

 equalled. Some of his stories would be a little too broad 

 for publication nowadays, but one he told with great 

 gusto, and with his richest of all rich brogues, I well 

 remember. Before the Roman Catholic Relief Bill was 

 passed, every Irish voter was asked before he polled, 

 of what religion he was ? Of course every scheme 

 was tried to evade the question, for if he proved to be 

 a Roman Catholic the vote was lost. Tim Raffety 

 presented himself at the polling-booth at one of the 

 Irish borough elections, and was asked the usual 

 question, " What religion are ye .'* " Answer, " Bi gor, 

 sor, and I am the same religion as me forefathers." — 

 '' Come, Tim, that won't do ; tell us plainly." No other 



