DR. HUNT. 229 



and admired his talents, enjoyed his agreeable soci- 

 ety, and were amused by the oddness of his cha- 

 racter. He is now no more, and his like will not 

 soon be seen again. 



It is now time to return to Dr. Hastings and his 

 party. On retiring to the library after dinner, the 

 conversation went on with considerable brilliancy, 

 and Dr Hunt surprized his auditors with the depth 

 of his reasoning, and the shrewdness of his remarks. 

 Fond, however, as he was of talking, he had a still 

 greater liking for a bit of backgammon, and there- 

 fore turning to Dr. Hastings, he exclaimed 



Come bring the table out give me my box 

 Be seated, doctor, the chance is all against you. 

 Come, Sir, dispatch if thou can'st, doctor, cast 

 Aces at first throw, hit dextrously a blot, 

 And by quick taking off, a gammon win 

 The dice shall rattle to the very echo. 



After playing a few hits, the supper tray was 

 brought in, and Mrs. Hastings, knowing Dr. Hunfs 

 fondness for oysters, had procured some. As soon 

 as he saw them, he rubbed his hands with great glee, 

 and parodying a well-known passage in Macbeth, 

 said 



I have almost forgot the taste of oysters. 

 The time has been my appetite would rise 

 To hear them cried, and oft I in the Strand 

 Have at a green stall stopp'd to eat a score 

 For morning wet 



When our friend, the doctor, had dispatched 



