MEMOIRS OP 



faftidioufnefs of tafte and feeling, as re- 

 corded by Mafon, glanced bright and cold 

 through his converfation, while it feerned 

 difficult to define its nature ; and while its 

 effects were rather perceived than felt, ex- 

 citing furprife more than mirth, and never 

 awakening the pained fenfe of being the 

 objecT: of its ridicule. That unique in 

 humorous verfe, the Long Story, is a com- 

 plete and beautiful fpecimen of Gray's 

 Singular vein. 



Darwinian wit is not more eafy to be 

 defined ; tnjlances will beft convey an idea 

 of its character to thofe who never con- 

 verfed with its pofleffor. To give fuch as 

 are recollected at this moment, it will be 

 neceflary to recall Mr. Robinfon, already 

 mentioned as a choice fpirit of Lichfield. 

 His perpetual ftream of frolic raillery was 

 of a fpecies fo fingular, as to have exclu- 

 fively obtained, wherever he was known, 

 the title of retfor, " The Reftor," as if 

 there were no other. The odd excurfions 



of 



