Equivoque.

COPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY CARDINAL RICHELIEU TO THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR AT ROME.

to

the

a8 his passport to your protection,
discreet, the wisest and
least
or have had the pleasure to converse with.
to write to you in his favor, and
together with ຄ letter of credence ;
his real merit, rather I must say, than to
his modesty is only exceeded by his worth,
wanting in serving him on account of being
I should be afflicted if you were
misled on that score, who now esteem him,
wherefore,
and from no other motive

First read the letter across, then double it in the middle, and read the first column. SIR,-Mons. Compigne, a Savoyard by birth, a Friar of the order of Saint Benedict, is the man who will present to you this letter. He is one of the most meddling persons that I have ever known He has long earnestly solicited me give him a suitable character, which I have accordingly granted to his importunity; for, believe me, Sir, I should be sorry that you should be misinformed of his real character; as some other gentlemen have been, and those among the best of my friends; I think it my duty to advertise you that you are most particularly desired, to have especial attention to all he does, to show him all the respect imaginable, nor venture to say any thing before him, that may either offend or displease him in any sort; for I may truly say, there is no man I love so much as M. Compigne, none whom I should more regret to see neglected, as no one can be more worthy to be received and trusted in decent society. Base, therefore, would it be to injure him. And I well know, that as soon as you are made sensible of his virtues, and shall become acquainted with him you will thank me for this my advice. Courtesy obliges me to desist from saying any thing more on this subject.

you will love him as I do; and then The assurance I entertain of your urging this matter to you further, or Believe me, Sir, &c. RICHELIEU.

A LOVE-LETTER.

The reader, after perusing it, will please read it again, commencing on the first line, then the third and fifth, and so on, reading each alternate line to the end.

To MISS M.

-The great love I have hitherto expressed for you

is false and I find my indifference towards you
-increases daily. The more I see of you, the more
you appear in my eyes an object of contempt.
-I feel myself every way disposed and determined
to hate you. Believe me, I never had an intention
-to offer you my hand. Our last conversation has
left a tedious insipidity, which has by no means
-given me the most exalted idea of your character.
Your temper would make me extremely unhappy
-and were we united, I should experience nothing but
the hatred of my parents added to the anything but
-pleasure in living with you. I have indeed a heart
to bestow, but I do not wish you to imagine it
-at your service. I could not give it to any one more
inconsistent and capricious than yourself, and less
-capable to do honor to my choice and to my family.
Yes, Miss, I hope you will be persuaded that
-I speak sincerely, and you will do me a favor

to avoid me. I shall excuse you taking the trouble
-to answer this. Your letters are always full of
impertinence, and you have not a shadow of
-wit and good sense. Adieu! adieu! believe me
so averse to you, that it is impossible for me even
-to be your most affectionate friend and humble
servant.

L.

INGENIOUS SUBTERFUGE.

A young lady newly married, being obliged to show to her husband all the letters she wrote, sent the following to an intimate friend. The key is, to read the first and then every alternate line only.

-I cannot be satisfied, my dearest friend!

blest as I am in the matrimonial state, -unless I pour into your friendly bosom,

which has ever been in unison with mine, -the various sensations which swell

with the liveliest emotion of pleasure,
-my almost bursting heart. I tell you my dear
husband is the most amiable of men,

-I have now been married seven weeks, and
never have found the least reason to

-repent the day that joined us. My husband is
both in person and manners far from resembling
-ugly, cross, old, disagreeable, and jealous
monsters, who think by confining to secure-
-a wife, it is his maxim to treat as a

bosom friend and confidant, and not as a
-plaything, or menial slave, the woman
chosen to be his companion. Neither party
-he says, should always obey implicitly;
but each yield to the other by turns.
-An ancient maiden aunt, near seventy,

a cheerful, venerable, and pleasant old lady,
-lives in the house with us; she is the de-
light of both young and old; she is ci-
-vil to all the neighborhood round,

generous and charitable to the poor.

-I am convinced my husband loves nothing more
than he does me; he flatters me more

-than a glass; and his intoxication

(for so I must call the excess of his love)

-often makes me blush for the unworthiness

of its object, and wish I could be more deserving

-of the man whose name I bear. To

say all in one word, my dear, and to

-crown the whole-my former gallant lover
is now my indulgent husband; my husband

-is returned, and I might have had

a prince without the felicity I find in

-him. Adieu! may you be blest as I am un-
able to wish that I could be more

--happy.

DOUBLE-FACED CREED.

The following cross-reading from a history of Popery, published in 1679, and formerly called in New England The Jesuits' Creed, will suit either Catholic or Protestant accordingly as the lines are read downward in single columns or across the double columns:—

Pro fide teneo sana
Affirmat quæ Romana
Supremus quando rex est
Erraticus tum Grex est
Altari cum ornatur
Populus tum beatur
Asini nomen meruit
Missam qui deseruit

I hold for faith

What Rome's church saith,
Where the king is head
The flock's misled,
Where the altar's drest
The people's blest,
He's but an ass

Who shuns the mass,

Quæ docet Anglicana,
Videntur mihi vana.
Tum plebs est fortunata,
Cum caput fiat papa.
Communio fit inanis,
Cum mensa vina panis.
Hune morem qui non capit,
Catholicus est et sapit.

What England's church allows,
My conscience disavows.
The flock can take no shame,
Who hold the pope supreme.
The worship's scarce divine,
Whose table's bread and wine.
Who their communion flies,
Is Catholic and wise.

REVOLUTIONARY VERSES.

The author of the following Revolutionary double entendre, which originally appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper, is unknown. It may be read in three different ways,-1st. Let the whole be read in the order in which it is written; 2d. Then the lines downward on the left of each comma in every line; and 3d. In the same manner on the right of each comma. By the first reading it will be observed that the Revolutionary cause is condemned, and by the others, it is encouraged and lauded :Hark! hark! the trumpet sounds, the din of war's alarms,

O'er seas and solid grounds, doth call us all to arms;
Who for King George doth stand, their honors soon shall shine;
Their ruin is at hand, who with the Congress join.
The acts of Parliament, in them I much delight,
I hate their cursed intent, who for the Congress fight,
The Tories of the day, they are my daily toast,
They soon will sneak away, who Independence boast;
Who non-resistance hold, they have my hand and heart.
May they for slaves be sold, who act a Whiggish part;
On Mansfield, North, and Bute, may daily blessings pour,
Confusion and dispute, on Congress evermore;

To North and British lord, may honors still be done,

I wish a block or cord, to General Washington.

THE HOUSES OF STUART AND HANOVER

I love with all my heart
The Hanoverian part
And for that settlement
My conscience gives consent
Most righteous is the cause
To fight for George's laws
It is my mind and heart

Though none will take my part

The Tory party here
Most hateful do appear
I ever have denied
To be on James's side
To fight for such a king
Will England's ruin bring
In this opinion I

Resolve to live and die.
Lansdowne MSS. 852

THE NEW REGIME.

The following equivoque was addressed to a republican at the commencement of the French Revolution, in reply to the question, "What do you think of the new constitution?"

A la nouvelle loi

Je renonce dans l'âme
Comme épreuve de ma foi
Je crois celle qu'on blâme
Dieu vous donne la paix
Noblesse desolée

Qu'il confonde à jamais
Messieurs de l'Assemblée

The newly made law
From my soul I abhor
My faith to prove good,
I maintain the old code
May God give you peace,
Forsakon Noblesse,
May He ever confound
The Assembly all round

Je veux être fidèle
Au régime ancien,
Je crois la loi nouvelle
Opposée à tout bien;
Messieurs les démocrats
Au diable allez-vous en;
Tous les Aristocrats
Ont eux seuls le bon sens.

'Tis my wish to esteem
The ancient regime

I maintain the new code
Is opposed to all good.
Messieurs Democrats,
To the devil go hence.

All the Aristocrats
Are the sole men of sense.

FATAL DOUBLE MEANING.

Count Valavoir, a general in the French service under Turenne, while encamped before the enemy, attempted one night to pass a sentinel. The sentinel challenged him, and the count answered "Va-la-voir," which literally signifies "Go and see." The soldier, who took the words in this sense, indignantly repeated the challenge, and was answered in the same manner, when he fired; and the unfortunate Count fell dead upon the spot, a victim to the whimsicality of his surname.