title of Count, he acquired that of "Half-crown Bibb," by which
appellation he was generally distinguished; and according to a rough,
and, perhaps, fanciful estimate, he had borrowed at least 2,000_l._
in half-crowns. I remember to have met him on the day when the death of
Dr. Johnson was announced in the newspapers, and, expressing my regret
at the loss of so great a man, Bibb interrupted me, and spoke of him as
a man of no genius, whose mind contained nothing but the lumber of
learning. I was modestly beginning a panegyric upon the doctor, when he
again interrupted me with, "Oh! never mind, that old blockhead. Have you
such a thing as ninepence about you?" Luckily for him I had a little
more.

* * * * *

_Worst Leg_--Theophilus Cibber was by no means wanting in abilities
or humour. He had ill-formed legs; and having projected one of them in
company, which was noticed with a laugh, he offered to lay a wager that
there was a worse in company; and it being accepted, he put forward his
other leg, which was indeed more ill-shaped than the other.

* * * * *

_A Painter's Gratitude_.--Zoffani, the celebrated painter, who was
born at Frankfort, 1735, came to England, as a painter of small
portraits, when he was about the age of thirty years. He had the honour
to be employed by his Majesty, and painted portraits of the royal
family; and he was engaged by the Queen, to paint for her a view of the
Tribune of the Gallery of Florence. He was somewhat of a humorist; and
it is said of him, that whilst he was engaged painting in the Florentine
Gallery, the Emperor of Germany visited the Grand Duke; and coining up