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Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1885, 23 June 1863, Page 3

Dobbs who has been married a month, says miliners would make splendid dragoons, they charge so. Why is the hog the most extraordinary animal in creation?— Because you first kill him and afterwards cure him.

An indirect wpy of getting a drink of water at a boarding house, is to ask for a third cup of tea. A well-known London printer being called on to reply to a toast, said, " Gentlemen, I tbank you must heartily. I can't make a speech ; but j I can print one as long as you like. A manufacturer of thread, having accidentally cut his nose, took one of his gummed spool labels to close the cut. On going borne ho wondered that every one laughed at him. Looking in the glass, be read on the label that bis nose was " warranted two yards long !" " I shall be bappy," said an expiring husband to his wife, who was weeping most dutifully by the bedside, "if you will only promise not to marry that object of roy unceasingjealousy,your cousin Charles."—" Make yourself quite easy, love," said the expectant widow, " I am engaged to his brother." Dr Johnson on punning. — I r.emember, many years ago, reading an auecdote of Johnson's dislike t<> punning, and the witty rejoinder to an obseivation of Boswell's thereupon ; but as 'N. and Q. had then no existence, I did not * make a note on't" and the source of the anecdote has passed away from my memory. The story was told in the following way :—' Sir,' said Johnson, * I bate a pun. A man who would perpetrate a puu would have little hesitation in picking a pocket.' Upon this Boswell hinted that his >' illustrious' fiiend's dislike to this species ofsmall wit might arise from his inability to play upon words, ' Sir,' roared Johnson, if I were punished for every pun I shed, there would not be left a puny shed of my punuish head — J. P. Phillips. — Notes and Queries. ' The Florida, at Nassau.— The Florida arrived at Nassau on the 30th of January: Sbe became at once an object of interest. The Secession sympathisers were jubilant, while the Union men went about in a depressed mood. Captain Maffit immediately went to visit the Governor of the city; he was received very cordially, and dined with his Excellency- The Florida presented a man of war like appearance, her masts being well set, yards neatly squared, and the brasswoik well polished. The next morning the Florida's decks were alive with a gang of laborers from the town, who immediately set to work in making sundry alterations to her interior avrangements, while lighters from shore brought on board provisions of all kinds, a chain cable, and rigging. The Confederate officers iv the meantime, were on shore, and succeeded in picking up some ten or or fifteen recruits, all seamen and hailing from every country in the world. The offioera stated openly that there was no Yankee vessel yet built which could come near, much less catch the Florida, for it was an easy matter to drive her seventeen miles an hour. They ridicule the idea that the Vanderbilt could be a match for her, and wish for a trial. They stated they would go down to the track of the homeward bound East India vessels. The Nashville was expected every hour at Nassau, it being rumoured that she had discharged her cotton and was fully iron-clad, ready to run the blockade. There were also supplies ready for two Confederate vessels expected from Mobile. The Florida left Nassau on the evening of the 3lst, fully supplied for a three months cruise. Sbe is reported to have made seven prizes off the coast of Ouba, and one on the Bahama Banks. Ail purchases by the Confederate; officers were paid for in Southern money, wtiioii is taken at par everywhere ia TSa&sm-rNm Yorker. ■<•<