To MRS. EDGEWORTH.
January 2, 1841.
Thank you for your birthday good wishes. How many birthdays have brought
me the same never-failing kindness.
A very pleasant meeting we had yesterday at your brother's. Honora, dear Honora, was so nice and kind, nobody but ourselves. At second course appeared the essential trifle, and, trifle as it was, it was quite delightful to me with Honora's smile.
Did you ever taste figs stuffed with almonds? I hope you never may taste
them! very bad, I assure you, but how the almonds got in puzzled me; all
tight and closed as the outer skin looks without ridge or joining.
Did you ever taste Imperial Tokay? Your brother gave me some of the best
ever tasted, I am told; and what do you think I said?
"Why, this cannot be Tokay!"
"Did you ever taste Tokay before?" said he.
"O yes, very often; but this is not Tokay."
"Be pleased to tell us what it is then," quoth Lestock.
"I don't know; but not Tokay, or a different sort from what I ever
tasted, for that was sour and always drunk in green glasses."
Suddenly I recollected that I meant Hock!
Do you recollect the history of the Irishman, who declared that he had
seen anchovies growing on the walls at Gibraltar? Challenged a gentleman
for doubting him, met, and fired, and hit his man, and when the man who
was hit, sprang up as he received the shot, and the second
observed—"How he capers!"
"By the powers! It was capers I meant 'stead of anchovies."