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Lamb in January, 1822; now, can you remember any remark or memorable observation which that celebrated man made before or after dinner?" I as respondent. "Oh yes, I can." Com. "What was it?" Resp. "Diddle, diddle, dumpkins." Com. "And was this his only observation? Did Mr. Lamb not strengthen this remark by some other of the same nature?" Resp. "Yes, he did." Com. "And what was it?" Resp.
On awakening from his brief slumber, Lamb sat for some time in profound silence, and then, with the most startling rapidity, sang out "Diddle, diddle, dumpkins;" not looking at me, but as if soliloquizing. For five minutes he relapsed into the same deep silence; from which again he started up into the same abrupt utterance of "Diddle, diddle, dumpkins."
"No; I never lost a shilling by Dumpkins, the reason for which may be that Dumpkins never owed me a shilling; but from his pronomen of 'diddle, I apprehend that he was too well acquainted with joint-stock companies!" Com. "And your opinion is, that he may have diddled Mr. Lamb?" Resp. "I conceive it to be not unlikely." Com. "And, perhaps, from Mr.
"Diddle, diddle, dumpkins." Com. "What is your secret opinion of Dumpkins?" Com. "Do you conceive Dumpkins to have been a thing or a person?" Resp. "I conceive Dumpkins to have been a person, having the rights of a person." Com. "Capable, for instance, of suing and being sued?" Resp. "Yes, capable of both; though I have reason to think there would have been very little use in suing Dumpkins."
Lamb's pathetic reiteration of his name, 'Diddle, diddle, you would be disposed to infer that Dumpkins had practised his diddling talents upon Mr. L. more than once?" Resp. "I think it probable." Lamb laughed, and brightened up; tea was announced; Miss Lamb returned.
Com. "How so? Are the committee to understand that you, the respondent, in your own case, have found it a vain speculation, countenanced only by visionary lawyers, to sue Dumpkins?" Resp.
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