Sir Busick and Sir Isaac Again
I have before spoken of these two Cambridge knights and rival physicians, but there yet remains to be told of them, that on their meeting each other, perchance, in the street or the senate house, the latter addressing his rival in an ironical speech of condolence, to the effect, “I regret to hear you are ill, Sir Busick.” “Sir, I sick!” (Sir Isaac) retorted the wit, “I never was better in my life!” Many of my readers have no doubt seen the anecdote of Voltaire’s building a church, and causing to be engraved on the front thereof, the vain record,
“Voltaire erexit hoc Templum Deo.”
A similar spirit seized a Mr. Cole of Cambridge, who left money either to erect the church or the steeple of St. Clement’s, in Bridge-street, of that town, on condition that his name was placed on the front of it. The condition was complied with to the letter, thus, by the tasteful judgment of some Cambridge wag:—