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the merits of my friend Dicky Scribble here: I said nothing: but one said, 'he's a special fellow; he's a good raker; he has industry; and has got together some scraps on a great variety of subjects: he is superficial in all:' here, I thought it incumbent on me to take your part; 'I certainly (said I) think Mr. Scribble a man of extraordinary genius.' Strongbrain was there; he looked in my face, and laughed. 'Hamilton, you do not think him a man of extraordinary genius.' Angry as I was at being so contradicted, I could not help laughing also." "Laughing," said Scribble angrily; "you, as my friend, should have knocked him down." "By the lord, I must have then knocked down all the meeting, for they all agreed with him." "Hamilton, you over-rate that Strongbrain; I think very little of him, I must say, you yourself require a good deal