CRUMP. One who helps solicitors to affidavit men, or false
witnesses.--'I wish you had, Mrs. Crump;' a Gloucestershire
saying, in answer to a wish for any thing; implying,
you must not expect any assistance from the speaker. It
is said to have originated from the following incident:
One Mrs. Crump, the wife of a substantial farmer, dining
with the old Lady Coventry, who was extremely deaf, said
to one of the footmen, waiting at table, 'I wish I had a
draught of small beer,' her modesty not permitting her to
desire so fine a gentleman to bring it: the fellow, conscious
that his mistress could not hear either the request or
answer, replied, without moving, 'I wish you had, Mrs.
Crump.' These wishes being again repeated by both parties,
Mrs. Crump got up from the table to fetch it herself;
and being asked by my lady where she was going, related
what had passed. The story being told abroad, the expression
became proverbial.