The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

THE COURT. Os Sunday morning her Majesty, Princess Louisa, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice attended Divine service at Whippingham Church. The ladies and gen- tlemen in waiting were also present. The Rev. George Prothero officiated. ON Saturday evening his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, attended by General Sir W. Knollys and Major Teesdale, honoured the President and members of the Royal Academy with his company at their annual dinner, at the National Gallery, Trafalgar-square. THE Prince of Wales attended Divine service at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, on Sunday. The Com- munion service was read by the Rev. Thomas Helmore and the Rev. J. Antrobus. Anthem, Praise the Lord —Goss. Sung by Master Coward, Messrs. Francis, M. Smith, and Winn. Mr. Goss presided at the organ. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Thomas Helmore from Hebrews, chap. 12, v. 29. His Serene Highness the Prince and her Royal Highness the Princess of Teck attended the service. THE Queen, the Princesses Louisa and Beatrice and Prince Arthur, will to remain at Osborne up to Monday, the 20th inst., and then return to Windsor. Her Majesty will remain at the Castle for three days only to take part in the christening of the infant son of the Prince and Princess Christian. THE Prince and Princess Christian left the Castle tor their new residence at Frogmore Lodge, on the 7th of May. The Royal tradespeople of Windsor will celebrate the circumstance of their Royal High- nesses making Frogmore Lodge their permanent resi- dence by a public dinner at the White Hart Hotel. ON leaving Windsor for Balmoral, her Majesty will be accompanied by the Prince and Princess Christian and tlfeir infant son. The Court will return to Windsor after three days' sojourn in the Highlands. THE Paris paper Ccmstitutionnel, of the 6th of May, says that the King and Queen of Belgium, the Queen of Portugal, the Prince of Wales, the Prince and Princess of Prussia, are expected in Paris in a few days. The arrival very shortly of the Emperor of Russia and his two sons, and the Emperor and Empress of Austria, is also announced and it is even stated that the King of Prussia, the Queen and King of Spain, and the Viceroy of Egypt intend visiting the Exhibition. The same paper adds that never for the last fifty years has there been such a reunion of sovereigns at one time in Paris.

POLITICAL GOSSIP. THS Aihencemn is sorry to hear from Nice that Lord Brougham is very ill-it is feared past hope. IT is stated by a military contemporary that the Prussian Government has given orders to Messrs. Tait, of Limerick, for 300,000 suits of clothes for their soldiers. THE Little Times says Contrary to expectation, Mr. Brand has been induced to continue, so long as health enables him, in the office of Whip to the Liberal party. NICHOLAS HURST, ESQ., who for many years held the office of Poor-law Inspector for the Northern district, has resigned in consequence of his having met with a serious accident. AT Tiverton, on Thursday, Mr. Amory was presented with a requisition, and consented to come forward at the next election, in conjunction with the Hon. G. Den- maa, There were 120 electors present, and the requisi- tion was signed by 206 electors. MB. J. POPE HENNESSY, late M.P. for the King's County, has been (according to the Express) offered the Governorship of Labuan and Consul-Generalship of Borneo. The salary of the joint offices is XI,100 per annum. MR. ROBAKTES, in consequence of ill health, has inti- mated his intention of resigning his seat in Parliament as representative of East Cornwall. IT is said by the Daily News that an Under-Secre- Laryship for Scotland is actually created or to be created under tie Home Office, and that Sir James Fergusson, M.P., fey Ayrshire, i* tn bo. thft first bolder of the office. A SUSI'CENA was served upon Lord Naas in London, on Saturday, requiring his attendance at Dublin for the production of Godfrey Massey's original statement, which the Crown. Solicitor swore was in his hands. It is said at Dublin that Lord Stanley has brought this document under the notice of the American Government for its information respecting Fenianism. THE Express says a proposal has been made that the committee of Brooks's Club should have the power to admit without ballot live peers or commoners every year, one of the supposed reasons for the suggestion being that, if so empowered, they would probably admit in this way the Duke of Argyll and Mr. Gladstone. THE President of the Poor-law Board, says the Ob- server. has done a very graceful and proper Act in ap- pointing Mr. John Lambert, the Poor-law Inspector, to the new office of Receiver under the new Act for the Better Management of the Destitute Sick Poor of the Metropolis. Mr. Lambert is known as having prepared the Poor-law statistics in reference to the Reform of the Representation of the People. He has also prepared the information for the reform of the law of rating,-and the establishment of district hospitals and asylums in London; for the sick and insane. Mr. Gathorne Hardy deserves all credit for putting the right man in the right pi ace," and entrusting the working of the new system to the person who knows most about the whole subject, and who is so capable of administering it with #are and capacity.

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &c. Missus. AGNEIW has opened at their rooms in Water- loo-place, London, an exhibition, which, simple as it is,' cannot fail to interest every true lover of art. It con- sists merely of two pictures, but these are the last painted—indeed, they were left unfinished- by the great artist, Mr. John Phillip, R.A., whose loss we have all so recently had to deplore. They are large -and im- portant both are illustrative of the same subject—a Spanish lottery • but there is great variety in the 'character of the various figures of which they are com- posed, whilst the force of treatment is remarkable, and they exhibit Mr. Phillip's profound knowledge of 5 Spanish life- In colour and composition they are • 'iimoafst the finest works of the painter; in the former they, are rich in harmony as well as in-that force which his comjnand of colour enabled him to throw into every .ce .subject he touched. The power over character which is displayed in these works is marvellous; no description eoftld do justice to them, or, indeed, give any notion of their specific qualities. There is that general know- ledge of life, combined with inventive power, that is indicative of true genius; they are truth expressed in art. THE second portion of the collection of the National Portrait Gallery which is, now open even excels in interest the first. Not that the romantic element of history is so strong as it was in the period which com- prised the feeble glimmerings of art as illustrative of the Plaatagenet days of our history the broader certainty of the Tudor era, or the richness of artistic talent which was thrown into the illustrations of our chronicles in the portraits of our great men and eminent personages that were painted by Holbein, Van Somers, Vandyke, and Leir, with many others; but we have emerged from frequent doubt into almost continual certainty, and the rise of national art may to a great extent be traced in the series of portraits now exhibited, extending from the fall of the Stuarts far down uto the Georgian era-in fact, touching upon our own <lay; The series begins, aptly enough, with Vander- 'meulen's picture of the Dutch William's entry into London, only a portrait in a secondary sense; there are, however, more than one portrait of William the Third himself, several of his immediate associates and supporters, as well as of the men who supported with dignity and loyalty the fallen fortunes of the Stuarts, and who struggled to restore them. Literature is re- presented by Newton, and Locke, and Dryden divinity by Burnet (courtiership as well in his case), Tillotson, and South statesmanship by Halifax, Godolphin, Somers, and Sunderland military and naval talent by Marlborough, Doolie, Berout, Ben bow, and Russell; dramatic art by the portrait of Betterton; these, with many others, form a tolerably complete representative collection of the reign of William III. Of course, our "Augustan period is well represented. The crowd of great names which illustrate the reign of Queen Anne is too great for specification. Here are the celebrated "Kitcat" por- traits, of which we have all heard so much, and which but few of us have seen. Addison, Steele, and Pope, and Prior, and Gay are names, though so great in them- selves, even more interesting as suggesting the long list of names of eminent men in all classes by whom they were surrounded, and whose effigies gleam anew upon us from the walls of the exhibition. The first two Georges mark a less interesting race of public men but who will not be glad to look upon the faces of Walpole, Pulteney, the trickster Bubb Doddington, the heroes of the Walpole letters, the men who gave a tone to the works of Smollett and Fielding ? All through the long reign of the Third George the faces are familiar to most of us, but it will be a welcome opportunity to refresh our recollections and correct our misapprehensions of the appearance of the public men of the period. The present collection is not less interesting as a record of art than of history: its painters are Kneller and Hogarth, Hayman, Zoffony, Hudson, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Romnev, Wright, down to Lawrence, who fixed upon canvas the beauty and grace of living women, and lent his somewhat meretricious power to the perpe- tuation of the features of great men who have not long ceased to walk amongst us. The scope of the collection is wide-celebrities that may be characterised as doubt- ful are freely admitted, but rarely have the chronicles of any nation been so amply and so satisfactorily illustrated by portraits, many of them as valuable artistically as they are historically, as have ours from the 15th to the 19th centmy in the past and present exhibition of national portraits. THE famous Tabula Peutingeriana," a geographical map, drawn in the 16th century by C. Peutinger, at Augsburg, representing a number of the cities of the Western Roman Empire, has been published by Herr Paulus, at Stuttgart. The original is preserved in the Imperial Library at Vienna. "A PSALSI of Life." The words by Longfellow, the music by Georgie C. Ollivier (Ollivier and Co., 19, Old Bond-street). The composer has wedded the words, that are honest and heartfelt, to music that is sound and feeling. There is scholarly style as well as great melody, and we shall expect the lady, whose name is young as a composer, will make ambitious efforts and succeed. MR. MARSHALL WOOD'S Statue from the Song of the Shirt," which was expected to have been exhibited in London this season, will shortly leave for Paris, a space having been reserved for it in the English picture gallery. THE enterprising firm of Messrs. Cassell, Petter, and Galpin are bringing out a book of fables, illustrated by the greatest of artists, M. Dore. We are informed that Cassell's "Book of Fables" will commence with "La Fontaine," translated into English verse by Walter Thornbury. The Art Journal says:—" The illustration of La Fontaine bids fair to rank as the best service M. Dore has rendered the world."

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. THE REFORM BILL. The situation of Ministers has become rather ludi- crous, and may become ere long rather lamentable, if, as there seems reason to fear, the carrying of the Tory Reform Bill be signalised by the disruption of the Tory party. The prostration of that party would, in our opinion, be a great source of embarrassment and evil. Then, indeed, there would be danger of serious divisions in the ranks of the Liberal majority. At present there is none. Mr. Gladstone was welcomed back to his place at the head of the Opposition on Thursday last, just as if nothing had happened during the recess to fill (jilts neuuo UL obufltl l'IV!I HIJ:LJ. IOIU s:v. ~o— O 1 — It is now clear that he never meant his too candid note to Mr. Crawford to be interpreted as an act of abdica- tion and the only answer that need be given to Mr. Baines's already half-forgotten cry for help to bring him back to the head of his party is, that quiet matter-of-fact people never ceased to regard him as-remaining there. When Mr. Huskisson hastily offered to resign in 1828, and next day thought better of it, a friend told the Duke of Wellington that he need not consider it a resignation. But the Premier, who wanted to get rid of his Liberal subordinate, replied "It was a resignation, it is a resignation, and it shall be a resig- nation." The converse is precisely Mr. Gladstone's position with reference to his party, whose universal feeling has been with reference to his letter-It was not an abdication, it is not an abdication, and it shall not be an abdication. The Liberal party, led by him, is strong enough to make a really good bill of that which now lies on the table of Parliament, or to throw it out on the third reading, should any sudden freak of obstinacy on the part of its authors interpose unlooked-for impedi- ments in the way of its amendment in committee. And in either case we can foresee no hindrance to the resto- ration of the Liberal party to power. Their real danger lies not in affected or imaginary weakness, but in the possibility of their being presently too strong.— Examiner. CAPITAL VERSUS CREDIT. It is strange as respects monetary matters to look back to a year ago. The then Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gladstone) expressed his opinion of the inex- pediency of suspending the Bank Charter Act, being supported in this view by the Governor and Deputy- Governor of the Bank of England. Shortly afterwards, being convinced by the remonstrances of other bankers, he, advised and carried the suspension of the Act. There is nothing to be blamed in this. Mr. Gladstone braved the possible charge of contradiction, and acted as a statesman. He certainly did not stand alone. Chancellors of the Exchequer, however, are not as a rule cognisant of the money market, and Mr. Disraeli may be cited as a special instance. After the Bank of England had maintained their rate of discount for some weeks at 10 per cent. when it was clearly seen to be unnecessary, Mr. Disraeli informed a deputation of the leading London bankers, to their very great astonish- ment, that the existing pressure was due, not to the want of circulation, but of capital. A little later the Bank rate had fallen from 10 to 5 per cent. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer were right, the change must have been entirely due to some extraordinary influx of capital," though where it came from it is impossible to conjecture. The fact is very well known to any one who takes the trouble to look into the question, that it was not capital that was increased,, but credit.-Daily News. FATHERLAND. The Gerraanisation of North Schleswig is oeing pur- sued with the utmost vigour. In spite of the engage- ment to consult the wishes of the population which ought to secure for North Schleswig a sort of provisional administration, the Prussian Government has proceeded to put its law of military service in force, and even to compel men who had served in the Danish army to sub- mit to its obligations. The effect of this piece of gross injustice has been—what perhaps it was intended to ob- tain thousands of Danish Schleswigers have availed themselves of the right given them by the 19th Article of the Treaty of Vienna to emigrate from Schleswig into Denmark, The German newspapers are delighted with this result. Not .only have the Danes gone, but there is room for more Germans, and wild appeals are addressed to Germans in all parts of the Fatherland to hasten to North Schleswig and assist in securing its retention for Germany. The Prussian Government can- not plead as its excuse for these abitrary proceedings, and for the delay in consulting the wishes of the North Schleswigers, any doubt as to the existence of a Danish majority desiring to renew the connection severed in 1864. Two Dane;, were elected to the North German Parliament, and they, speaking in the name of 200,000 of their countrymen, protested against the incorporation of North Schleswig in the North German Confederation. —Herald. MEETING IN HYDE PARK. While we estimate the influence of this gathering as a popular demonstration on the Reform question, we are especially bound to emphasise its significance as a, proof of the respect for Jaw and order entertained by the un- enfranchised masses. Nobody at all acquainted with London life could doubt for one moment that the immense majority of the persons present belonged to a class lower than that which furnishes the staple of our electoral body. Throughout the dense crowd there was no universally earnest absorption in the question of the hour which might account for their abstinence from acts of disorder. No police force was in view to keep ill-disposed persons in check and even if the bulk of the crowd knew that there were soldiers under arms at no great distance, they must have known also that, if any disturbance should arise, they might effect their retreat long before the mili- tary could make its appearance. Under the circum- stances, we could hardly have expressed much surprise if the mob," as their traducers called them, had cele- brated their unexpected and decisive victory by some outburst of clamour, some display of physical force. Nothing of the kind occurred. There was hardly a drunken person to be seen; there was but one flag, and a solitary band of music there was very little shouting, and no horse play; and when the meeting was over the crowd separated as quietly and peaceably as it had assembled. That this should have been the case will not surprise those who know how very general the respect of our people is for law and order how ready they are to re- cognise the claims of rank and station; how willing they are to listen to argument and reason.-Daily Telegraph,

—1——mmm^ THE FORTHCOMING VISIT OF BELGIANS TO ENGLAND. Now that the Wimbledon meeting is approaching it is necessary that energetic steps should be taken in reference to the organisation to be employed in giving our Belgian visitors a becoming reception on that occasion. There is every reason to believe that the entertainment of our foreign guests will then be as cor- dial and sincere upon a large scale as it was upon a small one, when on Easter Monday the officers and official staff of some of our leading metropolitan regi- ments, such as the Civil Service and the Queen's, enter- tained the handful of Belgians who did us the honour to come over for the purpose of witnessing the doings or the English volunteers at Dover. The executive of the Belgian committee are fully alive to the necessity of immediate action, and but for the un- fortunate accident to its president, Lord Bury, and the absorbing subject of the Easter review, would no doubt ere this have been prepared to have submitted their programme. To hint that there will, however, be any shortcomings either in regard to raising sufficient funds for the purpose, or in the cordiality of the Belgian reception when the period arrives, would be a foul libel on the English character as regards generosity, gratitude, and good feeling. We are glad to find that at the head of the subscription lists are such names as Lord Over- stone and Col. Lloyd-Lindsay for £190 each. No doubt the late Lord Mayor, Sir B. Phillips, will follow, and set an example in the City; indeed, rumour has it that the late Lord Mayor has organised a committee to raise a sum of £2,000 as a contribution of the merchants, bankers, and traders of the City of London to this truly national object. We believe we are also correct in stat- ing that the metropolitan commanding officers and the other officers, as well as members of their regiments, as also throughout the provinces, are co-operating to raise sufficient funds to carry out the object. It must be borne in mind, however, that the time is short, and that it id most desirable the Reception Committee should not only know without delay what their resources are likely to be, but be able to publish them to the world as an example to others. At the lowest possible estimate we may expect to have to entertain at least 1,000 guests, including some of the highest personages in the land, Belgian officers, Ministers of State, and representatives of the municipalities of Belgium, and to do so in a grudging or niggardly manner, would be a lasting dis- grace to this country. It is the fashion at all public and festive gatherings, no matter what the occasion, to tOJ-_L "1"'0 "r-I,+. ,c "C> compliment paid to our citizen army, and through them to the entire English nation, by the Belgian people, it has been equally the fashion to refer in terms of grati- tude to that reception, and to express a hope that we shall be enabled in July next to make the Belgians a becoming return. Let every peer, then, and every member of Parliament who sets the slightest value upon the volunteer movement, or who is anxious for the dignity and honour of his country, at once enrol his name in the subscription list of the Belgian Reception Fund.—Observer.

A FOREIGN VTBFW OF THE HYDE-PARK QUESTION. Let us suppose," says the Independance Beige of Monday, that a similar conflict had arisen in France, or even in other countries where the right of meeting! s guaranteed by the constitution, as in Belgium, for example what would have been the result ? Once the Government declared that it would not tolerate the manifestation, it is certain that, in virtue of the doctrine of a strong Government and the necessary infallibility of authority, it would carry out its prohibition by force —were its right a thousand-fold more disputable, and were it a thousand times evident, not only that the public peace is not menaced' and that no disorder need be feared, but, on the contrary, that the intervention of the public force must only provoke a struggle in which blood would inevitably be shed. In England the Go- vernment takes a different view of its duty and of the public interest. Notwithstanding the formal order which it issued and published, and without abandoning its conviction of the ille- gality of meeting in Hyde-park, it does not think itself bound in honour to establish its right by fusillades and sabre cuts. In presence of the possibility of a bloody conflict, it stops short; and authority, without abdicating any of its rights or losing any of its prestige, gives place to liberty. What will be the effect of this ? That power will be curtailed, or the necessary securities of public order weakened ? Nothing of the sort. The Government will only be the more respected to-morrow and the manifestation in Hyde-park—we may predict it without temerity—will be a real triumph of order. In this there is assuredly a useful lesson for Governments, who, while theoretically professing respect for liberty, have not, in reality, enough of faith in it to let it move without fetters, and do not hesitate, in any grave cir- cumstance, to sacrifice it to what they call authority, which, strictly speaking, means their own self-love and pride if not their lust of domination."

OUR MISCELLANY. THE INNATE NOBLE LONGINGS OF MAN.-It is not to taste sweet things, but to do noble and true things, and vindicate himself under God's heaven as a god-made man, that the poorest son of Adam dimly longs. Show him the way of doing that, the dullest day-drudge kindles into a hero. They wrong man greatly who say he is to be seduced by ease. Difficulty, abnegation, martyrdom, death, are the allurements that act on the heart of man. Kindle the inner genia life of him, you have a flame that burns up all lower considera- tions. Not happiness, but something higher one sees this even in the frivolous classes, with their point of honour and the like. Not by flattering our appetites; no, by awakening the heroic that slumbers ih every heart, can any religion gain followers.-Carlyle. MIGRATORY ,BIRDs.The arrival of migratory birds in this country is more easy to be ascertained than that of their departure. Amongst our summer guests the cuckoo is probably the first to leave ns. Indeed, from the time of his arrival to his departure, his stay with us is little more than three months. Yet, on occasion, I found a very late hatched young cuckoo in a wagtail's nest, about the end of September. At this time not a single cuckoo could be seen or heard in the neighbourhood, so that it could not migrate with them. From some cause it was disturbed from the nest of the wagtails long before it could fly, and occasionally appeared in my lawn, where it was assiduously fed by its foster parents until the beginning of October, when it took its departure, probably without a companion.- E. in Once a Week. QUEEN ELIZABETH'S LAST LOVE.—The ill- favoured Aiijoiiplezsetl Elizabeth more than he did the people. The pulpit echoed with objections made to unnatural alliances; and pamphlets were published of so o tensive a nature on this subject, that stationers who pu them forth got their hands chopped off for their impertinence. And yet the people, pulpit, and pam- phlets had their influence notwithstanding. Anjou came a second time, and tarried several months here, till his patience was worn out, or his power of simulation was at an end. They dallied, and pouted, and [caressed, and exchanged tokens, and caused much jealousy, and seemed to be mutually smitten, and finally parted for ever. The Queen accompanied Anjou stage by stage to Canterbury she returned to write sonnets descriptive of her imaginary miseries -and all for a hideous fellow whom his own sister loathed, and to whom his most intimate companion, Bussy d'Amboise, once said, If I were Alengon, and you were Bussy, I wouldn't have you for a lacquey.Golwt and Society, by the Duke of Manchester. J SHAKER LIFE. Males and females dwell apart as to their rooms, though they eat at a common table, and lodge under a common roof. How do you treat a man who comes into union with his wife and children- that sometimes happens?" Antoinette smiled, "Oh yes! that happens pretty often; they fall into the order of brother and sister-and make very pretty Shakers." "But," said the lady, "they see each other ? "That is so," answered Antoinette; "they live in the same family; they become brother and sister. They do not cease to be man and woman in forsaking each other, they only cease to be husband and wife." Some of these ladies who live under Frederick's roof in North-house have husbands (as the world would call them) living close beside their rooms; but they would hold it to be a weakness, perhaps a sin, to feel any personal happiness in each other's company. They live for God alone. The love that is in their hearts- so far as it is capable of bearing bounteous fruit-ought to be shed on each of the saints alike, without preference on account of either quality or sey.Veic America, by W. Hepioorth Dixon. GOUGH, THE BLIND BoTAN.IST.-The percep- tive power which resided in that accomplished man's touch was amazing and almost incredible. It is exqui- sitely expressed by his friend Wordsworth in a few lines of the "ExciLrsion: No floweret blooms Throughout the lofty range of these rough hills, Or in the woods, that could from him conceal Its birthplace; none whose figure did not live Upon his touch." Wordsworth once brought to Mr. Gough a cushion of moss-like leaves, spangled with bright purple flowers from near Grisedale Tarn. When Gough touched it, he said at once, I have never examined this plant before, but it is silene acalllis." We feel this to be one of the most charming of Westmoreland anecdotes, whether we consider the beauty of the flower itself, or of the scene from which it was brought. But it should be added that Gough's science was not by any means limited to natural history. He was eminent also in physics and in mathematics. Dalton and Whewell were among his pupils.-QuarteTly Review. MEXICO IN 1862.-This unfortunate country, always a prey to civil wars and internal dissensions, was, at this period, in a state of especial excitement respecting the proposed Spanish, English, and French intervention. Diligences were the only means of con- veyance in the interior, and a journey between Vera Cruz and the capital was at all times fraught with danger, but now the roads were almost impassable, for hordes of guerillas infested the entire route, and the daily scenes of pillage and murder were heartrending. It was no uncommon occurrence for the diligence to drive into the city, with all the windows closed, and no living creature visible save the driver, tell the people who were crowding round, eager for news, to "Stand back until the doors were opened and then the poor mangled remains of the passengers c' would be carried out, and a shuddering awe would fall on the by-standers, whilst muttered curses were heaped on the heads of those high in power who could allow such scenes of horror to pass by unnoticed; for Mexico had fallen to its lowest depth of degradation, and its once proud name had become a by-word and a shameful scorn throughout the civilised world. Lilian's In- heritance," by jJhs. William Murray. THE CABMAN'S BADGE.— 'Twas on his death-bed that the old man lay, Supported by his daughter's circling arm, In honest servitude had he grown grey, His limbs were crippled, life had lost its charm. Give me my badge," he cried, look sharp, my lass! I haven't worn it now for years eleven." She brought it, and from out the tarnished brass Stood forth his number: it was ninety-seven. I am real proud of this wilt promise, lass, Tliou'lt place it on my grave when I am dead Father, I will." She took the piece of brass, And laid it reverently on the bed. Don't cry, my lass, don't cry, we all must go I think I've paid my fare all right and trim; Don't put your trust, my lass, in things below, But do as I do, put your trust in HIM." Speaking these words, he sat upright in bed, Striving as 'twere to reach the gates of heaven Then falling backwards, the last words he said Were, 11 Want my number, Sir ? it's ninety-seven." t- of;. Three years have passed, and every Sunday eve We go together to the quiet churchyard .,e And there my wife beside his grave I leave, And wander with our children on the sward. For we've been married now nigh on two years, And dearly do I love my pretty Madge None, Sir, the worse when her eyes fill with tears, And she kneels down beside her father's BADGE. The Whip. DEATH-BED CU-RIOSIT Y. -There is something singular in this questioning about time when on the brink of eternity. With some persons the inquiry is made in serious connection with some preconceived idea, as was probably the case with Swedenborg. On the other hand, persons on the threshold between life and death often give expression to idle or cynical queries. Thurtell, with the rope round his throat, begged to be told whether Tom Spring had or had not won the fight the day before and there is a story told of Sir Thomas Molesworth that, on the morning of his death, he asked about the time and weather, and being informed that the latter was excessively hot, he made a remark of a very disagreeable tendency with reference to the effect the heat would have upon his body before the day was out. But all the stories touching the last words of dying men must be taken with extreme caution. A thousand terse phrases have been quoted of men in this condition and of humorous impulse of utterance to which they never gave expression. Long since has the old tra- ditionary anecdote of Addison's last moments been ex- ploded and blown to fragments or, rather, nothingness. He did not send for the young Earl of Warwick to see how a Christian could die." And it would have been a very impudent thing if he had; for that dying Christian gentleman was in the habit of fuddling him- self, and that library-gallery of Holland-house, where he used to walk to and fro, with a bottle of port wine at either end for his solace under such oscilliation, was not exactly a via sacra. On the other hand, some alleged last words have undoubtedly been spoken, and they have been highly characteristic of the utterers. Among them all, there is none more hearty, honest, and charit- able than the dying phrase which the deaf Sir Joshua caught through his trumpet from Gainsborough's lips, as he hung over the great Suffolk painter We are all going to heaven, and Vandyke is of the party." The essence of the doctrine of the Origen lay in this remark, "All" were going to paradise, friends or foes, rivals, superiors, or inferiors in any case, the whole joyous artistic brotherhoodj and from such a brilliant and blessed company it was not likely that Gainsborough would have willingly missed his favourite Vandyke.— What's o'clockin Temple-

I EXTRACTS FROM "PUNCH," "JFU'N'y AND "JUDY." JUDY'S OPENING SPEECH. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN And LADIES too- For think not, fair ones, Judy could spare you- We come to ask your votes, with heart unfeariag, And for our Royal Speech demand a hearing. Since serio-comic now is all the rage, In jest we'll speak the language of the Sage. Have at each Court a clever delegate To steal good jokes-we mean to annexate Clothe Truth in motley, adding cap and bells, And our own State improve by selling sells. Against each growing vice upraise our voice,' Though Fashion prompt the act or guide the choice,' Pure wines and good liqueur we can abide, Havannahs too—when smoked at eventide- But as to alcohol or nicotine, They give sick headaches, nausea, and the spleen. The Working Class shall have our special care (Whate'er that class may be), their ills we'll share. The weak and helpless shall not be forgot, They'll share our Wisdom and we'll share their lot. Assist us, then we shall not plead in vain For suffering brutes when 'neath the lash of pain The dog, the jaded horse, a tale shall tell, To start the tear and cause the heart to swell. We're willing to agree with Foreign Powers, Respect their rights, if they will care for our. Affairs abroad we'll see to every day, Nought too remote or "foreign" for our sway. Our royal cousins of the Press, we trust, Won't be unpleasant-if they will, they must. Our measures of Reform are quite extensive, Far-reaching, all-embracing, comprehensive The Times, the Town, the State, the Law, the Weather The whole world, we'll reform it altogether. Nothing our burning, fiery zeal escapes, From Cabinets to chignons, Courts to capes And, hardest task to Parliamentary elves, If necessary, we'll reform ourselves. GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMONS, Hear your Queen, And, if you can, discover what we mean. To you we speak, and trust we shall not bore you, Our budget will be shortly laid before you (" Oh, oh!") You groan, but you should bear such burdens meekly, We will but tax you in three-halfpence weekly. Much pains it cost a Cabinet to find Wherein all shades of thought should be combined: We have one now, compact, unique, complete, Which for your welfare once a week shall meet. There calmly sit in solemn wise conclave, Whigs, Tories, Rads, and Dwellers in the Cave, A happy family we form, 'tis clear, And every member brings his party here. WOMEN OF ENGLAND Last on you we call, To ask your aid, the mightiest of all. Judy the suffrage has conferred on you, And now demands your votes as lawful due Use, she entreats, your all cajoling powers To make the men your own, then they'll be ours. Grind them to dust if they resist your will, You have the means-at least you have a Mill. We don't think anything's forgotten now, There's nothing left to do but make our bow. You might wish estimates to see, 'tis true, But then our estimate depends on you. So, if you'll kindly your good wishes speak— (Hear, hear.) That's right. Now you're prorogued till this day week. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) 11V11 a. 1JCXSU XAUl UNREPRESENTED. Punch has the following :— The Executive Council of the National and Fashionable Association for the Vindication of Feminine Rights to the Enlightened but Enslaved Enchantresses of Eng- land. Greeting. Ladies, Non-Electors !—It has been asserted by timid men, both in place and out of place, that you are not to be trusted with that sweet thing in politics—the Suf- frage Mark those words not to be trusted," and inscribe them on your work-box cushions in pins with a peculiar point. The aspirations of beauty for electoral privileges are natural and noble. Breathe soft ye winds, and waft a sigh from Lydia to the Poll! THE MYSTERY OF BONNETS. Mr. Punch is, unfortunately, unable to speak as often as he could wish in commendatory terms of fashionable articles of ladies' dress. His nature prompts him to praise with the utmost enthusiasm any and everything that tends to enhance the charms of beauty. Any effectual contrivance for setting off a bust, an arm, or an ankle, would set him raving with eulogy at least as frantically as the loveliest new thing in sauce. But he seldom has the pleasure of thus expressing himself. The demon of perversity has for a long time presided over the fashions. What could Punch say, for instance, of chignons ? Simply, that they are more ridiculous than pigtails, and less cleanly. But now there has at last arisen a fashion that Mr. Punch has the unspeakable happiness of being able to extol in the highest terms. It is that of those charm- ing little bonnets that ladies now wear. Mr. Punch has a most particular reason for magnify- ing these little bonnets, while wishing they may never get bigger. His reason is that those same bonnets No! Never give reasons is a maxim which must now be followed. The little bonnets are popular. JIr. Punch is glad of it. If he were to state his reason why, he has no doubt that they would be instantly discarded. He must, therefore, withhold his reason for admiring them until he is implored to assign it by their wearers, whose entreaties are never addressed to him in vain. A TRAIN OF THOUGHT. The Daily Telegraph is noted for making startling discoveries, but we were certainly not prepared for its latest revelation. In an article on a recent police case we read that one of the witnesses— "Specially noticed Mr. Keppel, because he was reading aloud in the train a peculiarity which, it we remember rightly, also distinguished Parson Adams." Well, Fielding's parson is recorded to have done strange thinge, but even he must have found it difficult in his day to read at all in a train! M.P. versus P.M. John Hodge liked the Bill—but the House would reie-ct it- < So "111 write to our member," said he. H Come, tell me, friend Dick, for I can't recollect it- Must I call him P.M. or M.P. A mere transposition—what matters it, mate ?" Said Dick, who was fond of a pun. "For M.P. declareth a son of the state, And P.M. a state of the sun 1

TRYING, INDEED.—A young barrister of our acquaint- ance proposes to move for a new trial of Admiral Persano. The defence he intends to adopt is this :— He will urge that Persano was fated to be defeated because the enemy's admiral was to get off (Tegethoff). A DISTINCTION WITH A DIFFERENCE. — Libe'ty, fraternity, and equality ? Yes, good people. Lil>erty for ever, fraternity also/ and likewise equality-blit not equalisation. GOING ON SWIMMINGLY.—We hear a number of ladies are about to set a good example to their sex, by form- ing a swimming club." And quite natural too, the ducks! A HIT A PALPABLE Hiri,No one csn say the tailors did not strike while the iron was hot. MR. BABBAGE'S PARADISE.-Stillorgau.