a
distinguished audience. But there was one person who might have given
invaluable evidence, and that was _Box_ himself. Why did he not step
forward? Where was he? The explanation is given in the Paris _Figaro_
of Thursday, July 17:--

"M. Box, le nouveau Ministre d'Haiti a Paris, a ete recu hier
matin par le President de la Republique."

Of course, Cox will receive an appointment. Perhaps M. Box banks
at Cox's. Will Sergeant-Major BOUNCER be gazetted to the Hayti'eth
Regiment? Whatever may be in store for these immortal personages,
it is satisfactory to know that, for the present, _Box_ at least is
provided for. It was like his true British nature not to disguise
his identity under some such gallicised form of his name as BOITE, or
LOGE. There is, perhaps, no surname in our language so truly national
as _Box_. "JOHN BOX" might well be substituted for "JOHN BULL." It is
characteristic of our British pugilism. _Vive M. Box!_

* * * * *

IN THE KNOW.

(_BY MR. PUNCH'S OWN PROPHET_.)

[Illustration]

Various events are approaching, and it is only fair that I should give
the readers of this journal the benefit of my advice and my opinions.
In good time I shall have something to say about Goodwood--something
that will make the palaeolithic cauliflower-headed dispensers of
buncombe and bombast sit up and curse the day on which fate allowed
them to be born. There are some who profess to attach importance to
the goose-billed mouthings and vapourings of the butter-brained crew
who follow in the wake of the most notorious professor of humbugging
pomposity that even this age, rich as it is in putty-faced impostors,
has ever produced. Well, let them. For my own part I follow the advice
of the French King to the beautiful Marquise DE CENTAMOURS. "_Sire_,"
the _Marquise_ is reported to have said, "_quelle heure est-il?_" To
which the witty monarch at once replied, "_Madame, si vous avez besoin
de savoir l'heure, allez done la demander au premier gendarme?_" The
story may be found with others in the lately published memoirs of
Madame DE SANSFACON. In a similar spirit I answer those who pester me
about horses.

I understand that _Barrister Bill_, _Sidesplitter_, and _Fiery Harry_,
showed up excellently at Newmarket last week. I have always prophesied
well of these three splendid animals, who take their feeds as
regularly, and with as much gusto as they gallop a mile on heather
when the