ade to suffer the loss
When for fraud by a Court we are "slated."

Lightly they'll talk of his "ha'porth of sack,"
On his weights make unhandsome reflection;
But little he'll reck, as fines fall on our back,
And _he's_ "doubly-screened" from detection!

But half of our "heavy task" was done
When a spy of the Council--drat it!--
Came pushing his nose in our sacks, every one,
Tried our weights, and our bill--looked at it!

Slowly and sadly we slunk out of sight,
Objecting to get into hobbles;
We breathed no farewell, and we said no good-night,
But we left him alone with the cobbles!

* * * * *

LAST REPORT.--The Dean and Chapter of Westminster have discharged a
Canon. No one was seriously injured.

* * * * *

THE PICK OF THE PICTURES.--No. 1. ROYAL ACADEMY.

[Illustration: No. 1004. Tally Ho Ho Ho! Going over a Ha! Ha! Ha! Quite
the picture of the year, and will probably be presented by subscription
to Colney Hatch, Esq., Master of the Hanwell Hounds.]

[Illustration: No. 243. The Determined Bather. Temperature so cold that
drapery is frozen.]

[Illustration: No. 110. Curiosity in Animal Life. Escaped from
Barnum's.]

[Illustration: No. 437. Advertisement for Provincial Tour of Griffiths
Brothers as "The Blondin Donkey."]

* * *

No. 5. The First Storey in the Royal Academy Annual is entitled, _The
Hungry Messenger_. Good STOREY.

No. 44. Never put off till to MORO PHILLIPS what you can put on to-day.
Illustration of an elderly Blue-coat Boy unable to leave off an old
habit.

No. 53, with No. 98 and No. 91. Ought to have been hung together,
portraits "_en soot_."

No. 202. _Ethereal Football._

No. 224. _Boy and Dog._ BRITON RIVIERE, R.A. Dog unmuzzled, boy hears
policeman's footstep.

No. 235. "_Every dog has his Washing-day._" Pet just been cleaned and
brought into drawing-room. Doubtful reception by Papa and other sisters.
Hardly up to the usual form of W. Q. ORCHARDSON, R.A.

No. 292. Mr. PHIL. A. MORRIS, A. calls this "_La Belle Americaine_." Is
she? The tone of this belle is rather loud.

No. 303. A wonderful picture and portrait, by LUKE FILDES, R.A. "LUKE on
this picture and on----" any other portrait, and you'll find this hard
to beat. Wealth of colour, colour of wealth, _affaire de Luke's_.

No. 318. _Major E. R. Burke._ Admirable portrait, by HUBERT HERKOMER, A.
See how th