f
forty shillin or a month's imprisonment in, for anything in general, or
nothin particular, at the hoption of the magistrate.

20, 21, 22. These three last clawses says nothin, and so there's nothin
to say about 'em, unless to notice the stoopidity of sayin' that this
Act and two others shall be read as one, as if anybody could read three
Acts of Parlyment at a time, and think he is only readin' one--but it's
just like 'em.

[Illustration: Now my good man don't be rude--or I must pull you up.]

* * * * *

CHAGRIN FOR OLD COMMODORES.

[Illustration: A]

A recent leading article in the _Times_ quotes a return, which has been
obtained by MR. HUME, of certain statistics relative to flogging in the
Navy; whence it appears that the amount of human torture inflicted on
British sailors, represented in the aggregate by 40,545 lashes during
the year 1848, had declined in 1852 to 17,571. In commenting on this
decrease in the torment of seamen, the _Times_ remarks, that this
"odious species of punishment is falling more and more into disuse;"
and, moreover, that

"Anything like a frequent resort to it is taken to reflect
discredit, not only upon the whole ship's company, but upon the
officers in command."

If a return could be procured of the number of imprecations uttered on
reading the above passage, by bluff old retired admirals and
superannuated sea-captains, in clubs and coffee-rooms at our various
sea-ports, where they are accustomed to growl over the degeneracy of the
service, we should probably be presented with a startling array of
figures. By the stigma which is cast upon the discipline which these
veterans, for the most part, boast of having maintained, their feelings
must be as cruelly lacerated as they themselves ever caused the backs of
their men to be.

* * * * *

POISONOUS PUFFS.

Something has been done, of late, towards the abatement of nuisances.
Cinder-heaps have been swept away, sewers trapped, cesspools closed, and
laystalls removed from under our noses. There still remains, however, a
great deal of noxious and offensive stuff to be got rid of; particularly
since, instead of merely contaminating our air and water, it infects the
fountains of our current information. It taints the library, it defiles
the drawing-room table. This graveolent evil is the pest of soiled
newspapers--journals of ill savour--not imparted by any f