under,
That the honour in their hand 'gainst his tricks can never stand,
When his game is all finesse, and theirs all revoke and blunder?

What marvel France and England each deal are looking graver?
What marvel Russia's play grows more brilliant and braver?
When, thanks to his strong club, 'ere the close of the first rub,
He's the nine points of possession scored already in his favour?

When they lead off with a bow, he trumps it with a bluster;
They come out with a minister, he answers with a muster;
When diplomatic right meets autocratic might,
The latter oft proves stronger, though the former may be juster.

Meanwhile no rook e'er plucked his pigeons with more suavity,
Or pocketed his winnings with more self-denying gravity,
Or ever did express more acuteness of distress
At the slightest hint of cheating, or any such depravity.

And throughout, it must be owned, he has shown the utmost patience
In entertaining any or all negotiations;
But we argue and he acts, till our words against his facts
End in landing him across the Pruth, for further operations.

* * * * *

LOGIC FOR MR. LUCAS.

Nuns are, for the most part, ladies of extreme sanctity and purity who
educate large numbers of children, and do a great deal of good to the
poor.

Therefore, to institute any inquiry as to their liability, under
existing circumstances, to compulsory detention in their convents, to
cruel punishments under the name of penance, to coercion in regard to
the assignment of their property, or any other species of constraint,
ill-usage, or duresse, at the hands of malicious, fanatical, or
unscrupulous superiors, and ecclesiastical governors, is unnecessary and
inexpedient.

* * * * *

TABLE TURNING EXTRAORDINARY.

"DEAR PUNCH,--FARADAY was regularly non-plussed by experiments at the
Royal Agricultural Meeting at Gloucester. The President, Vice-President,
and Honorary Secretary caused to be placed before them a large tub
filled with three gallons of cream; the fingers of the three gentlemen
were placed upon the rim of the tub, and in about fifteen minutes the
cream began to move round until it became _solid Butter_!

"A BLACK SPIRIT."

* * * * *

SCIENCE AMONG THE SWAINS.

If there were any truth in Spirit Rapping, we should be glad if the
ghost of any good old British farmer would be so kind