cause they form the tricolours
of Italy. We may add that BOMBA has nearly been poisoned by partaking of
an English salad which besides lettuce, contained red and white
radishes.

* * * * *

THE BETTING HOUSE DEPUTATION.

"A deputation against the proposed Bill for the suppression of
betting-houses had an interview with VISCOUNT PALMERSTON
yesterday."--_Court Circular, Thursday._

[Illustration]

Early on the above day, _Mr. Punch_ received a note from his friend,
LORD PALMERSTON, apprising him that such a deputation was expected at
the Home Office, and asking him to "come down." _Mr. Punch_, who is
always ready to come down in a good cause, immediately complied, and may
indeed add, that from the disgraceful state of Whitehall (proverbially
the worst swept, kept, drained, and watered street in London), _Mr.
Punch_ was laughingly charged by his noble friend, on entering, with
having "come down with the dust." _Mr. Punch_ need hardly remark that
his retort was triumphant. The Home Secretary and his friend were soon
apprised that the Betting-house Keepers were in attendance. Buttoning up
their pockets, therefore, the two statesmen directed that their visitors
should be introduced.

LORD PALMERSTON'S easy manner, not unmingled with a pleasant
scornfulness (scarcely perceptible to the fine natures of the
Deputation), was a model of the best style of Reception. _Mr. Punch_ was
sterner--he could not smile on such folk. His appearance threw the
Deputation into manifest consternation, and one of the fraternity was
heard to observe, with a most irreverent reference to one of _Mr.
Punch's_ features, that "if Nosey was to be heerd, it was all Queer
Street." The vulgar party was supposed to mean that _Mr. Punch's_
well-known sentiments on the subject of Betting-houses would render
remonstrance ineffective.

"Well, gentlemen," said the Home Secretary, with the smallest inflexion
on the latter word, "I promised to see you. What have you got to say?"

"Why, my lord," said a keen, slangy-looking man, with tight light
trowsers, a scampish cut-away coat, and a dark blue cravat, adorned with
a huge horseshoe pin, "we think, that is me and the rest of us, MR.
BOLT, MR. SAINT LEVANT, MR. DIDDLES, MR. FLYPAPER, MR. WHITEWASH, and
these other gents" (gracefully introducing each on naming him)
"including your humble, namely myself MR. DOOBRUS, we think, my lord,
that in this matter Parliament