tion of constantly protesting--right or wrong--that the Roman
Catholic Church is no such thing.

If _Mr. Punch_ were in Malta, writing under this same amended criminal
code, he would have to take care how he pointed out any Roman Catholic
absurdity. He is informed by MR. NEWDEGATE,

"That the 54th Clause declared it to be punishable to 'revile or
otherwise insult or ridicule any article of the Roman Catholic
Church.'"

Now there are other varieties of ridicule than burlesque, caricature,
horse-laughter, and making faces. There is the ridicule of the _reductio
ad absurdum_. It is possible to place a proposition in a ludicrous light
by showing that if it is true, it is a truth which is contrary to
another truth. In Malta, therefore, subject to the above clause, it
would be dangerous to assert the impenetrability of matter, or any other
fact in the nature of things inconsistent with any dogma of the papal
system: and if _Mr. Punch_ were not to mind what he was about, he might
get himself into trouble in like manner with that other buffoon,
GALILEO.

However, MR. KINNAIRD has procured the re-consideration of these penal
papisticalities: and Ministers will think twice before they advise HER
MAJESTY to stultify herself and sanction a Maltese Inquisition.

* * * * *

A HINT TO BELGRAVIA, TYBURNIA, CADOGANIA, &c. &c.

We hint to noblemen and gentlemen of (very) independent property, before
rushing out of town, that they should think of the numerous little bills
they leave behind them. They would not enjoy themselves any the less if
they discharged those little bills instead of making their tradesmen
wait six long empty-pocketed mouths for them. The probability is, even,
they would enjoy themselves all the more, knowing that they had left a
clear coast behind them, where they could always land with safety
whenever they wanted to escape from foreign pirates, and continental
sharks, sea and land robbers. We beg, (merely moved by a charitable
motive to add to their pleasures,) to draw up the following
advertisement for them, on the plan of the one issued at the end of the
season by the Directors of the Covent Garden Italian Opera:--

ALL persons having claims for the last season upon the RIGHT
HONOURABLE LORD TOM NODDY are requested, before he leaves for
Baden-Baden, Homburg, Wiesbaden, &c., where he is going to take the
usual annual course of _rouge et-noir_ and t