A Norwich mayor, who an uncommon thing
    (Because ’twas generous) had done, was sent
  With a petition to his gracious King,[9]
    And reach’d St. James’s wondrously content. 
    His Majesty found him quite eloquent,
  Fond of a dinner, fonder of a joke
    But, needing matter
  For converse with his stranger worship, spoke
    Of Norfolk hospitality, and geese;
    Of turkeys, game, and fowls, that take a lease
  Yearly to smoke on many a cockney platter,
    Forgetting not, to please the honest gent:
  Mention of gravy, sausage, dumpling, batter;
    Till, the good man, quite in his element
  ’Gan prating glibly of the Norwich folk
  And what fine things were doing in their city,
  “An ancient place it is, sir!” said the prince,
  “As its old churches, castle, gates, evince!”
  “Gates!” please your highness, “there my heart is broke,
  They ’as, and more’s the pity,
  Just pull’d the old gates down! (I may
  Get i’ the wrong box too, for blabbin’)
  Narwich an arncient city, did you say? 
  An’ please your Majesty, not now; ‘t ha’ been!”

[Footnote 9:  George III.—­This incident actually occurred.]

M. L. B.

* * * * *

PORTRAIT OF FAIR ROSAMOND.

A picture of this unfortunate woman, the mistress of Henry II., and the victim of his queen’s jealousy, supposed to have been painted in the time of Henry VII., was, at the commencement of the last century in the possession of Samuel Gale, Esq., the antiquary.  It consisted of a three-quarter length, painted on panel, and attired in the costume of the period; a dress of red velvet, with a straight low body, and large square sleeves, faced with black flowered damask, turned up above the elbow, from which descended a close sleeve of pearl-coloured satin, puffed out, and buttoned at the wrist; her bosom being covered with a fine flowered linen, gathered close at the neck like a ruff.  Her hair, which was of a dark brown colour, was parted from the middle of the forehead; on her head was a plain coifure, surmounted by a gold lace, covered with a small, black, silk cap.  In her right hand, which was richly decorated with rings, she held the fatal cup, with the cover in the left.  Before her, on a table covered with black, damask, lay an open prayer-book.  Her complexion was fair, with a beautiful blush upon her cheeks.

S.I.B.

* * * * *

THE NATURALIST.

* * * * *

NEW ZOOLOGICAL WORK.

We are happy to have on our table the first number of a periodical work to be exclusively devoted to the Illustration of the Natural History of the living Animals in the Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society.  It is from the Chiswick press; the drawings are by Mr. William Harvey, and the Engraving by Messrs. Branston and Wright; and of printing and embellishment, the present number is a truly splendid specimen, and is equal to any of the costly “Annuals.”