“As we are hearing Elijah,” says Mr. Corner Man, “may I ask you, Sir, what Queen in Scripture History this young lady reminds me of?” Of course I reply, “I give it up, Sir.”  Whereupon he answers, “She reminds me, Sir, of the Queen who was BERENICE—­’Berry-Nicey’—­see?”

Number next in the books.  Mr. WATKIN MILLS was dignified and impressive as Elijah; but, while admitting the excellence of this profit, we can’t forget our loss in the absence of Mr. SANTLEY.  BEN MIO DAVIES sang the tenor music, but apologised for having unfortunately got a pony on the event,—­that is, he had got a little hoarse during the day.  “BEN MIO” is—­um—­rather troppo operatico for the oratorio.  Mr. BARNBY bravely batoned, as usual.  Bravo, BARNBY!  He goes on with the work because he likes it.  Did he not, he would say with the General Bombastes—­

                      “Give o’er! give o’er! 
  For I will baton on this tune no more.”

Perhaps the quotation is not quite exact, but no matter, all’s well that ends well, as everyone said as they left.

Yours truly,
ALBERT HALL.

* * * * *

MR. PUNCH’S PRIZE NOVELS.

NO.  VII.—­A BUCCANEER’S BLOOD-BATH.

BY L.S.  DEEVENSON, AUTHOR OF “TOLDON DRYLAND,” “THE WHITE HETON,” “WENTNAP,” “AMISS WITH A CANDLETRAY,” “AN OUTLANDISH TRIP,” “A TRAVELLED DONKEY,” “A QUEER FALL ON A TREACLE SLIDE,” “THE OLD PERSIAN BARONETS,” &C., &C., &C.

[For some weeks before this Novel actually arrived, we received by every post an immense consignment of paragraphs, notices, and newspaper cuttings, all referring to it in glowing terms.  “This” observed the Bi-weekly Boomer, “is, perhaps, the most brilliant effort of the brilliant and versatile Author’s genius.  Humour and pathos are inextricably blended in it.  He sweeps with confident finger over the whole gamut of human emotions, and moves us equally to terror and to pity.  Of the style, it is sufficient to say that it is Mr. DEEVENSON’s.”  The MS. of the Novel itself came in a wrapper bearing the Samoan post-mark.—­ED. Punch.]

CHAPTER I.

I am a man stricken in years, and-well-nigh spent with labour, yet it behoves that, for the public good, I should take pen in hand, and set down the truth of those matters wherein I played a part.  And, indeed, it may befall that, when the tale is put forth in print, the public may find it to their liking, and buy it with no sparing hand, so that, at the last, the payment shall be worthy of the labourer.

[Illustration]