It was BLUNDELL MAPLE chanting this line, sung in another place by Hecate.  Flight didn’t amount to more than asking question as to whether audiences at unlicensed places of entertainment (in neighbourhood of Tottenham Court Road or elsewhere) open for Radical or Liberal entertainments, are duly protected from fire?  Members went off to dinner, pondering on this conundrum.  Came back to find Mr. G. on his legs again, denouncing proposition to vote L20,000 for survey of railway from Mombasa to Nyanza.  A splendid piece of invective; almost literally shrivelled up poor JOKIM, at whom some of the scorching flame was pointed with outstretched forefinger.  For more than half an hour, at period of night when most gentlemen of his years are snugly tucked up in bed, Mr. G. held the audience entranced, thunderous cheers rolling forth in rapid succession from Liberal ranks, now and then answered by low growl from Ministerialists.

[Illustration:  The Man who Owns a Mountain.]

“What a man it is!” cried KENRICK, looking on with monumental suavity; “almost sorry he left us.  Sometimes, at his best, he equals our JOE.” Business done.—­A couple of Votes in Supply.

Friday.—­BRYCE at last got access to mountains in Scotland.

Been wandering round foot of them through many Sessions, and several Parliaments.  Always something happened to prevent his reaching the top.  Don’t believe he’d have got there to-night, only for FARQUHARSON.

When F. came forward to second Motion, incidentally observing, “I’m the proprietor of a mountain myself,” we felt something must be done, and BRYCE’s Motion was agreed to.

FARQUHARSON, for rest of evening, object of respectful regard.  Some inquiry as to where he kept his mountain.  Did he bring it to Town with him when he came up for the Session?  And, when at home, was he in habit of leaving it out all night?

“Don’t happen to have it about you, I suppose?” WILFRID LAWSON asked, eyeing his trousers’ pockets.

FARQUHARSON very reticent on subject.  Rumour, just before House adjourned, that his mountain is one of those situated in the Moon—­but this only envy.

Business done.—­Access secured to FARQUHARSON’s mountain and others in Scotland.

* * * * *

STRANGE CHARGE AGAINST A GREAT POET.—­Lord TENNYSON’s Robin Hood is to be produced at DALY’s, New York, and simultaneously, to secure copyright, by one performance only, at the Lyceum.  We never thought TENNYSON a plagiarist before this, but here is proof positive he’s at it now,—­Lord TENNYSON’s robbing Hood!!

* * * * *

NOTICE.—­Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper.  To this rule there will be no exception.