“Your’s affectionately,

“JOSEPH MUFF.”

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“I DO ADJURE YE, ANSWER ME!”

A valuable porcelain vase, which stood in one of the state rooms of Windsor Castle, has been recently broken; it is suspected by design, as the situation in which it was placed almost precludes the idea that it could have happened by accident.  A commission, called “The Flunky Inquisition,” has been appointed by Sir Robert Peel, with Sibthorp at its head, to inquire into the affair.  The gallant Colonel declares that he has personally cross-examined all the housemaids, but that he has hitherto been unable to obtain a satisfactory solution of

[Illustration:  THE GREAT CHINA QUESTION.]

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LIKE MASTER LIKE MAN.

SIR ROBERT PEEL’S workmen inside the House of Parliament have determined to follow the example of the masons outside the House, if Mr. Wakley is to be appointed their foreman.

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INQUEST EXTRAORDINARY ON A CORONER.

Last night an inquest was held on the Consistency of Thomas Wakley, Esq., Member for Finsbury, and Coroner for Middlesex.  The deceased had been some time ailing, but his demise was at length so sudden, that it was deemed necessary to public justice that an inquest should be taken of the unfortunate remains.

The inquest was held at the Vicar of Bray tap, Palace Yard; and the jury, considering the neighbourhood, was tolerably respectable.  The remains of the deceased were in a dreadful state of decomposition; and although chloride of lime and other antiseptic fluids were plentifully scattered in the room, it was felt to be a service of danger to approach too closely to the defunct.  Many members of Parliament were in attendance, and all of them, to a man, appeared very visibly shocked by the appearance of the body.  Indeed they all of them seemed to gather a great moral lesson from the corpse.  “We know not whose turn it may be next,” was printed in the largest physiognomical type in every member’s countenance.

Thomas Duncombe, Esq., Member for Finsbury, examined—­Had known the deceased for some years.  Had the highest notion of the robustness of his constitution.  Would have taken any odds upon it.  Deceased, however, within these last three or four weeks had flighty intervals.  Talked very much about the fine phrenological development of Sir Robert Peel’s skull.  Had suspicions of the deceased from that moment.  Deceased had been carefully watched, but to no avail.  Deceased inflicted a mortal wound upon himself on the first night of Sir Robert’s premiership; and though he continued to rally for many evenings, he sunk the night before last, after a dying speech of twenty minutes.