When Man first arose from the primitive Ape,
  He first dropped his tail, and took on a new shape. 
  But Cricketing Man, born to trundle and swipe,
  Reversion displays to the earlier type;
  For a cricketing team, when beginning to fail,
  Always loses its “form,” and “developes a tail”!

* * * * *

ROBERT ON THINGS IN GINERAL.

I was only jest a thinkin the other day, what werry distinguisht honner Her Most Grashus Madgesty the QUEEN would bestow on the Rite Honerabel the LORD MARE, when the rite time cum.  But I was ardly prepaird for the acshal fack!

I reelly coudn’t have bleeved it if I hadn’t a had it red out to me from a most respecfool Mornin Paper; so in course it must be trew.  Yes, the Rite Honorabel the LORD MARE is not only to be a Nite, like other Lord Mares, but the QUEEN has acshally made him a Nite Commander of the most xtinguisht Order of Saint Mikel, and, not sattisfide with ewen that, Her MADGESTY has also made him a Nite Commander of the other most xtinguisht Order of Saint George!

It is fortnit that Sir DAVID’s year of offis will soon end, or he mite have fownd it diffikult to carry out his ushal LORD MARE’s numerus dootys, while Commanding two sitch xtinguisht Orders as them as is named above.

My Amerricane Friend has turnd up agane at our bewtifool Grand Otel.  He says as they has had orful whether wear he has cum from, but all the hole week he has had in grand old Lundon has bin most luvly Sun-Shine, as it amost allers is in Spring, he says he’s told.  As he luckly didn’t appen for to arsk for no arnser, of course I didn’t give him not none; but I coudn’t help a thinkin as how as if he had bin here in our late hurly Spring, he might ha bin inclined jest a leetel to halter his good opinyon.

We had qwite a plezzent chat while I atended upon him at Lunch.  He wants to kno more about our LORD MARE.  Fust of all, how much munney he gits; and, when I told him jest ten thowsand pounds for his year of offics, he xclaimd, “Why, that’s the werry same sum as we gives our President, who, you know, is reelly our King!” So I said, “Does he find it enuff for him, Sir?” “Oh yes,” he says, “quite.”  “Well,” says I, “it don’t seem a werry big salery for the King of such a big plaice as Amerrikey, when I appens to know that the LORD MARE of our little Lundon, which is ony about one mile big, has to spend more than another ten thousand pounds out of his own pocket afore he’s finished his year!” “Well,” he says, “you do estonish me; but everythink’s estonishing in your grand old Citty!  How do they send him his money?” I told him as the Chamberlane, who was allers cram full of munney, took it him every quarter-day.  “Ah,” says he, “we send our President, on the 26th of evry month, exakly eight hundred and thirty-three pounds, six-and-eight pence.”  “Ah,” I said, “I am rayther serprized as he shoud condersend to take the odd six-and-eight.