The books before us have been expensively got up.  In the Hungarian Daughter, “rivers of type flow through meadows of margin,” to the length of nearly three hundred pages.  Mr. Stephens is truly a most spirited printer and publisher of his own works.

But the lavish outlay he must have incurred to obtain such a number of favourable notices—­so many columns of superlative praise—­shows him to be, in every sense—­like the prince of puffers, George Robins—­“utterly regardless of expense.”  The works third and fourth upon our list, doubtless cost, for the copyright alone, in ready money, a fortune.  It is astonishing what pecuniary sacrifices genius will make, when it purloins the trumpet of Fame to puff itself into temporary notoriety.

* * * * *

INQUEST EXTRAORDINARY.

     The Whigs, who long
     Were bold and strong,
  On Monday night went dead. 
     The jury found
     This verdict sound—­
  “Destroy’d by low-priced bread.”

* * * * *

AN EXCLUSIVE APPOINTMENT.

It is with the most rampant delight that we rush to announce, that a special warrant has been issued, appointing our friend and protege, the gallant and jocular Sibthorp, to the important office of beadle and crier to the House of Commons—­a situation which has been created from the difficulty which has hitherto been found in inducing strangers to withdraw during a division of the House.  This responsible office could not have been conferred upon any one so capable of discharging its onerous duties as the Colonel.  We will stake our hump, that half-a-dozen words of the gallant Demosthenes would, at any time have the effect of

[Illustration:  CLEARING THE STRANGER’S GALLERY.]

* * * * *

THE GREAT CRICKET MATCH AT ST. STEPHEN’S.

FIRST INNINGS.

The return match between the Reform and Carlton Clubs has been the theme of general conversation during the past week.  Some splendid play was exhibited on the occasion, and, although the result has realised the anticipations of the best judges, it was not achieved without considerable exertion.

It will be remembered that, the last time these celebrated clubs met, the Carlton men succeeded in scoring one notch more than their rivals; who, however, immediately challenged them to a return match, and have been diligently practising for success since that time.

The players assembled in Lord’s Cricket Ground on Tuesday last, when the betting was decidedly in favour of the Cons, whose appearance and manner was more confident than usual; while, on the contrary, the Rads seemed desponding and shy.  On tossing up, the Whigs succeeded in getting first innings, and the Tories dispersed themselves about the field in high glee, flattering themselves that they would not be out long.