drew,
And hung a bottle at each side,
To keep his balance true.

Then, over all, that he might be
Equipped from top to toe,
His long green cloak, well-brushed and neat,
He manfully did throw.

Now see him mounted once again
Upon his docile steed,
Full slowly pacing o'er the stones,
With caution and good heed.

It might have been a smoother road,
Nor was it nice to meet
First off, a Pig, who GILPIN bold
With stubborn grunt did greet.

So fair and softly! JOHNY cried,
But--

[_Here the fragment, so far as at present discovered, abruptly
endeth._

* * * * *

TIP FROM OUR OWN BOOKING-OFFICE.--Persons about to go to the Country,
whether to defend their own seat or attack someone else's, can't do
better, my Baronite says, than take with them P.W. CLAYDEN's _England
Under Coalition_, just published by FISHER UNWIN. It's not much to
carry, but it's worth the trouble of packing up; also of unpacking,
and reading. It tells the story of two Parliaments and three
Governments. A pretty story it is, more interesting than most novels,
and in one volume too. A marvel of condensation and lucid narrative.
Only one thing lacking to a work likely to be constantly used for
reference, and that is an index. "But you can't have everything," as
_Queen Eleanor_ said to _Fair Rosamond_ when, having swallowed the
contents of the poisoned chalice, she asked for a dagger.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE POLITICAL JOHNNY GILPIN.

"NOW SEE HIM MOUNTED ONCE AGAIN
UPON HIS NIMBLE STEED,
FULL SLOWLY PACING O'ER THE STONES,
WITH CAUTION AND GOOD HEED."
]

* * * * *

[Illustration: OBVIOUS.

_Buttons_ (_fresh from the Country, evidently no French Scholar_). "I
SAY, MARY, THE GUV'NOR AND MISSUS ARE DINING OUT TO-NIGHT. BUT I CAN'T
FOR THE LIFE OF ME MAKE OUT WHAT A _R_, A _S_, A _V_, AND A _P_ MEAN
ON THIS 'ERE CARD!"

_Smart Housemaid_. "WHY, OF COURSE IT MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
_R_UMP _S_TEAK AND _V_EAL _P_IE!"]

* * * * *

ELECTION NOTES.

(_BY MR. PUNCH'S SPECIAL COMMISSIONER._)

DEAR SIR,--I am glad you consented eventually to the terms I
proposed. After all, L100 a-week (_and expenses_) is a mere trifle
for the arduous work I expect to do for you. According to your
instructions, I arrived three nights ago in the ancient borough