them all. Alas! several of this once brilliant
company have now passed away, but those who remain will ever remember
the many happy hours spent in the old _Punch_ Club."

In his "canino-classic" poem already mentioned--entitled "Sodalitas
Punchica, seu Clubbus Noster"--Percival Leigh gives some further
particulars of the membership of the Club--lines which I translate
somewhat freely, perhaps, yet with all the reverence due to their
academic beauty:

"The names of some of our greatest men the Poet now indites--
Old Mark and Henry Mayhew, two of _Punch's_ brightest lights--
(The first beats Aristotle blue; the second, Sophocles):
_Then enter_ Douglas Jerrold's self, our greatest wit and tease--
Who treats his friends like Paddy Whack, his love for them to prove;
And Tully great, whose talent flows in just as great a groove;
Then Hodder, of the "Morning Herald," sheds the light he brings,
And Albert Smith the mighty--and the Poet's self who sings.
O'er these our ancient Nestor rules, who lived when lived Queen Anne,
And even knew old Japhet--or 'twas so the story ran."

H. G. Hine, who was afterwards to become the Vice President of the Royal
Institute of Painters in Water-Colours, was elected a member; but his
taste lay neither in the direction of Clubs nor in the absorption of
strong drink. And least of all did he love Bohemia. "I only dined with
them once," he wrote to me, "and then at the 'Belle Sauvage.' The dinner
was given by the proprietors of _Punch_ to the Staff. They found the
Club already in existence, and desired to have some part in it, or, as
was said at the time, to place their finger in its pie. I believe this
to have been the only Dinner held at the 'Belle Sauvage.' I may mention
in connection with the _Punch_ Club (whose meetings, which were not
Dinners generally, were held on Saturdays) that much chaff and practical
joking were indulged in, and that was one reason for my non-attendance.
On one occasion when Albert Smith wanted his hat and umbrella on leaving
the Club, the attendant presented him pawn-tickets for the articles. He
was extremely annoyed, sent the man for a policeman, and gave the whole
Club into custody; and they had to pay the redemption price, besides
looking very foolish. It was Horace Mayhew told me of this." It has been
said that this was the last straw on Smith's back, and settled his
withdrawal from _Punch_. But it is only fair to add that the indignit