ly.
_Brava_, Miss SARAH BERRY!

"As we are hearing _Elijah_," says Mr. Corner Man, "may I ask you,
Sir, what Queen in Scripture History this young lady reminds me of?"
Of course I reply, "I give it up, Sir." Whereupon he answers, "She
reminds me, Sir, of the Queen who was BERENICE--'Berry-Nicey'--see?"

Number next in the books. Mr. WATKIN MILLS was dignified and
impressive as _Elijah_; but, while admitting the excellence of this
profit, we can't forget our loss in the absence of Mr. SANTLEY.
BEN MIO DAVIES sang the tenor music, but apologised for having
unfortunately got a pony on the event,--that is, he had got a little
hoarse during the day. "BEN MIO" is--um--rather _troppo operatico_ for
the oratorio. Mr. BARNBY bravely batoned, as usual. Bravo, BARNBY! He
goes on with the work because he likes it. Did he not, he would say
with the _General Bombastes_--

"Give o'er! give o'er!
For I will baton on this tune no more."

Perhaps the quotation is not quite exact, but no matter, all's well
that ends well, as everyone said as they left.

Yours truly,
ALBERT HALL.

* * * * *

MR. PUNCH'S PRIZE NOVELS.

NO. VII.--A BUCCANEER'S BLOOD-BATH.

BY L.S. DEEVENSON, AUTHOR OF "_TOLDON DRYLAND_," "_THE WHITE
HETON_," "_WENTNAP_," "_AMISS WITH A CANDLETRAY_," "_AN OUTLANDISH
TRIP_," "_A TRAVELLED DONKEY_," "_A QUEER FALL ON A TREACLE SLIDE_,"
"_THE OLD PERSIAN BARONETS_," &C., &C., &C.

[For some weeks before this Novel actually arrived, we
received by every post an immense consignment of paragraphs,
notices, and newspaper cuttings, all referring to it in
glowing terms. "This" observed the _Bi-weekly Boomer_, "is,
perhaps, the most brilliant effort of the brilliant and
versatile Author's genius. Humour and pathos are inextricably
blended in it. He sweeps with confident finger over the whole
gamut of human emotions, and moves us equally to terror and
to pity. Of the style, it is sufficient to say that it is Mr.
DEEVENSON's." The MS. of the Novel itself came in a wrapper
bearing the Samoan post-mark.--ED. _Punch_.]

CHAPTER I.

I am a man stricken in years, and-well-nigh spent with labour, yet it
behoves that, for the public good, I should take pen in hand, and set
down the truth of those matters wherein I played a part. And, indeed,
it may befall that, when the tale is put forth in print, the public
may find it to t