him to indulge his
imagination and allow it to run riot in getting up a monstrous case of
magisterial oppression. The affair has, perhaps, answered its purpose,
for it has given gigantic dimensions to a police report and made that
productive of half-a-crown which would, if kept within the commonplace
limits of fact, have yielded scarcely a shilling; it has given an
opportunity to "able editors" to write admirable leading
articles--admirable in every respect but the foundation, which has
unfortunately given way; and it has permitted vigilant Members of
Parliament to show their vigilance, by asking the Home Secretary what he
is about, and why he doesn't reverse a few magisterial decisions every
now and then, by way of keeping up the "independence" of the Bench and
showing that he is not asleep in his office. So far as any good may
result from these things, the fictitious report of the Cab case has
answered its purpose; but the only real advantage we can see in it has
been gained by the Cabman, for whom subscriptions have poured in which
have enabled him to pay his fine, and perhaps leave him a handsome
balance for future penalties. Whilst we firmly oppose the Cabman in all
his delinquencies--and they are not a few--let him only come forward
with a real wrong, and he shall have all the benefit of _Punch's_
avenging _baton_.

* * * * *

WELL OFF FOR SOAP.

In consequence of the reduction of the Soap Duties, an eccentric
gentleman, who likes a smooth shaven lawn, has the lawn in front of his
house lathered in order to be shaved.

* * * * *

LOVESUIT AND LAWSUIT.

Promise of marriage is like precious China--a man has so much to pay for
its breakage.

* * * * *

MARTIN IN JACK'S GOWN; OR, _MAWWORM_ WELL ACTED.

There is no kind of man more delightful to meet with than a good
clergyman who is also a good fellow, and, moreover,--within canonical
and decent limits--a wag. Now, here is one such singularly pleasant
parson, writing, as a correspondent of the _Times_, thus:--

"Sir,--My attention has just been directed to an Advertisement in
the _Times_ of the 11th instant, inserted by the Great Western
Railway Company, announcing an excursion train for Sunday, the 17th
instant, to Oxford, Banbury, Leamington, Warwick, and concluding by
saying, that 'the Warwick station is only a short distance from the
r