om our Travelling Contributor._)

The British Consulate at Boulogne still "hangs out" over the "tinnery,
leadery, and zincery," at the end of the port, as we have ascertained by
a recent visit. The ground floor is occupied by a sauce-pan shop, while
British diplomacy has taken the floor above, and the frontage of the
premises displays a rivalry of attraction between the "British Consular
Office for Passports" and the "_Bazar des Quatre_" something or other,
which the tinman adopts as the name of his domicile.

We recognise no change in the arrangements since we noticed the
establishment two years ago, except that the individual who represents
British diplomacy has got a new cap, is rather more civil spoken than he
was, and the boy who runs to call him when he is in another room is
grown bigger than he used to be. This is all natural enough, and so far
unobjectionable, though we are not quite so well satisfied with a rope
that has been attached to one side of the staircase by way of
bannisters. On the day of our visit there was a consular _torchon_, or
diplomatic dishclout hanging to dry on the landing, which we thought
savoured of anything but dignity. The rope was well enough as far as it
went, and the Consul has given the public just rope enough to hang
itself, or rather to pull itself up by, in ascending the staircase. We
presume that all this homeliness is as much as the passport fees will
afford, and we can only regret, for the credit of British diplomacy,
that it is as much dignity as can be sustained upon the
four-and-two-pences that pour in on the establishment at Boulogne.

* * * * *

PHYSIC FOR BRUTES.

A hair of the dog that bit you is recommended as a cure for the
consequences of drunkenness; but when intoxication results in beating
women, the dog does not afford so proper a remedy as the cat.

* * * * *

Who was the first "Gent" on record?--The Lawyer, when he was allowed by
Act of Parliament to write after his name "Gent, one, &c.."

* * * * *

[Illustration: SCENE.--BUREAU OF THE CHIEFS OF THE DOUANES.

_French Official._ "YOU HAVE PASSPORT?"

_English Gent._ "NONG, MOSSOO."

_Official._ "YOUR NAME."

_Gent._ "BELLEVILLE."

_Official._ "CHRISTIAN NOM?"

_Gent._ "'ARRY!"

_Official._ "PROFESSION?"

_Gent._ "BANKER!"]

* * * * *

THE PLOUGHBOY'S DOOM!

The