tches of invoked
persecutors, and hammer and nails hotly sought for.

Our friend the _Spectator_, oddly enough, is, for once, very like TYGER
ROCHE. He says--

"It is evident that a serious disturbance in Europe might be very
inconvenient to the minor German Powers; and that fact has _perhaps_
suggested _the rough guess_, that a Prince bound up with German
interests by family relations, has used his position near the
British Sovereign for the purpose of inducing England to assist in
hushing up the quarrel, with scanty regard to the justice of the
case; _in short, that_ PRINCE ALBERT has induced England to abandon
her pledge and her ally!"

The _Spectator_ having made "the rough guess," reasons on it in his own
logical way, and concludes with these convincing words--

"_We do not believe_ that PRINCE ALBERT has so far forgotten his
happy and exalted duty, of which he has shown so just an
appreciation, by officious meddling with affairs which are not his."

That the _Spectator_, the Esquimaux of the Press--for somehow he always
appears to _Punch_ in a suit of sealskin, with a very blue nose,
prepared, if necessary, to harpoon the whale that shall supply his
midnight oil--that the cold _Spectator_ should suggest such a charge
against PRINCE ALBERT merely to express a disbelief is, at least, a very
unnecessary trouble.

"Don't nail the poor man's ears to the pump!" cries TYGER ROCHE.

"Don't believe PRINCE ALBERT an ally of NICHOLAS!" cries the
_Spectator_.

* * * * *

A SERIOUS QUESTION TO COLONEL SIBTHORP.--Is the ghost of Pond Street,
Chelsea, the ghost of Protection?

* * * * *

TAVERN EXPERIENCE.

I went to the sign of the Cat and Fiddle,
Whereat they did me grossly diddle:
I went to the Commercial Inn,
Where they well nigh stripped me to the skin:
I went to the Manchester Business House,
And equally there I found them chouse.
I went to the Coffee-House and Tavern,
Which turned out a regular robbers' cavern:
I went to the Family Hotel,
And they pillaged and plundered me there as well:
I went to the Recreative ditto,
My Stars and Garters!--wasn't I bit--oh!

* * * * *

[Illustration: IMPUDENT ROBBERY OF A TRAVELLER AT AN ENGLISH HOTEL.

THE POOR GENTLEMAN WAS FIRST KNOCKED DOWN BY A HEAVY BILL, AND THEN
PLUNDERED.]

* *