ng the coin.'
I wish to ask whether my brother SEPTIMUS is liable to be taken up? The
foolish boy has several waistcoats, the buttons of which are made of
coins. He has one for every-day use made with fourpenny pieces. He has
another, the buttons of which are made with half-sovereigns. That is for
Sunday wear, whilst he has another for very grand occasions that is
buttoned together with two-sovereign pieces. He is with these absurd
fancies quite a 'Man made of Money', and I know a young lady who calls
him a 'walking change for a ten-pound note.' It is very conceited of him
to be sure, and I am only afraid he will be taken up some
day--especially if he has on at the time his great driving coat that has
a long row of half-crowns running down in front, and a couple of
crown-pieces over the pockets behind. Now I wish you to tell me, dear
_Punch_, supposing he is taken up, can they send him to prison, and cut
his hair off, and make him eat gruel for defacing the coin? I am more
frightened than I can tell you about him.

"Poor fellow! It would be terrible to see two big policemen lay their
large hands on him, when he was out walking with his little sister, and
tear him away from my side, because he happened to be wearing his grand
pink shirt with the studs made out of the tiniest threepenny pieces.
This talk about 'defacing the coin' is all rubbish, for it strikes me
that if I give ten shillings for half-a-sovereign, I have a right to do
what I like with it--to throw it in the fire even, if I choose; but I am
fairly tired out of my life with such stuff!

I remain, my dearest _Punch_,
Your great friend and admirer,
CLARA (at No. 10).

"P.S. Supposing again I choose to wear a lucky coin round my neck that
was given to me by JULIUS before he went to sea, I should like to know
what they would do with me? I declare _I would die sooner_ than they
should take it from me!"

* * * * *

PUBLICANS AND PARSONS.--Cathedral Chapters are compiled from leaves
taken out of Hotel-keepers' Books.

* * * * *

HOW TO BREATHE THE "FREE AIR" OF AUSTRIA.--Keep your mouth shut!

* * * * *

LE GRAND OPERA ENRHUME.

M. HALEVY, weary of compelling his orchestra to imitate the tinkling of
Bayaderes' armlets, or the solemn tramp of an army of elephants, has, in
his opera of the _Nabob_, now performing at the Opera Comique,
introduced a novel musical