at Preston fifteen minutes to take luncheon, than the Town
Clerk issued a circular to all the members of the Corporation, calling
on them to meet for the purpose of deciding how the fifteen minutes HER
MAJESTY had allowed herself for refreshment could be consumed by some
municipal twaddle, of which Royalty was to be made the recipient.
Instead of the QUEEN being suffered to take her hurried basin of
mock-turtle at the station, she was to be bothered with calf's head, in
the shape of the Mayor, and a dish of hash was to be set before her in
the form of an adulatory address from the authorities.

It is indeed hard that Royalty cannot get a quarter of an hour free for
luncheon on a long journey, but is compelled to give up every minute of
spare time to the swallowing of a quantity of unwholesome stuff in the
way of flattery from the authorities. We admire a loyal address when
circumstances render it appropriate and convenient; but to intercept HER
MAJESTY at every resting point on her way, and subject her to the
fatigue of listening to and answering a mass of commonplace rubbish from
the mouth of a Mayor, is no less impertinent on the part of the
authorities, than it must be annoying to the Sovereign. We are quite
sure that the QUEEN would prefer a sandwich to a puff, and a glass of
sherry to all the milk-and-water in the world--notwithstanding all the
sugar that the authorities might put into it.

* * * * *

HOW BRITANNIA SALUTES HER BABIES!

BRITANNIA--like a most careful mother--expends a world of powder on her
babies. A week ago she flourished the powder-puff regardless of expense;
and regardless of noise. Her three youngest royal babies--the PRINCESS
LOUISA, aged five years; the PRINCE ARTHUR, aged three; and the dear
little poppet PRINCE LEOPOLD, aged not one--were all of them brought
down from the nursery at Osborne, and--with their nurses--embarked on
board the _Fairy_ to cross to Portsmouth, on their way to Windsor
Castle, to be smothered with kisses by one of the best of mammas, and
one of the tenderest of fathers.

Well, the precious babies passing through Spithead "were saluted by the
_Blenheim_, by the garrison, and by the _Victory_, flag-ship;" and this
was ordered by GRANNAM BRITANNIA, who, we think, by such smoke and
pother rather exposes her dotage than shows her affection. Why should
the "adamantine lips" of sixty-eight pounders salute those little
babies? LOUISA, being