party.  The Tories, we have observed, have as usual seized on the big end of the argument, while the Whigs have grappled as resolutely by the little end, and are puffing away furiously in each other’s eyes.  Heaven knows where the contest will end!  For ourselves, we are content to watch the struggle from our quiet corner, convinced, whichever end gains the victory, that John Bull will be made to smoke for it; and when curious people ask us if we be big-endians or little-endians, we answer, that, to oblige all our friends, we smoke our Manillas at both ends.

* * * * *

BALLADS OF THE BRIEFLESS.

No. 1.—­THE RULE TO COMPUTE.

  Oh, tell me not of empires grand,
    Of proud dominion wide and far,
  Of those who sway the fertile land
    Where melons three for twopence are. 
  To rule like this I ne’er aspire,
    In fact my book it would not suit! 
  The only rule that I desire,
    Is a rule nisi to compute.

  Oh speak not of the calm delights,
    That in the fields or lanes we win;
  The field and lane that me invites
    Is Chancery or Lincoln’s Inn. 
  Yes, there in some remote recess,
    At eve, I practise on my flute,
  Till some attorney comes to bless
    With a rule nisi to compute.

No. 2.—­SIGNING A PLEA.

Oh, how oft when alone at the close of the day
I’ve sat in that Court where the fig-tree don’t grow
And wonder’d how I, without money, should pay
The little account to my laundress below! 
And when I have heard a quick step on the stair,
I’ve thought which of twenty rich duns it could be,
I have rush’d to the door in a fit of despair,
And—­received ten and sixpence for signing a plea.

CHORUS.—­Signing a plea, signing a plea! 
         Received ten and sixpence for signing a plea.

They may talk as they will of the pleasure that’s found. 
When venting in verse our despondence and grief;
But the pen of the poet was ne’er, I’ll be bound,
Half so pleasantly used as in signing a brief. 
In soft declarations, though rapture may lie,
If the maid to appear to your suit willing be,
But ah I could write till my inkstand was dry,
And die in the act—­yes—­of signing a plea.

CHORUS.—­Signing a plea, signing a plea! 
         Die in the act—­yes—­of signing a plea.

* * * * *

A CUT BY SIR PETER.

[Illustration]

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANACREON, PETRONIUS, CERVANTES, HUDIBRAS, AND “PUNCH.”

A CASE IN POINT, FROM ANACREON.

[Greek:  EIS HEAUTON.]

[Greek:  Degousin ai gunaikes Anakreon geron ei Labon esoptron athrei Komas men ouket ousas Psilon de seu metopon.]

A FREE TRANSLATION BY “PUNCH”—­