JANUARY 25, 1862.' F -J .


'189


. I


A coffee-house but enter, there the phantoms all come back,
With that fearful old frequenter munching muffins with a smack;
And the same old tavern parlour still reveals the same old face,
The stupid man, the snarler, and the bore all common-place.
"Take your paper up and read it,-ghosts will throng around you
 fast,
 Each leader, if you heed it, shows some spectre of the past;
 Rises up that spirit hearty which our fathers did implant,
 Rises up the ghost of Party, rises up the form of Cant.
 There are ghosts of weak excuses for great evils unredrcssed,
 Shrieking ghosts of old abuses that have not been laid to rest;
 The columns of the Times alone, of ghosts reveal no dearth,
 They show us when dark crimes are done what spectres walk the
 earth..
 "And dismal ghosts creep nightly from each corner and each nook,
 Where the gas-lamp flickers brightly on some famine-stricken look;
 Where some joy-forsaken wretches crouch together in the light,
 Or one ragged form out-stretches in the darkness of the night.
 Dreary phantoms these to gaze on, fearful tales come they to tell,
 Of the deeds of other days, on which no tongue can lightly dwell;
 These are shadows to be pitied, and they screech in car of man,
 We are ghosts of wrongs committed, try and lay us if you can."
 Avaunt! I'll hear no more; it makes my blood run slow and cold,
 A man of iron nerves it takes such spectres to behold;
,You'll find apartments cheaply in the Red Sea, or, I think,
You might be laid as deeply in the blacker one of ink.
Go! Vanish! Hark! there's some one knocks-burns brighter
 now the light,
 A flutter through my letter-box proclaims they are taking flight.
 Hurrah! It's this week's FUN dropped in, I'm better now indeed,
 Now then to get a hearty grin, and have a jolly read.


FINE ARTS.


 POET SCORNER.

 '' & iiSCt iti p om .lit : --

 i answer which I req'ive ftin

 TOISi MYlo MO~ll
 ithet prosaic periodicals of the1
 day, when i Ill S.N et., versest'
 iare returned. Ner g
 respected Vxi, it' I die for it,
 will I subm it to, sucl ilnig-
 S nitiies as 1 have be'en heaped
 upon mnie by a splenet ic land
 scorbutic press. Mly poe'tr
 sIls b-een iretlsed l ev' i-
 'lvrt'! Publish this lcteri
 with aecomp:aying, verses,
 ald I will pitl lhaso three
 iAllion copies of your exhila-
 rating periodical--Yours,
 C'. 1). C'AM,.
 [Relying upon the integrity of our correspondent we comply with
his request.-En.]
 TO MY 11T10T11,l11.
 Bright and low was thle nlidniglit sie,
 Creel'lingly !
 And lihe crumbled in his -nest,
 Sing lilly lullo lilly 1o.
 Avauint foil blameless tileil,
 Traiipl the breeze f ill high!
 Hcadllong lit, stays behind us,
 And isoianl I!


 THE ROBINSON LUNACY COMMISSION.
 TIE inquiry into the alleged lunacy of n11u. .IJACK ]lc lNsoNs I:Is
 __ _n ,1 "'- 1 1. ,. ..


 ECENTLY we were favoured with a I resume at toe basuninster nession-nouas, IcIore 11u. ,. i1l ri.
 ... private view of some of the new pic- WELLEs, Q.C., Master of Lunacy.
 Stores for the forthcoming Academy 1 K. DiCK ilmowNs, Q.C., appeared for the petitioners, and Sim 1 'l'oi
 session, but we cannot venture to JONES for MR. 1RIIINSON.
 i predict that any of them will pass The following further evidence was tendered : -
 the hanging committee, -indeed, M31. P. C. PUMPlKINS examined by Mll. IltOvx :--flall ]1nown
 hanging, in the vulgar acceptation RoIIINSON for some time, and decidedly b)olieved hliim 1,(i ofr iunsml
 of the phrase, would be much too mind, and subject to illusions. lF''oided lthaa opiniim l) vaiiosi
 good for them. Amongst theworks instances. iROBINN had been son twice in ,Si'iInIIs' tabtli'il-.
 Idov which may probably escape public Would not conclude a man insane wlo had of his lree will gone th.
 exhibition, we may mention- only once. Curiosity miglh lead any oil i hat lir. Could hlirilly
 ''i l "The Finding of the Body in a beliovo that he was so thr gone its to nflorilain ta lvoin:ihlo opinion of
 Bottle of South African Port," by iA. 1 ). Coi:M Ms. Must say that, he once declared P.I'N. sox rIitimi tooi
 S PLUCIASER; a work of inlmensoe Inuch for li" .
 labour, but, unfortunately, without M. A. Suieovil examined and diild disewrl ( tfim 1 l:Li uoNsON
 S- result. vas subject to illusions. Heard i assr witl l' two y
 "The Fruits of Study-a Dish of that thero would lie a reform bill witlli the cc'nt'ry. Wias ,'nt
 Dates," by FINSBUIa Cox, is a very present at a sHteet- riot inI his compllany. RoIiMNSON um:1h; I ri;emark
pleasing specimen ofthis artist. expressing profound ustolisuihmlent that, tlere was i, polliCenman at lanI.
 "Study of Game," and companion picture, the "Poachers," by J. Considered the remark childish amid a, coming froim i:i ilimbcilc
PAKINGTON and DUDLEn ExaF,, are both unworthy of the artists, and person dfclicient in the comnlonest knowledge. 1, tl' world.
will never become popular. Cross-examined: Certainly was not prepared to swear thai,
 i BouICl ULTr Editing the Octoroon," after KIN JonI signi ng OINSON took in Teim ne Bar. a lieand 'ls ilI li; i t consider d
Mlagna Charta," is a very pretty composition, and will doubtless final the statement dto seriois to be made On sligf, ithln,,ily.
many admirers. Miss AMELIA WADti deposed thai C it Ma. Iittl t as,', prior fIt his fhlither's
 "Advice Gratis," by a contributor to the Times, and dedicated to death, proposed to marry her acl keep hoise io an allowauce of
lis Royal Highness the PRINcE OF WALES, is a singular composition, 250 a year. The proposal was declined, of c(ri.1 .
md a fit companion for a "Basket of Medlars," by the same artist. mAt. AUSTIN GItiEN agreed in considering ]ltuiN xsO's I inCy will
 "The Capture of the Trent," an American scene, the production of marked. Had heard him declare on Monday, tlintL Mi:. Si v I's
WILKEs, is chiefly remarkable for the wonderful expression imparted despatches to MiB. ADAhs and Elitr, Il.uSSL., ()n1l ti 'rIIt, Idiir
to the principal character,-a sort of piratical sea-dog in the garb of might be reconciled with each other. lyappen'd ft, i il u ie tO
gentleman, who is supposed, with the aid of a crew of ruffians armed between RoIrNsoN and the moncy-laker To. Dritiy lfi 'l'l :trhe.
to the teeth, to have captured an English unarmed vessel. The stolid ROnIrNSON insisted on paying only half-i1re fur two hlilldren, o tlhe
indifference to the threats of the pirate Yankee, expressed in thli ridiculous ground that (he terms were so stated oi th l bills.
intelligent features of the English captain, form a marked contrast to Cross-examined: -Wiuld not deny tllt lie ha] 1':,iI llIlI.S'
the vein of cowardice which is shown to exist beneath the bully and express contempt lf,r the scoundrels who at l1i resit im l:: it, I.i
bluster of the sea-dog. A very creditable production. business to insult and annoy respectable la s in i lt fireet '. di,
 "Making Fun," a happy combination of composition, light, and not, however, consider fiat of any inpo.rt ante ill lict lI'.,'u, iiiliiry,
shade, and the work of several clever artists. Will undoubtedly be the as any Bedlamite would ft-el as strongly on the subject.
picture of the season. At this stage the inuiyii was at!journ'nd.


 LEG.AL CONI:NDRUMi.-- Why is an infant under seven years old umfit WrIvY is a physiognomist like a well-traiind soldier ? -bl'cau iH )I
to have a doll?-Because lie is doli incapax." can right about, ticn.