"Papa," said _Polly Eccles_, referring to certain charges brought against her revered father, "Papa may have his faults, but he's a _very_ clever man." So the _D. N._ as to the Protector CROMWELL. "OLIVER," says the _D. N._ in effect, "being human, may have had his faults, as had other men of his time, but he thoroughly understood religious freedom." Did he? In Ireland for example? With him "religious freedom" was like the verb in grammar, either "expressed" or "understood." It might have been "understood," but it certainly was not "expressed" in action. If CROMWELL was such a model of "religious freedom," then it will be as well to reconsider history under NERO, DIOCLETIAN, & CO., not to mention the amiable Ninth CHARLES of France, the genial HARRY THE EIGHTH of England, the gentle PETER, Czar of all the Russia, and a few other kindly-disposed rulers, who were, probably, the only men of their time thoroughly understanding the principles of religious freedom. As the song says, "They wouldn't ha' 'urt a biby, They were men as you could trust!" And for OLIVER himself, "He was all right when you knew him, _But_--you had to know him fust!" Rather; and then you had to accommodate yourself to his little ways, or else so much the worse for one of the two, and that one wouldn't have been OLIVER CROMWELL. But, of course, between principles and practise there is a "Great Divide." * * * * * THE SHAHZADA, weary of London life and English enjoyment, will at last exclaim with the canny Scot, "For pleasure gie me Peebles!" (The original remark was made by the author of _Peebles whom I have met_.) * * * * * NOTE, SATURDAY, JUNE 15.--Piece running last the week in Theatre Royal Law Courts--"_Bébé_." For Monday's lunch Sir HENRY HAWKINS ordered a Capon. * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P. _House of Commons, Monday, June 10._--School reopened after Whitsun Holidays. Occasion marked by lamentable episode. Attendance, as usual on Black Monday, very small. SPEAKER took Chair at three o'clock. No private business on hand; nothing to be done till half-past three. Meanwhile, SPEAKER and Members sit with hands folded. Everyone knows the temptation of such opportunity for a nameless Personage. TOMMY'S idle hands instinctively clutched after mischief. Suppose he were to move to have House counted? Evidently not forty present; nothing very serious would follow. SPEAKER would count. If not forty on hand, would leave Chair, sit at table, and wait till they came. Or he would go off, come back any time before four when message brought in that a quorum was in sight. Still, it would be a lark; would startle the House, frighten Ministers, possibly postpone commencement of business by half an hour.