Gentlemen of the Jury, for the last couple of years or so you have no doubt read any number of denunciations of the conduct of the man whose actions you are now about to investigate. You have heard him abused right and left. You have seen pictures of him, in which he has been held up to scorn and public ridicule. You have heard it announced in all quarters that he is a scoundrel and a thief. And as this has been the case, Gentlemen of the Jury, it is my duty to tell you that you must put aside the recollection of these attacks. You must treat the prisoner before you as if he were immaculate. In fact you must lay aside all prejudice, and give the man a fair trial; and, Gentlemen, it is my duty (sanctioned by precedent) to have the pleasure of informing you that I am sure you will! Yes, Gentlemen of the Jury, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, I repeat, I am sure you will! * * * * * At the National Liberal Club, on Wednesday, Lord ROSEBERY told the company they were not dancing on a volcano. That may be true, but it is equally true that the Government, in proposing to remit the sixpenny duty on whisky, are riding for a fall in (or, shall we say, a drop of) the "crater." * * * * * [Illustration: A WELLINGTON (STREET) MEMORIAL. GENERAL OPINION (MR. PUNCH) PRESENTS THE MEDAL OF THE HIGHEST ORDER OF HISTRIONIC MERIT TO HENRY IRVING IN RECOGNITION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS _CORPORAL GREGORY BREWSTER_ IN THE ACTION OF CONAN DOYLE'S "STORY OF WATERLOO."] * * * * * ON THE NEW STATUE. ["Her Majesty's Government are about to entrust to one of our first sculptors a great historical statue, which has too long been wanting to the series of those who have governed England."--_Lord Rosebery at the Royal Academy Banquet._] Our "Uncrowned King" at last to stand 'Midst the legitimate Lord's Anointed? How will they shrink, that sacred band, Dismayed, disgusted, disappointed! The _parvenu_ Protector thrust Amidst the true Porphyrogeniti? How will it stir right royal dust! The mutton-eating king's amenity Were hardly proof against this slur. WILLIAM the thief, RUFUS the bully, The traitor JOHN, and JAMES the cur,-- Their royal purple how 'twill sully To rub against the brewer's buff! HARRY, old Mother Church's glory Meet this Conventicler?--Enough! The Butcher dimmed not England's story But rather brightened her renown. In camp and court it must be said, And if he did not win a crown, At least he never _lost his head!_ * * * * * Among Mr. LE GALLIENNE'S new poems there is one entitled _Tree Worship_. It is _not_ dedicated to the lessee of the Haymarket Theatre by "an Admirer." * * * * * A MAY MEETING.