Public attention being at this particular season anxiously directed to the prospects of the approaching harvest, we are enabled to lay before our readers some authentic information on the subject. Notwithstanding the fears which the late unfavourable weather induced, we have ascertained that reaping is proceeding vigorously at all the barbers' establishments in the kingdom. Several extensive chins were cut on Saturday last, and the returns proved most abundant. Sugar-barley is a comparative failure; but that description of oats, called wild oats, promises well in the neighbourhood of Oxford. _Turn-ups_ have had a favourable season at the ecarte tables of several dowagers in the West-end district. Beans are looking poorly--particularly the _have-beens_--whom we meet with seedy frocks and napless hats, gliding about late in the evenings. Clover, we are informed by some luxurious old codgers, who are living in the midst of it, was never in better condition. The best description of hops, it is thought, will fetch high prices in the Haymarket. The vegetation of wheat has been considerably retarded by the cold weather. Sportsmen, however, began to shoot vigorously on the 12th of this month. All things considered, though we cannot anticipate a rich harvest, we think that the speculators have exaggerated the [Illustration: ALARMING STATE OF THE CROPS.] * * * * * PUNCH'S RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS. (IN HUMBLE IMITATION OF THE AUTHOR OF "THE GREAT METROPOLIS.") No. I.--THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Before entering on this series of papers, I have only one request to make of the reader, which is this: that, however absurd or incredible my statements may appear, he will take them all for _Grant_-ed. It will hardly be necessary to apologise for making the hero of Waterloo the subject of this article; for, having had always free access to the parlour of the Duke of Wellington, I flatter myself that I am peculiarly fitted for the task I have undertaken.