In this Garden of Sleep, where white Poppies are spread, Fair INDIA plucketh the opiate head. JOHN BULL says. "My dear, PEASE's tales make me creep. He swears it, fills graves with 'pigtails,' who seek sleep!" Fair INDIA replies, "That may possibly be; But they Revenue bring, some Six Millions, you see! Turn me out if you will, smash the Trade if you must; But--you'll make up the money somehow, Sir, I trust!" * * * * * [Illustration: WANTED--A LOCAL HABITATION. (_Commended by Mr. Punch to the Patrons of British Art._) _English Art_ (_to Sir James L-nt-n, Messrs. T-te and Agn-w_), "NOW, GENTLEMEN, THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN THE SITE FOR MY HOUSE,--IT ONLY REMAINS FOR YOU TO BUILD IT." [The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER announced that the Government had assigned a site for the new Gallery of Modern Art, as he thought it would be unwise to risk the failure of the gift of £80,000 which had been offered to erect a building.]] * * * * * SOMEBODY'S LUGGAGE. In view of the intense public excitement aroused by the statement that Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL, in his expedition to Mashonaland, is only going to take two books with him--SHAKSPEARE and MOLIÈRE--an Inquiring Correspondent has recently written to several eminent persons on this subject, and has received--so he says--the following replies:-- SIR,--You ask me what books I should take if I were contemplating a visit to the Dark Continent, like Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL. The question, in the abstract, and without reference to my own personality, is an interesting one, and no doubt human fallibility would, in the case you suppose, induce me to take several volumes of my own _Gleanings_ with me,--not so much for their intrinsic merits, as because perhaps they might form a new kind of literature for native African potentates. HOMER, too, _of course_. At my time of life, however, I must be excused from grappling with any new Continents, dark or otherwise. I find that Ireland is quite dark enough for me just now. Excuse a card. Yours, W.E. GL-DST-NE. SIR,--As I am not "contemplating an expedition to the Dark Continent," and have no sympathy with Hottentots, there seems to be no sufficient reason for my answering your questions, or for your asking them. S-L-SB-RY. SIR,--Your question is ridiculous. The only books worth taking to Africa, or anywhere else, would be a bound copy of last year's _Review of Reviews_, GENERAL BOOTH's epoch-making volume, and--this is indispensable--SIR C. D-LKE's invaluable _Problems of Greater Britain._ When I went to Rome, I naturally took with me the "hundred best books in the world." They were a little heavy, but I thought the POPE would like to see them. However, circumstances prevented my presenting them to His Holiness. Yours, W.T. ST-D.