Such Lotos-eating all at times must seek! The Lotos blows by many an English creek. _Punch_ is no "mild-eyed melancholy" coon, Born, like the Laureate's islanders, to moon In lands in which 'tis always afternoon. No, TOBY, no! Yet stretch your tawny muzzle Upon these tawny sands! We will not puzzle, For a few happy hours, our weary pates With Burning Questions or with Dull Debates. We have had enough of Measures, and of Motions, we, "Ayes" to starboard, "Noes" to larboard (in the language of the sea), Where the wallowing SEYMORE spouted like a whale, and COBB made free. Let us take our solemn davy, TOBY, for a space (_Punch_ perceives complete approval in that doggish face)-- Let us take our davy, TOBY--_for a time_, now mind!-- In this briny Lotos Land to live and lie reclined, On the sands like chums together, careless of mankind! [_Sleeps._ * * * * * [Illustration: MR. PUNCH'S ANTI-LABOUR CONGRESS.] * * * * * SOME CIRCULAR NOTES. CHAPTER II. _ON TOUR--RESTAURATION--METHOD--RAPID ACT--PATRIOTISM--CHORUS--DINNER--FORWARDS--ENTRÉE--EXIT--DESTINATION._ With DAUBINET I soon acquire the careless habit of speaking any French that comes into my head, irrespective of grammar, genders, or idioms. If he doesn't understand it in French he will do so in English, or _vice versâ_. On this mutual comprehension system we get along as easily as the express does, and as easily as the boat does too, to-day,--for we are in luck, the weather is delicious and the sea propitious,--and so we arrive hungry and happy at the excellent buffet at the Calais Station, the praises of which I have sung more than once in my lifetime. [Illustration] Far be it from me to draw comparisons, but I if want to start well and wisely for the Continong, give me the short sea-passage _viâ_ Dover and the excellent restauration at Calais, with a good twenty-five minutes allowed for refreshment; _though why this interval shouldn't be extended to three-quarters of an hour, and less time occupied on the journey to Paris, I have never yet been able to ascertain._ In the not very dim and distant future no doubt it will be so. I record the above observation in italics, in order to attract the attention of all whom it may and does and ought to concern. Perhaps they'll kindly see to it.