GLADSTONIAN LAMBERT, Of course, as he should, This last bye-election Considered was good. But Unionist BULLER Has said, on reflection, That to him it seemed rather A Good-Bye election! * * * * * NEW WORK.--_A Merry England in a Cat's Cradle_, by the Author of _Across England in a Dog-Cart_. * * * * * A VERY REVOLTING PLACE.--Brazil. * * * * * [Illustration: THE LITTLE GERMANIA MAGNATE; OR, TRYING TO SWAY THE SCEPTRE.] * * * * * [Illustration: JONES, SHOOTING IN NEW BOOTS, IS KNOCKED OUT SIX MILES FROM HOME, AND ACCORDINGLY IS TOLD OFF TO "MARK" FOR THE PARTY. WIND N.N.E., VERY FRESH. THERMOMETER 28°.] * * * * * OUR FINANCIAL COLUMN. I have been forced by the enormous increase of my business to take larger offices, and to engage two hundred additional clerks to carry on my immense correspondence. I merely mention this as it may be satisfactory to my countless well-wishers. But of course the old address--"CROESUS: London" will still find me. I publish below a selection from the letters received during the week. (1.) SIR,--You informed me in a private communication, that the Patent Spills Manufacturing Co. stock was a splendid investment. Acting on this, I bought. From that moment, Spills have fallen steadily. Kindly explain. Yours, INDIGNANT. [To this I can only answer, that the complaint is ludicrous, and preposterous. If you had bought on the day I advised, and sold out ten minutes afterwards, you would have realised a handsome profit of one farthing a share. Moreover, how can anything fall steadily? I never did, which shows what a fool "INDIGNANT" must be. CROESUS.] (2.) SIR,--I send £22,000 19s. 8¾d., which I wish tied up as tightly as possible in the Unlimited Packthread Stock Company, which you say is as safe as a house. Let me know which particular house you mean. The money belongs (or belonged) to my Maiden Aunt. Yours sincerely, BALIK RASH. [Consider it done, my dear Sir; consider it done. I return the three farthings, for which I have no possible use. The rest is invested. Transfers await your signature at my new office. CROESUS.] (3.) SIR,--I have saved £4 5s. 2d. during the last twenty years, and now send it to you in the Automatic Toast and Muffin Distributor Co., which I see guarantees a return of 500 per cent., with an anticipated increase of 200 per cent. from the sale of concessions in suburban districts. "The Muffins," you say, "will always be kept at toasting point, and, by a novel and ingenious arrangement, a perpetual supply of the best butter will spread itself over every Muffin as it is distributed to the Public." I like this very much. Pray, therefore, place me on toast to the enclosed amount. Yours, ONE IN THE SLOT.