NOTE AND QUERY.--At Aldershot the QUEEN expressed herself much pleased with the "tattoo" all round. "IGNORAMUS" writes to inquire "if 'tattoo-ing' is done in Indian ink or with gunpowder?" * * * * * RULE, "BRITANNIA." (_New Yachtical Version._) H.R.H. THE P----E OF W----S _sings_:-- When _Vigilant_, at GOULD'S command, Came over here to sweep the main, This was the lay that thrilled the land, And Yankee Doodle loved the strain-- Lick _Britannia!_ the fleet _Britannia_ lick! And JOHNNY BULL may cut his stick. But _Vigilant_, less fast than thee, Must in her turn before thee fall, _Britannia_, who hast kept the sea, The dread and envy of them all. Win, _Britannia_! _Britannia_ rules the waves! (Though by the narrowest of shaves.) Six races in succession show The Yankee yacht has met her match; Though she was hailed, not long ago, The swiftest clipper of the batch. Rule, _Britannia_! _Britannia_ rule the waves! The most appropriate of staves! I'm sorry poor DUNRAVEN'S crack So prematurely has gone down; But mine has kept the winning tack, And well upheld the isle's renown. Rule, _Britannia_! &c. When JONATHAN thy match hath found, He'll to our coasts again repair. We'll have another friendly round, With manly hearts and all things fair. Rule, _Britannia_! _Britannia_ rules the waves, Six sequent wins BULL'S honour saves! * * * * * TO ALTHEA IN THE STALLS. From the Orchestra as I was staring So wearily down at the hall, The programme I held hardly caring To turn, I was tired of it all! For I knew 'twas a futile endeavour With music my trouble to drown, And I'd made up my mind that you never, Ah, never, would come back to town! When suddenly, there I beheld you Yourself--ah, the joyous amaze! I wonder what instinct impelled you Your dreamy dark eyes to upraise, That for one happy second's communing Met mine that had waited so long-- And the wail of the violins tuning It turned to a jubilant song! 'Mid organ-chords sombre and mellow There breaks out a ripple of glee, And the voice of the violoncello, ALTHEA, is pleading for me! The music is beating and surging With joy no _adagio_ can drown, In ecstasy all things are merging-- Because you have come back to town! * * * * * THE COREAN DIFFICULTY.--"_Japan declines to withdraw._"--(_Telegram, Thursday, July 12_).--"Ah," observed Miss QUOTER, who is ever ready, "that reminds me of BYRON'S line in _Mazeppa_, quite applicable to the present situation-- 'Again he urges on his mild Corea.'" * * *