"A powerful finish," quoth the Baron, leaning upon the chair-arm, and, like the soldier in the old ballad, wiping away a tear which he had most unwillingly shed over the last chapter of _Children of Circumstance_, "a very powerful finish. There is some comedy, too, in the story (which, I regret to say, is spun out into three volumes)--rather Meredithian perhaps, but still forming some relief to the sicknesses, illnesses and deaths--there are certainly three victims of IOTA's steel and one doubtful--of which the narrative has more than its fair share." Of the comedy portion, the courtship of _Jim_ and _Rica_ is excellent. But where other novels err in superfluity of description and lack of dialogue, the fault of this one is just the other way, and the dialogues may be, not "skipped," but bounded over. Nothing of the earlier portion, nor the powerful final chapter of this story can be missed: as for the intermediate stage, when the intelligent and experienced novel-reader has once grasped the characters, he can drop in on them now and then, in a friendly way, and see how they are getting on. The Baron congratulates Messrs. MACMILLAN on a charming little book called _Coridon's Songs_, which are not all songs sung by that youthful Angler-Saxon whose parent was IZAAK WALTON, but also songs by GAY, FIELDING, and Anonymi. To these worthy Master AUSTIN DOBSON hath written a mighty learned and withal entertaining preface, the gems of the book being the illustrations, done by HUGH THOMSON in his best style, "wherewith," quotes the incorrigible Baron, "I am Hughgely pleased." 'Tis an excellent Christmas present, as, "if I may be permitted to say so," quoth the Baron, _sotto voce_, "to those whom Providence hath blest with friends and relatives expecting gifts in the coming 'festive season,' is also a certain single volume entitled _Under the Rose_, an illustrated work, not altogether unknown, as a serial, in _Mr. Punch's_ pages, and highly recommended by THE JUDICIOUS BARON DE BOOK-WORMS." * * * * * RUS IN URBE.--Fancy there being a "Rural Dean of St. George's, Hanover Square"! His name was mentioned one day last week in the _Times'_ "Ecclesiastical Intelligence." It is the Rev. J. STORRS. Not "Army and Navy STORRS," nor "General STORRS," but "Ecclesiastical STORRS." * * * * * HAPPY APPLICATION.--Our Squire has a shooting party every Saturday to stay till Monday, and longer if they can. He calls it "The Saturday and Monday Pops." * * * * * GISMONDA. (_To Mr. Punch._)