* * * * * "The Premier's principal speech was made in St. Andrew's Hall, where he was presented with the Freedam of the City."--_Liverpool Post and Mercury._ Which he promptly passed on to the enemy. * * * * * "Skilled non-workers all over the Union have for some time been in great demand, and enough of them are not available at the present time."--_Rand Daily Mail_. There are still a few that the old country could spare. * * * * * "Rhode Island Red, 200 year old pullets, laying, 5s. each."--_Nottingham Guardian_. We fancy it must have been one of these veterans that we met at dinner the other night. * * * * * [Illustration: THE BRUSILOFF HUG. THE KAISER. "I'M ALL FOR FRATERNISATION, BUT I CALL THIS OVERDOING IT."] * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. _Monday, July 2nd._--On the Finance Bill Mr. BONAR LAW exhibited a conciliatory disposition; and, indignantly disclaiming the character of a kill-joy, made several welcome concessions to the taxpayer. The late increase in the tobacco duty is to be halved, so that the modest smoker may hope to fill his pipe for a penny less per ounce. This hope, of course, is dependent upon the decision of the all-powerful Trust. [Illustration: NO KILL-JOY. MR. BONAR LAW.] The Entertainments Tax also is to be modified, chiefly in its higher regions. Intimately connected with this question is the case of the "deadhead," argued with the zeal that is according to knowledge by that eminent playwright, Mr. HEMMERDE, who knows all about the free-list and its services in "enabling the management to keep the house properly dressed"--this refers, of course, to the front of the house--during the doubtful first weeks of a new play. Mr. HOGGE was in his place again. It had been reported that, consequent upon a hasty pledge to remain in Liverpool until his candidate was returned, he was now doomed for ever to wander an unquiet sprite upon the banks of Mersey. But he has wisely determined that Parliament must not suffer to please his private whim. _Tuesday, July 3rd._--The House of Lords was crowded to hear Lord HARDINGE'S comments upon the Mesopotamia Report. Even those critics in the Commons who had declared that a civil servant should not take advantage of his position as a peer to make a personal explanation would, I think, have had no reason to complain of its character. His object was not to defend himself, but to call attention to the splendid services that India had rendered to the Empire during the War in other fields than Mesopotamia. In his own phrase, "India was bled absolutely white during the first few weeks of the War."