_A._ Well, it is my impression, not just immediately! * * * * * SIDONIAN SHAKSPEARE. IN a deep and dark recess, among the sepulchral chambers of Sidon, on a splendid Sarcophagus in black stone, the delvers of the Palestine Exploration Committee lately discovered an ancient Phoenician inscription, which has been translated in a Beyrout newspaper as follows:-- "I, TALNITE, Priest of Astarte, and King of Sidon, son of ESHMUNAZAR, Priest of Astarte, and King of Sidon, lying in this tomb, say:--Come not to open my tomb; there is here neither gold, nor silver, nor treasure. He who will open this tomb shall have no prosperity under the sun, and shall not find repose in the grave." If the explorers who unearthed TALNITE'S epitaph had been able to read it, they might have been fit to shake in their shoes; only that no Archæologist now makes any bones whatever of rifling an ancient tomb. Hereafter, perhaps, the Australian emissary of a British Exploration Fund will not be deterred by a commination similar to the foregoing from opening the tomb of SHAKSPEARE, and perhaps removing both that Sarcophagus and its contents, should he find any remaining, to a Melbourne Museum. * * * * * THE OTHER "G. O. M."--G. OSBOURNE MORGAN. ("Mr. G." must copyright the initials.) * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P. _Monday, July 18._--Pretty incident in Lords to-night. Debate on Third Reading of Coercion Bill. In middle of proceedings DENMAN remembered four other lines for quotation from late Lord HOUGHTON'S poems. Last time he recited from this source the reporters, as he complained, had not reproduced the quotation. Evidently in strong force in Gallery to-night; working away at high pressure. Now the time, or never. So DENMAN rose and began-- "My name is NORVAL----" [Illustration: DR. SPEAKER BIRCH AND HIS YOUNG PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDS. GIVING IT THEM ALL ROUND.] Unfortunately GRANVILLE rose at same moment. Didn't seem at all interested in further biographical details, and recurred to Coercion Bill. DENMAN not to be turned aside. "----On the Grampian hills," he continued; whereupon the Markiss rose and moved formal Resolution that GRANVILLE be heard. Evidently some misunderstanding; but DENMAN too polite to insist on pushing himself forward; resumed his seat, and patiently awaited conclusion of GRANVILLE'S speech. Thereupon promptly rose again, and approached the table. So did the Markiss, and the two Statesmen stood and glared at each other across the table. "My name----" DENMAN began. "My Lords," said the Markiss. "Order! order!" shouted the Peers. Then GRANVILLE remembered what the Markiss had done for him in similar circumstances, and, interposing, moved that the Markiss be heard. House agreed, and _Norval_, retiring from the Grampian hills, withdrew to the Lowlands by the Bar.