TURNING TO THE LEFT.--At a recent meeting of the Court of Common Council (in the teeth of a strong opposition of some of the members of the Board) it was decided to exclude strangers and the Press during a part of the proceedings. The matter under secret consideration, it is said, was the appointment by the Recorder of the Assistant-Judge of the Mayor's Court. It is rumoured that, acting on the opinion of Mr. R. S. WRIGHT, (with him the Attorney-General) the Court decided not to confirm that appointment. But why all this mystery? What had the Councillors to fear? Obviously, they could be doing nothing wrong if they were sustained by WRIGHT! * * * * * [Illustration: JUMPING AT CONCLUSIONS. "WHO'S THAT _TINY_ LITTLE GENTLEMAN TALKING TO MAMMA, TOM?" "MR. SCRIBBINS, THE WRITING MASTER AT OUR SCHOOL." "AH! I SUPPOSE HE TEACHES _SHORT-HAND!_"] * * * * * A LORD MAYOR'S DAY IN DUBLIN. (_A Lay of the Criminal Law Amendment Act._) "Shure it's BALFOUR would be troublin', meeself Lord Mayor o' Dublin, But every charge he makes I'll meet in fashion you'll call nate; For I'll face the accusation that he brings against the _Nation_, Attired from head to foot, my boys, in all my robes of State. "So on with hat and gown, boys, for we're goin' through the town, boys, And you must help your City's Chief to make a real display," Thus TIM SULLIVAN he cried out, as straightway he did ride out, In civic pomp to near the Court on that eventful day. And Town Councillors in numbers, woke from their normal slumbers, And, donning gowns and tippets, rose and put on all they knew, And with approbation glancing at the City Marshal, prancing On a hired hack, they followed him, a rather motley crew. At length the Court they entered, when attention soon was centred, On a squabble that had risen about the Sword and Mace: For some swore they were not able to lie upon the table, Though the Lord Mayor hotly argued it was their proper place. So when 'twas shown quite plainly, after pushing for it vainly, Beyond the "bar" the civic baubles had to be conveyed, With vow that none should floor them, their guardians upstairs bore them, And in the front seats flaunted them conspicuously displayed. Then up stood Mr. CARSON, quite as quiet as a parson, And read out his indictment with a settled, stone-like face, Till TIM HEALY, quick replying, rose then and there, denying That the Counsel for the Crown had a shadow of a case. And then as legal brother argued each against the other, The while TIM SULLIVAN reclined in all his civic blaze, O'DONEL he looked vexed there, and he seemed somewhat perplexed there, As if the matter struck him as involved in doubtful haze.