_Friday_.--Still harping on Irish Votes. Want to dock Prince ARTHUR'S salary. SWIFT MACNEILL brought down model of battering-ram used at Falcarragh; holds it up; shows it in working order; Committee much interested; inclined to encourage this sort of thing; pleasant interlude in monotony of denunciation of Prince ARTHUR and all his works; no knowing what developments may not be in store; the other night had magic-lantern performance just off Terrace; that all very well on fine night; but when it's raining must keep indoors and battering-ram suitable for indoor exhibition. HAVELOCK wanted to borrow it, says he would like to show SCHWANN how it works; but MACNEILL couldn't spare it till Irish Votes through. New turn given to Debate by plaintive declaration from JOHN DILLON that he has "never been shadowed." "A difficult lot to deal with," says ARTHUR, gazing curiously at the Shadowless Man. "If they are shadowed, they protest; if they're not, they repine." _Business done_.--Irish Votes in Committee. * * * * * MR. PUNCH'S DICTIONARY OF PHRASES. AT THE ACADEMY SOIRÉE. "_How well your Picture bears the artificial light!_" i.e., "Couldn't look worse than it does by daylight." "_Mustn't keep you on the stairs. Such heaps of your friends asking for you upstairs_;" i.e., "Got rid of him, thank goodness!" "_Here you are at last! Been dodging you from room to room!_" i.e., "To keep out of your way. Caught at last, worse luck!" "_You look as if you had just stepped out of a picture-frame!_" i.e., "Wish you'd step back into one!" "_Not seen Mr. O'Kew's picture? You_ must _see it. Only three rooms from here, and no crowd there now. So go and bring me back word what you think_;" i.e., "Now to flee!" AT LORD'S. "_Yes, I'm so fond of Cricket_;" i.e., "How can I find out if Oxford or Cambridge is in?" "_Don't move, pray_;" i.e., "If she doesn't, I shall be smothered in lobster-salad!" "_Not the least in my way, thanks_;" i.e., "Does she think I can see through her parasol?" "_Pray join us at lunch! Heaps of room in the carriage_;" i.e., "Hope she doesn't! It only holds four, and we're six already." "_Don't they call a hit to the left like that, a Drive?_" i.e., "Young-rich--good-looking--worth catching--looks as if he liked 'sweet simplicity.'" ELECTIONEERING. "_Has at heart the best interests of the Borough_;" i.e., Means to subscribe largely to all local clubs and charities. "_The honour of representing you in Parliament_;" i.e., "The pleasure of advertising myself." "_I should wish to keep my mind open on that subject_;" i.e., "I cannot afford to commit myself just yet." PARLIAMENTARY. "_I have never heard such an astounding argument_;" i.e., "Since I last employed it myself." "_To come to the real question at issue_;" i.e., "To introduce my one strong point." "_I do not pledge myself to these figures_;" i.e., "The next speaker will very likely show them to be absolutely unreliable."