"It rests with you--with you alone, newspaper readers, to stop the torrent. And you can do it, without expense, and with but little self-denial. Let each individual that receives this appeal write without delay to the editor of the paper he reads, whenever he sees it defiled by one of these easily-recognised advertisements, and say that, unless its insertion is discontinued, he cannot, in conscience, any longer patronise the publication. Whatever your station may be, you can do something; and the higher it is, the greater is your influence and responsibility. On country gentlemen rests mainly the persistence of the evil in provincial papers; they can, and we trust they will stop it. Let, too, each one of you that are advertisers, be you publishers, men of business, authors, masters seeking servants, or servants seeking masters, refuse to appear any more in such company, and let it be known at the newspaper office why you withhold your patronage." The above paragraph is extracted from the prospectus of a society which has been formed for the special purpose of suppressing this villanous pufferty. The association is entitled "The Union for Discouragement of Vicious Advertisements;" and we hope it will succeed in closing a channel of communication which has all the qualities, except the utility, of a gutter. * * * * * THE ECCLESIASTICAL AUCTION MART. "DEAR PUNCH, Going the other day into an auction-room in a large commercial town, with the view of purchasing a small fancy business, I found that having already disposed of it, and of a cheesemonger's good-will and stock, the auctioneer was endeavouring to sell a _church_, on whose merits he was expatiating much in the following terms:-- "Come, Gentlemen, pray give attention To the Lot I'm now going to sell; For it don't want a poet's invention Its manifold merits to tell. If a gift, or of praying or preaching, In any one present has shone, He may further exemplify each in The church, _now put up_, of St. John. It is not some old weather-worn building, Clad with ivy, and mouldering and grey, But as fresh as paint, varnish, and gilding Could make it, 'twas made 't other day; And if any, who hear me, are pinning Their faith some one order upon, I can tell them they'll find a beginning Of all orders and styles, at St. John. "It is held of the Town Corporation For a term, at a peppercorn rent, And will surely reward speculation To the tune of some fifty per cent. The fixtures are mats, stools, and hassocks, And (as second-hand garments to don Is the fashion with curates) the cassocks Of the late worthy priest of St. John.