Oh, what a figure I cut when my dear Jemmy heard of this afterwards!—In vain I swore it was guineas: the Count and the Baron swore to ponies; and when I refused, they both said their honour was concerned, and they must have my life, or their money. So when the Count showed me actually that, in spite of this bet (which had been too good to resist) won from me, he had been a very heavy loser by the night; and brought me the word of honour of Abednego, his Jewish friend, and the foreign noblemen, that ponies had been betted;—why, I paid one thousand pounds sterling of good and lawful money;—but I've not played for money since: no, no; catch me at _that_ again, if you can. MAY. [1840. [Illustration] MEMBERS OF THE LONDON PRESS. [Sidenote: WEATHER. while forced his dwindling victims to confess, [Illustration: _A Carriage Sweep._] "small by degrees, and beautifully less."] A BENEFIT. "_Sich a Gettin up Stairs._" Sweet Gallery squeeze, you will possess The utmost freedom of the press; Crowds, looking up, still pushing go, With _stares_ above, and _stairs_ below; The soldier first, a foremost man, Like Bow-street culprits—_keeps the van_, Charges the door, whose keepers stern A "bob" will charge _him_ in return; He's _got his step_, so with light mind Bears all the pressure from behind; Feels from the rear-mob, all alive, A drive, though not a _carriage drive_: And, lo! among them, soot-grimed deep, A sweep, though not a _carriage sweep_. Baker and butcher, lass and lover; With one fat Falstaff falling over, Sure—though he _like it_ not—to go And _lump it_ when he gets below; A prize John Bull, who, bulky dunce, Takes both alternatives at once, And quickly reaches _his first floor_, _Dismounted_ at the Gallery Door! [Illustration] [Illustration] 4. Exhibition of the Royal Academy opens, at the National Gallery. [Illustration] 408. Portrait of the President. ☞ R.A.'s are _raised_ to power: and, presto, bang! "On _inner_ walls the cry is still 'they _hang_;'" While many a heavy sigh the artists fetch, "To have them _hang_ our pictures is no _ketch_." For half their sins did justice prompt the elves, Half the R.A. array would hang themselves! [Illustration] 409. Red Deer, after LANDSEER. [Illustration: MAY—A new drop scene at the Opera. ] MAY.—A NEW DROP SCENE AT THE OPERA.