In addition to mosquitoes, the scolopendra is not uncommonly found here, and snakes sometimes intrude into the bedchamber. A small species of red ant likewise swarms over every thing sweet, and the Portuguese remedy is to send for the priest to exorcise them." The city is still subject to shocks of earthquake; the state of the police is horrible; street-robbery is common, and every thief is an assassin. The pocket-knife, which the French troops are said to have dreaded more than all the bayonets of either the Spanish or the Portuguese, is here the ready weapon of the assassin; and the Tagus receives many a corpse on which no inquest ever sits. The morals, in fact, of all classes in Lisbon appear to be in a dreadful state. * * * * * THE CARD. A TALE OF TRUTH. (_For the Mirror_.) Young Lady Giddygad, came down From spending half a year in town, With cranium full of balls and plays, Routs, fêtes, and fashionable ways, Caus'd in her country-town, so quiet, Unus'd to modish din and riot, No small confusion and amaze, "Quite a sensation," is the phrase, Like that, which puss, or pug, may feel When rous'd from slumber by your heel, Or drowsy ass, at rider's knock, Or----should you term him block; Quoi qu'il en soit, first, gossips gape, Then envy, scandalize, and ape! Quoth Mrs. Thrifty: "Nancy, dear, My Lady sends out cards I hear, With, I suppose, 'tis now polite, Merely 'At Home,' on such a night, Now child, altho' I dare not say We can afford to be so gay, We're as well born as Lady G---- And may be, as well bred as she! That is, quite in a sober way So as we've nothing more to pay: For instance, when folks choose to come, And I don't choose to be 'At Home,' I'll have a notice stuck, you know, On the hall door, to tell them so: 'Twill save our Rachel's legs you see, And soon the top will copy me! But, Nancy, d'ye hear, now write That I'm 'At Home' on Thursday night; 'Tis a good fashion, for 'tis what Most fashions in this age are not A saving one: ah, prithee think, How it saves time, and quills, and ink!" So, duteous Nancy seiz'd a pen, To ladies, and to gentlemen Sent quickly out the cards; as quick Came one again: "Poh! fiddlestick An answer, yes?--come, let me see, My spectacles!" cried Mistress T---- "Hum--Mrs. Thrifty,--Thursday night--'At Home'--oh malice! fiendish spite," (Quoth the good dame in furious ire, Whilst the card, fed the greedy fire) "No, never, never, will I strive To be genteel, as I'm alive, Beneath my own 'At Home' was cramm'd, There stay, good madam, and be d--d!"[2] M.L.B. [2] A fact. * * * * * MAHOMET THE GREAT AND HIS MISTRESS. _An Anecdote_. (_For the Mirror_.)