Of the French instruction it can only be said that it is difficult to conceive how such a farce could be permitted to drag on year after year. The French lesson was a time for every mountebank trick imaginable, little heed being paid to the half-hearted remonstrances of the good-natured professor. It would commence with some feeble attempt at one of Ollendorf's exercises, which, of course, contain abundant material of merriment for the youthful mind. Sometimes the professor would press for a little more variety; and was invariably met either with "Avez vous etez on board le _Colossus_?" (the guardship at Portland), or "Avez vous etez a Weymouth?" There was a cadet at one time who possessed an abnormal development in the matter of aural appendages; and who, moreover, was able to fold his ears in, and cause each in succession suddenly to unfold. His appearance was naturally most grotesque under these circumstances, and his performances in the French study were a source of unfailing joy to his companions. He would "furl" his ears before commencing the stereotyped conversation with the professor, and solemnly let one out in the middle, gazing at the master meanwhile with an expression of childlike innocence. Among the evening recreations, in the winter especially, there were frequently songs and choruses in the messroom, particularly if there happened to be one or two cadets with an aptitude for singing and a good repertoire of songs. There was one lad there in the latter part of the year 1862 who was remarkable in this respect, and his songs were always in request. One of the prime favourites was an extraordinary "descriptive" ballad about a certain "King of Otaheité," in which a variety of well-known airs were introduced. As it is probably quite out of date and unknown to our readers of the present generation, it shall be immortalised in these pages. THE KING OF OTAHEITÉ. Once on a time there lived a king Of Otaheité, of Otaheité; Once on a time there lived a king, A king of Otahei_ty_ Who, when he only frowned, 'tis said The people all were filled with dread For fear that each should lose his head By the king of Otahei_ty_. Now this monarch's name was Tanta-paran Mesopotamia, Cou-di-caran, And some people thought him a fine-looking man, A remarkably fine-looking man. His nose was large, so was his mouth; When one eye looked north, the other looked south; His face was as broad as a big frying pan; Such a beautiful monarch was Cou-di-caran! Now this king called his messengers And picked out two or three, Saying, "Rascals, stir your stumps, and tell My friends to come to me At half-past five for tea. Mind that you've everything fit for my table: Human flesh, herbs, and rice, Everything else that's nice. Run now, you rascals, as fast as you're able; Run, run!"