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letter. Of all men, there was not one for whom he entertained a deeper respect than for his esteemed friend (Councillor M'Combie), and so far from any offence being meditated, the matter complained of was really and truly intended as a compliment—phonetically expressed. T h e speaker's voice yvas here drowned in a loud torrent of laughter that could not be longer suppressed, and so soon as anything like order yvas restored, " strangers" yvere c o m m a n d e d to withdrayv. T h e " strangers," consisted simply of the three scribes already mentioned, and, Curtis included, they retired while M'Combie's wounded dignity was consoled and prescribed for. O n the re-admission of "strangers," the Mayor delivered the judgment of the Court of Honor, viz, that the offending Curtis should be banished from the rest of that day's deliberations, and any repetition of the transgression would exclude him ad infinitum. Curtis took up his hat, and with a very polite inclination wished His Worship and Councillors a very good evening. H e adjourned to a neighbouring tavern, and was soon the centre of a circle of admiring sympathisers. M a n y a laugh was afterwards indulged in at the expense of " T h o m a s M'Combie, Esquire." O n another occasion during the Mayoralty of Dr. Palmer, a still more extraordinary interlude occurred, which m a y be narrated conveniently as a companion to the foregoing. T h e Council used to meet as previously observed, in the large upper room of the Mechanics' Institute. T h e members sat at one table and the reporting trinity at another. T h e meeting hour was 3 p.m., a time of the day when Curtis as a rule yvas mostly " well on." I happened to be one of the trinity on this occasion, and, during some very boring discussion about street-levelling or scavengering, Curtis, turning round suddenly, said : " Look here you fellows, I can't stand this h u m d r u m yvork any longer, listening to those fools. C o m e out and let's have nobblers; or if you won't, let us get up a shindy, so tell m e what I a m to do ? " I replied, " There is 'Johnny Fawkner' opposite you; he seems out of sorts, send him something in the picture line to stir him up." " All right," replied Curtis, " Here goes;" and being a splendid pen and-ink sketcher, he had Fayvkner soon etched off to the life. T h e design ofthe drawing yvas not only objectionable but so grossly indelicate that I attempted to snatch and destroy it; but he was too quick for m e , and half-a-minute did not elapse before it yvas enveloped and addressed to " Councillor Fawkner, with Mr. Curtis' compliments." T h e artist yvas so bent on mischief that he would not entrust it to the messenger, but walking rapidly from the press-table presented it to Fayvkner, who yvas deeply absorbed as if note taking. Like a shot from a gun there was a speedy explosion, a sort of wild Indian yvhoop from Fawkner, and before the deliberative Fathers could recover from the sudden surprise, Fawkner leaped from his chair and pirouetted like a dancing master in front of the reporters' table, brandishing the obnoxious paper in his hand and convulsively shrieking, " H a , ha, ho, ho ! you villain Curtis, ho, ho, you scoundrel. I'll syveat you for this. H a , ha, you blackguard, I'll m a k e you sup sorroyv for this day's work. H o , ho, the rascal that I've often done a kindness to." T h e Mayor c o m m a n d e d " Order, Order," and hastily enquired what yvas the matter. Fayvkner turned towards the head of the table, and holding the paper toyvards the astonished Palmer, screamed out, " Y o u ask what is the matter ? Look there, that villain Curtis has scandalously cartooned m e ; but I'll be even with him yet." T h e Mayor extended his hand for the paper, yvondering yvhat could be inscribed on it; but Fawkner dreyv back and hesitated to give it. Curtis, smilingly enjoyed the exhibition, saw Fayvkner's irresolution and was quick to profit by it. H e yvas a very gentlemanly fellow—yvhen he liked—of strikingfigure,and eyes and face beaming with intellect. H e could be so solemnly polite and consummately suave in his manner and address, as to turn hostility into admiration of his thorough acting. So he rose, and, with the most astounding effrontery, boyved to the Mayor, entreating his Worship to interpose his authority, or otherwise " though he entertained most unmeasured regard for his old friend and esteemed felloyv-colonist, Councillor P'awkner, (to w h o m the community was so m u c h indebted), if his m a d tantrums were continued, he should be obliged, as a gentleman, to disregard the privilege of the place, and corporally punish a person w h o had so outrageously affronted him." Councillor Fayvkner vociferated : " W h y , you scoundrel, how dare you cartoon m e as you have done, and in such a way that I a m ashamed to shoyv it to anyone." Curtis addressing the Mayor said : — " Y o u r Worship, Councillor Fawkner has accused m e of (as he terms it) cartooning him. T h e cartoon of yvhich he complains is a sketch of a landscape near his residence