A SCOTT AND A LOT.--"Thirty Years at the Play" is the title of Mr. CLEMENT SCOTT's Lecture to be delivered next Saturday at the Garrick Theatre, for the benefit of the Actors' Benevolent Fund. Thirty years of Play-time! All play, and lots of work. Mr. IRVING is to introduce the lecturer to his audience, who, up to that moment, will have been "Strangers Yet," and this CLEMENT will be SCOTT-free to say what he likes, and to tell 'em all about it generally. "SCOTT" will be on the stage, and the "Lot" in the auditorium. Lot's Wife also.
ETHER-DRINKING IN IRELAND.--Mr. ERNEST HART (bless his heart and earnestness!) lectured last week on "Ether-Drinking in Ireland." He lectured "The Society for the Study of Inebriety"--a Society which must be slightly "mixed"--on this bad habit, and no doubt implored them to give it up. The party sang, "_How Happy could we be with Ether_" and the discussion was continued until there was nothing more to be said.
CLERGY IN PARLIAMENT.--As Bishops "sit" in the Upper House, why should not "the inferior clergy" "stand" for the Lower House? If they get in, why shouldn't they be seated? Surely what's right in the Bishop isn't wrong in the Rector?
LITERARY ADVERTISEMENT.--The forthcoming work by the Vulnerable Archdeacon F-RR-R, will be entitled, _The Pharrarsee and the Publisher_.
_Enter Fair Daughter of the House with the Village Carpenter_. "MAMMA, YOU ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT KIND HEARTS WERE MORE THAN CORONETS, AND SIMPLE FAITH THAN NORMAN BLOOD, AND ALL THAT?"
_Lady Clara Robinson_ (_née Vere de Vere_). "CERTAINLY DEAR, _MOST_ CERTAINLY!"
_Fair Daughter_. "WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED YOU; AND JIM BRADAWL HAS ASKED ME TO BE HIS WIFE, AND I'VE ACCEPTED HIM. WE'VE ALWAYS LOVED EACH OTHER SINCE YOU LET US PLAY TOGETHER AS CHILDREN!"
[_Her Ladyship forgets, for once, the repose that stamps her caste._]
_(FRAGMENTS FROM THE LATEST (MIDLOTHIAN) VERSION OF "THE LORD OF THE ISLES."_)
McGLADSTONE rose--his pallid cheek Was little wont his joy to speak, But then his colour rose. "Now, Scotland! shortly shalt thou see That age checks not McGLADSTONE's glee, Nor stints his swashing blows!"
Again that light has fired his eye, Again his form swells bold and high; The broken voice of age is gone, 'Tis vigorous manhood's lofty tone. The foe he menaces again, Thrice vanquished on Midlothian's plain; Then, scorning any longer stay, Embarks, lifts sail, and bears away.