"It is reported from Gibraltar, that the 110-ton guns of the
_Benbow_, have developed defects similar to those recently developed
in the _Victoria_."--_Naval Intelligence._
There was a hoodwinked Man
Who, in buying his big guns,
Very often by the nose was deftly led, led, led.
For when he fired them first
They did everything but burst,
Though guaranteed by Whitehall's Naval head, head, head!
So when by foes defied
At length in action tried
'Tis found that they won't fire a single shot, shot, shot.
Let us hope, at any rate,
Though the Nemesis come late,
That some party who's to blame will get it hot, hot, hot!
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[Illustration: HOW JEAN FRANCOIS MILLET WOULD HAVE _TREATED_ THE
INFLUENZA.]
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