YACHT SIGNALS.
Mr. Punch has merely to acknowledge a very useful little book, prettily bound, with the Union Jack (white margin) on its cover, and entitled "Supplementary Code of Yacht Signals." It is not of much use to him in Fleet Street, but he intends to keep it until the yachting season begins again, when he will astonish Cowes, Ryde, and "the Island" generally, with the proficiency he displays in nautical, as in all other exercises. That the Yacht Club may appreciate the value of the book, Mr. Punch subjoins a page taken at random. Loungers on shore little know what is meant by the innocent-looking flags which are perpetually being run up from the Salmagundi, the Olla Podrida, the Amontadillo, and the other pretty vessels about which they talk so learnedly. Perhaps this extract may enlighten them:—
| Number | ||
| Subject. | to be | Message. |
| Shewn. | ||
| Girl. | 1827. | This, with Mrs. St. Brown (black eyes) has £15,000. I'd make sail if I were you, old fellow. |
| —— | 1828. | (Same, with addition). Quick, for Algernon Jones is making enormous play, and telling awful falsehoods about his Irish estates. |
| Jew. | 1473 | The, has come down. Is at the Pier Hotel. See him, and do the best you can. I must have £300 in time for Doncaster. |
| —— | 1474. | (Same, with addition). No pictures, mind, but a little bad wine don't matter, as I've some country bores coming to stay with me. |
| Widow. | 1163. | The, won't do. Fitzclumber knew her in Devonshire—estate incumbered, and a Chancery suit. |
| Bore. | 1928. | Frank Bloke is a dreadful. Send out word
to him that his governor wants him on shore, and we'll
go on to Cowes. |
| Ice. | 1623. | We're out of. Rough will do, if you can't get Wenham. |
| Wife. | 1525. | Your, has got some clue to the Tuesday business. I am inventing all sorts of things for you, but you had better come off, and bring her a dog, or a bracelet, or something. I think Vane has sold you. |
| —— | 1625. | My. Is in such a bad temper. Send off some French novels. |
| Punch. | 1999. | New number not come, the girls are wild, and we shall have a mutiny. Pray see about it, and telegraph to town if necessary. |
| Niece. | 2348. | The parson's, is first-rate. So pretty. I have proposed, and she has taken till tiffin-time to consider. |
| —— | 2349. | (Same, with addition). Has been asking your Aunt about me, and has given me a flower. |
| —— | 2350. | (Same, with addition). Fly, old fellow, and find out for me what, in the language of flowers, is meant by double heart's ease. |
| —— | 2351. | (Same, with addition). All up. Your Aunt let out about Fanny Montgomery, and that's what double heart's ease meant. Order supper. I shan't stay on board. |
| Screwed. | 3284. | Was I, last night? Signal if I did anything very absurd. Walter bets that I offered the bishop a cigar. |
| Church. | 3384. | We are all coming to, in the morning, including Catherine, Verbum sap. No more signals to-night. |