| £ s. d. | |
| Clock | 700 0 0 |
| Alterations | 224 18 6 |
| Bells and Chimes | 615 17 4 |
| Alterations | 290 0 0 |
| Recasting | 650 0 0 |
| Refitting | 124 4 10 |
| ——————— | |
| £2605 0 8 |
It must be inferred from this, that after the Clocks had been purchased for £700, it resembled the donkey "what wouldn't go," and as there was nobody to cry "Gee Wo!" with the expenditure, £224 18s. 6d. was sunk in alterations. As if the Clock itself was not sufficiently costly, it was proposed to convert it into a toy by having bells and chimes attached to it, which have already caused an outlay to the tune of upwards of One Thousand Pounds—a very pretty tune, no doubt, but hitherto the only tune to which the Bells and Chimes have contributed, for they cannot be got into play anyhow. The Common Council, however, will not admit there has been anything wrong in the matter, because "Professor Airey declares the bells and clock the most beautiful specimens of workmanship ever seen." We should have thought that bells and clocks were to be heard rather than seen; and that a clock, like the costermonger's horse, might be excused for being a "rum un to look at," if it's being a "good un to go" could be relied upon. The approval of Professor Airey may be very satisfactory as far as it goes, but until we can look upon the loss of £2605 0s. 8d. as an airy nothing, we can hardly reconcile ourselves to the facts we have called attention to.
NEWS FROM THE THEATRE OF WAR.
Our latest news from the Theatre of War is from Astley's Theatre, where the War with Russia is being carried out with unflagging energy. Last night the Russians had entrenched themselves in a strong position in front of the enemy, and the Russian General, Widdicomb, turned the right wing—a wrong one having been turned by the negligence of a scene-shifter. The enemy were in position at nine o'clock, and a French officer made towards a standard, which he eventually carried. On Saturday afternoon a body of Russian soldiers received their pay from the treasury, which is understood to be amply supplied.
In the evening the battle was resumed with great vigour; but both parties eventually laid down their arms. The Russians were much harassed, and set fire to Moscow in several places with bits of tow steeped in spirits of wine. The city burnt with great fury for nearly an entire minute, when it was terminated by a decisive blow from the mouth of the master carpenter.
A POLITICAL PROBLEM SOLVED.
Why are diplomatic papers called Circular notes?—They are called Circular, because they frequently arrive at no definite end.