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Evening Post, Issue 115, 22 June 1865, Page 2

Cigars. — Cigars of foreign manufacture are only superior to those of British make because they are composed of a finer quality of tobacco. Certain monopolist! in Havana keep all the best qualities for their own manufacture. If those choice crops were sen' over here we could make cigars equally a» good. There is no secret in the preparation of the leaf, nor the manufacture; nor does any deterioration occur during a sea voyajf& All we waut is the pick of the leaves. British manufacturers, however, are not particularly desirous to be so favoured. They could not get the price for the best cigars if it were known that they were rolled up in this country. It is a very common thing for English dealers to send out British cigars to Havana and bring them back again, that they may be charged duty, and stamped as foreign. This proves either that the difference between a good British cigar and a foreign one is very slight, or that those who buy and smoke them are unable to distinguish it. There are some persons who do not care about strawberries except when they pay a guinea each for them ; so there are some who do not trust a cigar unless it is warranted and costs a shilling. At the same time, the most fragrant and grateful tobacco may occasionally be smoked in a Pickwick ; just as a very sweet and juicy orange may be

bought of an Irishman in the streets, though he it condemned to select his stock from the leavings of C vent-garden. The general deterioration of all kinds' of tobacco of late has bpen the direct result of the American war. We have been driven to seek for tobacco elsewhere, and chiefly in the Palatinate of Germany, where the growth is of a very inferior kind. European tobacco, like Indian cotton, is a very poor substitute for the products of the Western hemisphere. Old and damaged stocks, too, have been used up, and the market lias been supplied with the vilest rubbish.— All the Year Round. A Lawyer's Joke.— A cause in which a debt of £10 was involved was heard at the Hull County Court, on Wednesday, before Mr. VV. Raines, the judge. Mr. Stead appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Mackrill for the defendant and after the case was gane into it appeared that the money was owing, and the question arose as to the time it should be paid, Mr. Mackrill said his client would pay the money as soon as he could get out of the troubles in which he was involved. His Honour — Then when am I to order the money to be paid ? Mr. Mackrill — The day after the day of judgment, if you please. His Honour — Well, judgment is to-day, so I'll order the amount to be paid to-morrow. Mr. Mackrill asked for some respite as his clieut was out of town. Mr Stead objected to this, as they could not be sure of making anything out of the verdict if time was allowed. His Honor thought that Mr. Mackrill had obtained judgment on his own terms, and ought to rest satisfied, Ordered accordingly. A Scotch Laird in the House op Commons.—A worthy Scotch laird, whose county was represented by the late Right Honourable Cutler Pergusson, the Judge Advocate in Lord Melbourne's government, found himself in London shortly after the assembling of a new Parliament. He called upon his right honourable friend, who asked him what he could do for him in town. The laird said nothing he would like so much during his stay as being present at the debates in the House of Commons. " That being the case," said the Jud>;e Advocate, " I shall have your name placed on the Speaker's list." Accordingly, the following evening the laird was early in his attendance at the house, found his name on, the list, and was told by the door keeper to enter. Where tlte Speaker's privileged friends sat he knftvr not, but up the body of the house he walked, and took his seat on the second bsnch on the Opposition side, close behind Sir Robert Peel. An interesting debate came on, and the laird sat undisturbed until the House adjourned at midnight. Next day he saw his friend, whose first inquiry was, " What became of you, as I looked for you in vain in the House?" "Oh," said the laird, " I saw you moving about, and tried to catch your eye ; I was delighted with the debate, and shall now be a constant attendant." From the laird's vernacular, he was supposed to be a new Scotch member, and being a tall, portly, gentlemanly-looking man, so far as appearance went, passed muster very well. Next night found the laird occupying his former seat ; however, about nine o'clock, Lord Granville Somerset, who the previous evening had his doubts as to the genuineness of the reported Scotch M.P., went to the Ser-geant-at-Arras, and asked who that tall man was sitting behind Sir Eobert Peel ? " Oh, he is a Scotch member, one of yourselves, Lord Gtanville." " I doubt that exceedingly,'' said his lordship, "or of his being a member at all." The Sergeant-at-Arms, all excitement, flew round behind the Opposition benches, and gave the laird a sharp tap on the shoulder, desiring him to come to him. The laird so far complied ; but not being accustomed to be treated unceremoniously, asked the stern official what he meant. " Why, sir, you were in the House last night." •' 1 was." " You sat in the same place you have been now occupying," "Yes, the very same ; and what right have you to disturb me ? " " You are in my custody, sir." "In your custody ! for what ? Hands off," exclaimed the laird, in any other tone than sotto voce. " Who are you P" asked the Sergeant. " Who am I ? Go and ask Mr. Gutlar Fergusson, He placed my name on the Speaker's list, and if there is any mistake," the laird being now very angry, "it was your duty, as the servant of the House, to have told me where to sit." The Sergeant-at-Arms was so far relieved, but still holding the laird's arm, the latter exclaimed " Hands off, and tell me where my place is." The House's official was only too happy to point out the locus in quo, and the laird took possession of his fresh seat in St. Stephen's,

¦ to the Sergeant-at-Arms that it fer of indifference to him where he led he heard the speeches, bufhe not to be again disturbed.— Once a