4 FEBRUARY 1832, Page 20

The fable of "The Lame leading the Blind" is pointedly

illustrated by H. B. in a sketch of that veteran diplomatist the imperturbable and . wily Talleyrand, leading Lord Palmerston, who, with head erect, gazes on vacancy with a sightless stare. The incongruous mixture of faction, agitation, and good intention, which characterizes the opposi- tion to the Irish Reform Bill, is happily shown in "Following the Leader/' where Lord Althorp is represented as posing his clamorous opponents, by promising to grant their wish if they can all agree as to what it is they want.