It seems, and really lam very sorry for it, that I have been rubbing tke wrong way a real gay old " Tortoiße-shell Tom" who has come down off the roofs of the houses at the Fort to sing one of his midnight songs { not to, but at me. With arched back, glistening eyes, and bristles on end, from bhe tip of each an electric spark brightly flashing, he forms a picture that Tyree's camera alone could do justice to, and I really *hi"> that enterprising photographer should be specially engaged to take his portrait with a view to its being hung in the Council Chamber. I cannot deal with the letter in detail, because I am a little bewildered by the multiplicity of the italicised words, which I have discovered after much laborious study, are intended for puns, and I must, enpossant, congratulate the writer upon the precaution he has taken to make known hia intention by thus emphasising them. There are one or two points, however, which I must notice, for instance, " The visits of the Wood and Nile street cats have made a marked inroad into boot- jacks." I am not quite clear what it meani. but I suspect something dreadful, and I am seriously thinking of taking a room at the Fort for a night or two, in order to be able to witness and understand this singular proceeding. II Tortois«-»hell Tom" then gives what profess to be extracts from Gr Akersten's speech, but I don t think he could have been on the tiles of the Council Chamber that night and heard for himself, because 1 j understand from the reporters that there is a good deal in them that the Councillor referred to did not say. He then in his most piteous tones — even " Tortoise shell Toms " •do occasionally as if by accident pitch on a a piteous note— beseeches me to turn my attention from Cr Akersten, and bestow it on thoie who sit beside him in the Council Chamber. Well, if it is any comfort to him, I promiat that whenever they give me such an opportunity of poking a little good natured fun at them as did Cr Akersten on the evening in question, I will do so. 