Punch (80.1881)

March 5, 1881.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

99

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM

THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

Lord Shaftesbury. "The dear Archbishop was quite right when he said that Battersea Park on a Wet Sunday After-
noon was far more enjoyable than the british museum."

Lord Cairns. "If we could but get a drop of Hot Gin-and-Water somewhere !" Duke of Argyll. "Or Whuskey ! "

Monbay Night, Feb. 21.—Gone through, another crisis to-night.
The question was, whether the Opposition were going to stand by
the Government in carrying Gladstone's Resolution, whereby, at
the stroke of midnight, Obstruction should disappear much after the
way in which ghosts in story-books vanish at cock-crow. Opposition
apparently not quite made up their minds. Earthquake in the

Fourth Party, reducing it to Randolph. "You're quite a quar-
termaster now," I say, pleasantly. But Randolph only twisted
his massive moustache, and looked into space. Curious how obtuse he
is sometimes.

Irish Obstruction again scotched, which shows how useful was the
Union. ; It was very pretty at midnight to see the way business