Punch (80.1881)

May 21, 1881.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

231

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

extracted from

THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P,

FRIGHTFUL STATE OF THINGS !" {See Royal Academy Catalogue, No. 71.)

continuous Morning Sittings. Never heard of such a thing before
Morning Sittings never commence till the end of May or the begin-
ning of June. The Premier, meeting art with art, pretends to be
writing whilst C. B., his words tripping up each other in their haste
to be out, fulminates in this manner. Also, the Premier smiles
softly to himself, as if he knew of a joke somewhere. C. B. sits
down, apparently in the middle of a sentence, and then the hardened
Premier rises, and with wreathed smiles and graceful inclination of
his head towards the ex-Judge-Advocate-Q~eneral, he points out
how, through successive years of the Administration of which the
Right Hon. Gentleman was so distinguished and important a member,
there were Morning Sittings in April, and even in March. C. B.
thinks there is a mistake somewhere, and with the same firm tread,
straight as an arrow from the bow, he makes for the doorway, and
does not return.

Business done.—Monument voted to Lord Beaconseield by 380
votes against 54.

Tuesday Night.—-The Bradlaugh Minuet, down on bill for to-
night, did not come off. It was a pity, since I am told Mr. Newde-

Monbay_ Night, May 9.—Mr. Gladstone having by strategic
retreat avoided the shock of Mr. Ashmead Bartlett's attack on
Friday night, and having on more than one recent occasion shown
himself rebellious under the control of Mr. Warton, Mr. Cavendish
Bentinck determined to take him in hand. Right Hon. Gentleman
arrived about midnight, having escaped the wearisome details of
Irish Land Bill. Crossed the floor with that stately deliberate step
peculiar to him. Carefully dressed for the occasion. Artfully
rumpled his hair, disarranged, his shirt-front, got his white necktie
a little awry, and generally presented the appearance of Tony Lump-
kin after dining in unaccustomed garb at the Squire's. All this
pure art, designed to throw Mr. Gladstone off his guard. Lure him
into indiscretion _ under the impression that he has no one more
terrible to deal with than Tony Lumpkin.

C. B. will not take the seat on the front Opposition Bench to which
he is entitled as having held high judicial-military office under the
Crown. He will not accept any extraneous aid derivable from
position. Takes up place below the Gangway, and thence, with ter-
rible eye fixed on the Premier, proceeds to indict him for having