Punch (88.1885)

22

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [January 10, 1885.

BETROTHAL OF PRINCESS BEATRICE.

Beatrice. So, Battenberg, Loye on ; I will requite thee !

For others say thou dost deserve ; and I
Believe it better than reportingly.

Much Ado about Nothing, Act iii., Sc. 1.

“I PROMESSI SPOSI.”

[The Court Circular announces that the
Queen has given her consent to the
betrothal of Princess Beatrice to
Prince Henry of Battenberg.]

Auspicious news to greet the young
New. Year!_

Punch gives it in his pages first of
places.

Sure this Court Circular should catch
the ear

Of listening Muses and attendant
Graces.

This knits the golden circle sweetly
up,

And brims with joy the Royal
Mother’s Cup.

Therein the amari aliquid, on sooth,

Hath surged amidst love’s sweet-
ness all too often.

But the glad ring of fair and hopeful
youth

Surrounding honoured age such
pangs must soften.

May Heaven keep it, like true lover’s
token,

For many happy years bright and
unbroken.

To him who takes therein his place
to-day,

Prince Henry, Punch a hearty
hand extends ;

Whilst as for her, the Widowed
Sovereign’s stay,

Truest of children, faithfullest of
friends,

Sweet Beatrice, the whole land prays
her life.

As daughter loyal, may be glad as
Wife!

Boys Together.—The Managers
of the Boys’ Public School Company,
advertise for a Master, to whom they
offer a fixed salary. “ In addition,”
so the advertisement runs, a “ capita-
tion grant of £1 will be given for
every pupil over fifty.” This looks
well on paper. But the offer seems
illusory. It is quite true that Mr.
Bultitude, a gentleman something
over fifty, went to school. But the
action was quite involuntary on his
part, and after his experience it is
not likely, even suppose a Master
were to share the capitation grant
with them, that many middle-aged
gentlemen would be inclined to join
the boys’ classes.

INNS AND OUTS.

Mr. Bartle Frere the Solicitor recently addressed a letter to the
papers a propos of the proposed dissolution of the Inns of Chancery,
pointing out the right of the possessor to deal at his pleasure with
his possession, or, to put it in a colloquial form, “ to do just what he
likes with his own.” No doubt Mr, Bartle Frere is right, still, if
the idea were carried out thoroughly “ to the bitter end, the result
would be far from pleasant. Leaving out of the question the
niceties of incorporation and other matters more easily comprehended
by the lights of the profession, to the junior branch of which Mr.
Bartle Frere belongs, than by the Public at large, we might soon
read the foUowing under the heading of—

The Latest Legal Intelligence.

The Benchers of Gray’s Inn, at a recent Pension, expended the
whole of the funds of their Hon. Society in purchasing port for their
own private consumption.

The Treasurer of Lincoln’s Inn has mortgaged the freehold ground
upon which the Hall stands, in order to raise funds for purchasing

fireworks to be displayed in the adjacent fields on the occasion of his
birthday.

The Treasurer of the Middle Temple has let out the gardens
belonging to his Inn on a building lease so as to enlarge and cement
the lawn-tennis grounds nowin the occupation of the Junior Briefless
Bar.

The Benchers of the Inner Temple have sold their library, and
propose to utilise the purchase-money in prosecuting a search into
the pedigrees of certain of their feUow members who claim lineal
descent from the Ancient Kings of Ireland.

The Ancients of Staples Inn have decided to settle the proceeds of
the sale of their property upon Sir Charles Delke (in recognition of
his kind intentions) for life, with remainder to the Members of
Barnard’s Inn and others with whom they have not the slightest
connection.

"Was there ever a better name for a mistaken Editor of a revised
Shakspeare than Dr. Mull ? At first sight it looks like a joke,
but the work he has produced, judging it by a review in the Times,
is evidently no joke. Dr. Mathias Mull is a fact.