Punch (8.1845)

164

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

it, with a sentimental speech, among a group of soldiers' children, and then
comes forward to sing a comic song, with a species of nigger dance at the
end of each stanza.

The next scene brings us to an awful onslaught by a party of the

Lords of the Treasury, disguised as an attorney, comes among them, and
is asked to prepare their schedule, with a view to the Grand Pass of the
Insolvent Court. The Lord of the Treasury affects to comply with their
wish, and preparations are made for a Grand March towards the Street

sheriffs' troops, headed by Lewis the Fourteenth, supported by the ' of Portugal, when the scene suddenly changes, and the troops, closely

thirteen other Lewises. The Blues, having nothing but blank cartridge
with which to resist the legal parchment, are obliged to retire behind the
Basinghall Street breast works, and claim their protection from the
British Commissioner.

The third and concluding part will comprise the Restoration of the
Regiment, and will open with a scene showing the defiles of Drury Lane,
leading to the borders of the Insolvent Court. The Blues will be seen
marching in slow and solemn procession, almost borne down to the ground
by the weight of their liabilities. At a signal from a trumpet one of the

following their leader, are brought out opposite the Horse Guards, and
the welcome information is givt-u that they are relieved from their
liabilities. It is then found that the low comic Life Guardsman has
managed the plot, for which he immediately receives a commission ; the
deceased Captain's daughter marries the Lord of the Treasury, who is
found to be a long lost brother of the Colonel; and as the band of the
regiment strikes up "Rule Britannia" the creditors rush in with their
receipts, forming a picture of Love, Honour, and Glory, as the Curtain
falls.

The Grand Tableau.

ENGLAND RUINED!

Englishmen may not be aware of the calamity that has fallen upon
their beloved land ; but—we cannot, we ought not, to suppress the terrible
news —England is ruined ! She is a done state : a wreck—the skeleton
of a once mighty nation henceforth to take her mournful place in history
with the Phoenician and Roman empires. The cause of this vast destruc-
tion is that terrible Irishman, that fire-eating Milesian, that very hot
potato, Ma. H. Grattan. It is but a very few days ago that that awful
person declared he had done with us for ever and ever ; and this declara-
tion he solemnised with a thumping oath, loudly cheered at the Concilia-
tion Hall. Then and there he swore that « he took his leave of the
gei Uemen of England ;" then and there he avowed his stern determina-
tion " never willingly to draw a sword in their behalf, or give them a
guinea of his money." We cling to the hope that Grattan the Terrible
may yet be mollified ; for when we reflect how often and how valorously
he has drawn his sword for England—when we remember how generously,
yea. how magnificently, he has expended his treasure in her behalf—what
can she do, how can she exist, deprived henceforth of the honourable
gentleman's steel and gold ?

If Grattan remain inexorable, our countrymen may next week expect
to see England in the Gazette, with not even the hope of a farthing
dividend !

LITERARY NEWS.

Last Saturday's papers contain two interesting announcements. Louis-
Philippe makes Victor Hugo a Peer of France, and the Duke of Wel-
lington calls the Morning Post a liar.

In France the Journalists think that the King has bestowed a deserved
honour on one of their profession. In England the Morning Post feels
much obliged because the Duke accuses it of falsehood. In return for
this compliment, the brave Briton cringes down to the testy old noble-
man's feet, and prays that Hrs Grace may be immortal.

In France, then, a literary man is made a Duke ; in England he is
happy to be kicked by one.

What English writer won't be proud of his profession after that f and
of his station in the country ! and thank the Morning Post for repre-
senting him !

THE TEMPTATIONS OF OFFICE.
Sir Culling Eaudlet Smith stated at a public meeting last week,
" The Bill should not pass. There were, he knew, at least twelve men ti
Parliament, who would die on the floor of the House sooner than tt should
pass into a law." As Sir Robert is not infallible, he really should b«
Drotected from this new svstem of bribert