Punch: Punch (22.1852)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

11

THE FRENCH BLUE BEARD.

Poor Prance has just furnished another illustration of the results of fatal curiosity. She had a
younger sister, Liberty, growing not very rapidly ; but being tolerably sure of gaining strength and
reaching maturity, if she was allowed to lead a quiet and regular life, when all of a sudden the sisters
found themselves betrayed into the hands of a very bad set of people. Liberty being freed from all whole-
some restraint, indulged in every kind of excess; until, worn out by her irregular course of life, she was
glad to form tlie first alliance that seemed to offer anything in the shaoe of a nermanent establishment •
and she accordingly gave herself into the hands of the modern Blue Beard. Por some time he seemed
to treat her kindly enough; but when she and her sister, La Presse, began to be actuated by a spirit of'
curiosity as to the future, he, without any scruple, determined to make an end of that Liberty who
had placed herself in his hands, and whom he had sworn to protect and to honour. With a drawn
sword he stood over her, threatening to administer her death-blow, while her sister looked out anxiously
in the hope of seeing some one approach to their rescue. Such is the present situation of poor Liberty;
and we regret we are unable to give a favourable reply to the vital question, " Do you see anybody coming ?"

THE PALMERSTON FEAST

No sooner was it known that Loud Palmerston had ceased to belong to the Cabinet (that Hamlet was
withdrawn from the play of Hamlet), than various of the Foreign Ambassadors determined upon having a
banquet to celebrate an event that, as they instinctively felt, must be so peculiarly gratifying to the
feelings of their several royal masters. The feast was not so magnificent, so complete, as under other
circumstances it might have been; but the joy and hearty good-will of the revellers more than com-
pensated for any short-coming of the cook ; and, perhaps, throughout the country, there was not a jollier

Christmas party than that gathered together under the roof of his Excellency the Ambassador for-,

who flung open the doors of his spacious and magnificent mansion on the occasion.

As the various Ambassadors entered and embraced the host, the band played (in touching compliment
to the Emperor Nicholas) God preserve the Emperor ! The meeting of the parties was very interesting
—even affecting. Austria rushed into the arms of Russia, and both embraced with emotion; whilst
Greece all but melted on the shoulder of the Two Sicilies.

The dinner being over, Russia rose to propose a toast. They had that day met to celebrate an
event of peculiar interest to all strong Governments {cheers): he trusted they knew what he meant
by strong Governments. {Cheers and smiles.) They were now assured of the removal of a man who
had in the most insolent manner defied the will of Russia—the wish of Austria—the desire of Naples
—and the hopes of the Two Sicilies : of a man of most dangerous character; for it so happened that
he never put a bold front upon a question that, somehow or the other, he didn't carry it to a triumphant
issue. But the sun of Palmerston was set • and already he heard the satisfied growl of the Northern
Bear—the rejoicing scream of the Austrian Eagle. In conclusion, he would give them the " Balance
of Power;" by which he meant a torn and xattered constitution in one scale, with the down-weighing
sword of his master in the other. {Cheers.)

Two Sicilies gave the next toast; " A Speedy Rise in the Sulphur Market." He felt that the
removal of the pestilent Palmerston was a great boon to universal despotism; and, connected as he
believed despotism to be with the briskest trade in sulphur, he felt that both despotism and brimstone
had been materially served by the disgrace and discomfiture of Lord Palmerston. His downfall was
a great day for Europe; and the news would lighten the large heart of the King of Naples; a heart
large as the largest bomb-shell; it would carry confusion and despair into the dungeons of political
traitors.

Prance was called upon for a toast; but excused himself: his feelings, he said, could be better

conceived than described ; and though
he had felt it a duty to be present on
the occasion, he had heard nothing
through the electric telegraph since
the retirement of the Minister. He,
however, had no doubt that his master

the Emp--he meant the President,

would on all occasions be found unani-
mous with Austria and Russia.

Greece attempted to give utterance
to his feelings; but entirely failed,
further than to express a mingled
satisfaction and regret — satisfaction
that that firebrand of the world,
Palmerston, was at last put out,—
regret that (he would no further allude
to the Pacifico question)—he was not
extinguished long ago.

Prussia (admirably representing
Prussia's monarch) made a speech; but
from the mysticism that pervaded it,
our Reporter cannot venture to_ say
whether Prussia approved or disap-
proved ; hoped anything or regretted
anything; promised or desired any-
thing. Neither was it plain to our
Reporter whether Prussia gave a toast
or chanted a sentiment.

After a while the conversation drih-
bled into small-talk; and as the wine
went round, many innuendoes were
cast upon the absent. America had
sent an excuse; was going out to a
quiet game at whist. Belgium was
entertaining a happy juvenile party;
Sardinia was previously engaged;
whilst Spain, Portugal, and the
Netherlands were ill with the in-
fluenza.

However, the festivity was kept up
with increasing spirit; and it was not
until a very late hour that the guests
(a few of them flushed with wine
and hope) departed. Several of them
embraced with expressions of mutual
sympathy and support.

We had almost forgotten to state
that an effigy of Lord Palmerston
was burnt in the court-yard of the
house of the ambassadorial host; aE
the company, one feeling animating
them, dancing hand-in-hand ("linked
slav'ry, long drawn out,") around the
conflagration.

Disraeli in a Pickle.

In speaking of Disraeli's " political
biography" of Lord George Ben-
tinck, the Times, in allusion to what
it calls the " vain attempt to sanctify
paltry feelings," asks "why all this
stuff is to be reprinted ? " and adds,
" flies in amber are pretty enough, but
a scorpion in spirits is only to be tole-
rated in a museum." Our contem-
porary should have said, " a scorpion
out of spirits ;" for the work, besides
being rather venomous towards political
antagonists, is insufferably dull.

Freedom of Election in
France.

The next edition of the Almanacks
will, we trust, contain an addition to
the names of the Potentates of Europe,
and besides the Elector of this or that
small state, we shall expect to see
the announcement of Hobson as Elector
of France; for there cannot be the
slightest doubt that Louis Napoleon
is Hobson's choice.