PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 9

RESIGNATION AND RECONCILIATION.
% ©rama 0f |3oItttcaI iLtft.

DRAMATIS PERSONS.

Disbaeli, ct Discontent,, I Graham, the Generous Foe.

Kosskll, a Repentant. Wood, a Waverer.

Sibthorp, the Slasher.

Members silent and noisy, &c.

CENE—The House of Com-
mons. Mr. Disraeli dis-
covered attempting — by
holding up his finger curved
like a hook—to catch the
Speaker's eye. The leaders
of the various parties oppo-
site. Colonel Sibthorp
in the distance wearing an
attitude of isolation, and
general want of confidence
in everything.

Mr. Disraeli. A word or two, 1 pray thee,
Mb. Speaker.. [Speaker nods assent.

Mr. Disraeli (contimies). After that fatal
vote of Thursday night,
More fatal to the country than to me {a laugh),
The Earl op Derby and his gallant band
Tendered their resignations to the Queen.
Their resignations with a gracious smile
Her Majesty accepted. (Aside.) Woe is me! _
(Aloud.) This morning came to me on rumour's wings-
Wings made by feathers of reporters' pens—
A statement that the Earl op Aberdeen
Had undertaken the important task
Of finding fit successors to ourselves.
"We hold our offices just as the pot
Holds the hot soup, till the tureen is ready:
But, let me use another simile ;
"We hold our offices after the fashion
In which I !ve seen a scarlet-vested scamp
Holding a horse, until the rider comes
And takes his seat with a triumphant air.
Now let me thank those whom I see around
Eor the indulgence they have shown to me—
(Aside.) In doing all they could to turn me out.
(Aloud.) Oh ! let me praise their generosity,
(Aside.) Exhibited in plans to trip me up,
And take advantage of my weak position.
(Aloud.) Oh, Sir! if ever in the hot debate
An angry word has found by chance its way
Across the margin of these wayward Hps,
If e'er—departing from my better nature—
15ve hurt the feelings of a single Member,
I deeply, ay, most bitterly regret it;
With all the depth and all the bitterness
Of which 'tis known that I am capable.
I never meant it; sure you '11 give me credit
Eor saying often what I did not mean.
Trust me, though aloes cluster'd on my lip,
There was a hive of honey at my heart.
May the impression be as fight and transient
As was the provocation I received!
(.Aside.) When I forget the vile conspirators
Who in discordant and unnatural band
Were linked together—but to ruin me.
May I forget—no matter—(Aloud) Mr. Speaker,
With words of kindness—born of kindest thoughts—
Let me express the fondly yearning hope
That I may take with me, across the House,
The kind opinion of my kindest friends,
Though they adopt all kinds of politics.

So I resign—with love for all mankind. [Cheers from all sides.
Lord John Russell (wiping away a tear). I rise to say, how from
my inmost heart
(Right through my over-coat, down to my vest,)
I hear the honourable Member's words
Echoed in every chamber, vault, and cell,
Of my intensely sympathising bosom.
And oh ! if ever on a flying word
A barbed point has been by chance conveyed,
With double power to poison and to pierce,

May all the venom turn to healing balm,

And nothing but the feather still remain,

To serve as featfiers for eacfi others caps.

And ah ! should other Ministers exist

Like him who now retires, may every one

Go out as he goes out. (Aside) I 'H do my best

To keep him from too long remaining in. (Loud Cheers.)

Sir James Graham. The future, Sir, to me is all a mist—
(Aside.) I must not say a word of our intentions—
(Aloud) But for the past I have to say a word ;
'Tis true the Honourable Gentleman
Has wounded me—but then, he didn't mean it.
Eor, if he had intended what he said—
But no, his meaning ne'er was in his words.
His talents I've admired fervently;
And for his bitter insults, what of them ?
'Tis very fitting that we should forget
The acts of one who oft forgets himself. (Loud Cheers.)

Sir C. Wood. Let me, Sir, to this general amnesty
My share of generosity contribute.
If I've insulted anybody here,
I knew it not; then who can take offence ?
He that may wound another person's feelings,
Let him not know't, and 'tis no wound at all.
As to the Honourable Gentleman
Erom whom I've lately had some hardish hits,
If he has planted on me some few sores,
He has so gracefully tendered a plaister,
That I forget it all; and if at times
I've hit him rather smartly on the raw,

I hope he will forget—forgive, as I do. [Sits down amid loud cheers.

Colonel Sibthorp. I've listened with attention to them all,
And hold them every one in like contempt;
I love to see them knock each other down,
Nor will I stretch a hand to lift them up.
I've heard the Earl op Derby has resigned,
Which I regret—not on my own account—
Office I've never held, nor ever will.
No ; 'tis my pride that in the House of Commons
I shall be, as I am, quite out of place.
As to the generous sentiments I've heard,
They come from those who one another hate
With feline fierceness, and with rage canine :
Or, like in plainer language, cat and dog.
I verily believe they '11 soon be found
At it again, tooth, nail, hammer and tongs ;
Eor I've no confidence in anv one—
Except myself •—and, while I hold a seat,
My motto shall be ever, "Down with humbug !"
My cry, "Beware of man-traps and spring guns."

[The House is counted out, and tlie Curtain falls.

BARON LIEBIG ON PUNCH'S ALMANACK.

We are too glad to be able to append the following testimonial
from so great an authority as Baron Liebig :—

Extract from a Letter dated Giessen, December 25th, 1852, from Baron Liebig to
Mr. Punch, at his celebrated Brewery, 85, Fleet Street.

" I have submitted your Almanack to the most subtle analysis, and have found it a
perfectly genuine article. I never knew anything more free from adulteration, and
the specimen you sent me, which was printed on the best paper, was not only full of
spirit, but several degrees above proof. A person might take any quantity of it, and
far from its doing him any harm, he would feel all the better for it. The taste of it is
excellent, and what little bitterness there is in it is of that gentle nature, which, acting
as a healthy tonic, is well calculated to correct the acidity of the most hypochondriacal
temper. I shall certainly recommend it in all cases as a general beverage both Jar the
invalid and robust. I have been for many years an ardent admirer of your Almanacks,
and for the future intend never to take anything else.

" (Signed) Justus Liebig."

" Giessen, Dec. 25, 1852."

We have other Testimonials, equally flattering, from the Analytical
Sanitary Commissioners of the Lancet, Sir Charles Clarke, and the
most distinguished physicians and chemists of the day, and all testifying
to the extreme purity and high quality of our far-famed Almanack,
and, though they all agree in the generosity of saying that " we are at
perfect liberty to make whatever use we please of them," still we keep
them in our drawer for our own private gratification, sooner than lay
ourselves open to the charge of vanity by printing them.

Pray Don't Disturb it.

The Frenchmen tell us that we mustn't judge of—much less condemn
—Erance in its present state, for it is nothing better than " une nation
endormie." We agree with this amiable excuse, as far as the sleepiness
of the nation goes, for it is evident that Erance must be in a very
lethargic condition, having just relapsed into its Third Nap.

Vol. 24.

1—9