Punch (45.1863)

PUNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

A/TOISIDAY, June 22nd. Parliamentary swearing causes a great deal of

trouble. Lord Stratheden wishes to alter the Oath-law, which
has as yet been modified (in favour of the Hebrews), by resolution only.
His Bill was read, but is not to be proceeded with this year. The proud
yet prudent Peers properly passed the provision for pressing priests on
Popish prisoners.

Mr. Cowper said that the New Palace at Westminster had not yet
fallen into the Thames, but that sufficient time had not elapsed for dis-
covering whether Mr. Szerelmey’s application would continue to pre-
serve the stone. Colonel Crawley is recalled, to be tried by Court
Martial in this country.

Russia has sufficient grace left to hasten to declare that Mouraviefe
(who is not the brave soldier of Kars) has not yet issued an order for
the knouting of Polish ladies, but our Government has information
confirmatory of the accounts of other brutalities.

To-night there was to have been a grand Polish debate, and Mr.
Pope Hennessy, who is all for freedom and humanity when the victim
is a Catholic, was charged with an oration. Lord Palmerston,
according to promise, moved the orders of the day out of the honourable
Pope’s way, when private Members suddenly interfered, and Mr.
Beaumont, Mr. Kinglake, and Lord Enfield desired him to be
silent. _ And the House, dividing, decided by 165 to 110 that he should
hold his tongue, as it was inexpedient, to raise such a debate in the
present state of negotiations. Then did Horsman rage, and Robert
Cecil epigrammatise, and Mr. Coningham make irreverent allusion
to the readiness of Ministers to discnss a Court Job at Kensington,
though they avoided important questions. Other men clamoured, but
the Premier, rising, declared that the decision of the House had
astonished him as much as anybody, that he had seen no objection to
debate, though addresses on the Polish question, might, if carried, have
stopped negotiation, but that he would reveal to the House what the
Powers had recommended Russia to grant; namely—

1. A general and complete Amnesty.

2. National Representation under the Treaty of Vienna.

3. A satisfactory Polish administration, and the placing Poles alone

in public offices.

4. Pull Liberty of Conscience.

5. Use of the Polish language in public transactions, and education.

6. A regular and fair system of recruiting, unlike Conscription.

The Powers have also recommended a cessation of hostilities. On the
subject of cruelties the Viscount said that the Russians were very bar-
barous, but that reprisals were committed. Mr. Disraeli, of course,
did not think that the debate had been stopped without Government
sanction. He did not see how hostilities were to be ended, while the
Russian Government had no communication with the insurrectionists,
and he saw only two alternatives, Russian Unity or Polish Independ-
ence. After further discussion it was arranged that no more should be
said until we have the reply of Russia.

The South side of the Thames is to be embanked, legislation on the
subject proceeds, and as you would like, Mrs. Bull, to know how
beautifully the Men of Business mind your business, we would just
mention that in the clause empowering the Board of Works to borrow
money, the figures inserted were £700,000. Mr. Cox thought this too
much, and Mr. Cowper said, O yes, the figures must have been
inserted by mistake, and he would alter them to £481,000. What do
you think of that trifling error, M’m ?

Tuesday. Orders have been sent to the Ionian Isles that their present
Parliament be dissolved, and a new one be convoked, before which is
to be laid the proposal to hand them over to Grecian George.

The West Hartlepool Harbour Directors seem to have been acting
with splendid unlawfulness, and laying hold of millions of money.
The Thunderbolts of the Law, launched by the Government, are to

descend upon the wicked-if tedinicalities will permit. More Men

of Business, and Business in excelsis.

There are also women of business whose arrangements must be looked
into. Public indignation has been excited by the accounts of the death
of Mary Anne Walkley, a girl employed by Madame Elise, of
Regent Street, wife of one Isaacson, and a notorious dressmaker.
“ Long hours in an overcrowded room and sleeping in an ill-ventilated
bedroom,” said Sir George Grey, “ caused the young girl’s death.”
What is to be done ? Lord Shaftesbury in the Lords, and Mr.
Bagwell in the Commons, called attention to the system under which
such girls are killed; and the man Isaacson, who seems to fill a similar-
office to that of Mr. Mantalini, and who writes English of which that
gent would be proud, issued a letter full of impertinence and bad
grammar, in defence of Mrs. Isaacson’s place. Thereupon the parish
requested other testimony, and Dr. Lankester examined the premises,
and found the dormitories rather better and the work-room rather
worse than had been expected.

Vol. 45.

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