DOI issue:
March 26, 1864
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16873#0133
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI,
125
March 26, 1864.
Man to Honest and Safe Life Assurance, had offended Mr. Sheridan
by certain allusions, and the latter had vehemently protested against
ST. PATRICK’S DAY.
them. To-night the Chancellor vindicated himself at some length,
and Mb,. Sheridan had a good innings. He showed much spirit, but
was slightly rude, saying that Mr. Gladstone ought to have taken
lessons from Elliston if he wished to play the character of a bully.
The remark might have come from the great and theatrical Sheridan,
only he would not have said so coarse a thing. Then Sir Minto Far-
qtjhar moved that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee. Mr.
Hodgkinson opposed this, and made great fun by'quoting the miserable
doggerel puffs by which certain Assurance Offices try to get business.
The verses are not nearly. so good as those us servants read on the
tawdry placards of the Marine Store Keepers, when we go on Saturdays
to sell the candles, dripping, keys, spoons, overcoats, and any other
trifles which we have stolen, or hidden away, during the week, to the
discontent of our masters and mistresses. But the poems of the Offices
and of the Stores are much in the same key, and in this style
“ I should have felt humiliated,” said the Bottleholder, “ had I had to
be a party to a communication to tell the French Government that an
English Member of Parliament, holding office in the Queen’s Govern-
ment, was not connected with an infamous plot against the life of the
Emperor.” Then he scoffed at the “seeming” friendship of the
Opposition for the Emperor, and reminded them that having once
given assent to a measure for preventing conspiracies, and having
found that by breaking their promises to support it they could oust a
Ministry, they had pocketed their indignation, and defeated the Bill.
A very dexterous smash, this, because it pleasingly brought to the
Emperor’s attention the former affectionate conduct of his new patrons.
Mr. Disraeli was very wrathful, and wondered that the Government
was afraid of any humiliation after its late exploits. He rang the
changes on poniards and assassins, and Mazzini; and his party cheered
him with more warmth than they usually show, for dislikes must be
forgotten when we can unite to damage enemies. Mr. Bright began
with some peace-making observations, but he could not long restrain
his ardour for battle, and dashed at the Tories with a charge of trying
to exasperate the ill-feeling in France, and with having a hardly less
worthy object, than that of “ worrying ” the English Government.
Lord Robert Cecil renewed the accusation of sympathy with
assassins. Mr. Gladstone seconded Lord Palmerston, and severely
rebuked an “unmannerly” interruption. Lord Claude Hamilton
politely said that Mr. Stansfeld was either Mazzini’s accomplice or
duge, and Mr. Cox said something which was drowned in the roar for a
division. There were 171 for Government, but 161 against it. Did
not both sides shout; one because Pam was victorious, the other
because the majority was only 10. Even the ladies behind the gallery
beat a tattoo of triumph with their fans, which was unconstitutional.
So ended the battle of Stansfeld-Mazzini.
Friday. Lord Ellenborougi-i had intended to have a great Dano-
German night, but Lord Russell begged him to “shut up,” and he
closed accordingly, like a gentleman.
More snarling over the Sheridan affair—a dull School for Scandal.
Mr. Stansfeld offered to resign, and Lord Palmerston told him
to do nothing of! the kind. Touching which Mr. Osborne spoke
capitally, and called the conduct of the Opposition a painful persecution,
and then made it painful for the Opposition by dint of some damaging
ridicule.
A debate on the demolition of the fortresses of Corfu closed the First
Act of the Comedy called the Session. An interval of Easter Holidays
elapses before the next rise of the curtain. Vivat Regina, and decidedly
no money returned.
“ Quis Tulerit Gracchos de Seditione Querentes ? ”
When Roebuck dropped atop of Russell,
And fierce at his despatches flew,
As “ scoldings of an angry woman ”
Or “ screamings of a cockatoo,”
Who could forbear regrets to see
Brother thus pitching into brother,
And not (though low tu quoques be)
Warningly whisper—“ You ’re Another ! ”
“ 0 where are you going, you merry throng ? ”
“ To the ‘Stunning Assurance,’ so you come along.”
“ But what ’ll I get by my going there ? ”
“ Why everything what is right and fair.
You’ll pay very low, and when you die
There ’ll be banknotes to wipe your widow’s eye.”
“ Indeed! Then of delays I ’ll have no endurance,
But haste with you, dear friends, to the ‘ Stunning Assurance.’ ”
(The above is Copyright.)
The House being thus put into temporary good humour, Mb.
Gosciien, Member for the City, defended the Bill in a most elaborate
and able speech, and the debate was adjourned, for another kind of
scene was expected.
(t Sir Henry Josias Stracey, of Yarmouth and Boodle’s, moved
that the statement of the Procureur-General on the trial of Greco,
implicating a Member of the House and of the Government in the plot
tor the assassination of our ally, the Emperor of the French, deserves
the serious attention of the House.” This was the formal opening of
the battle. The whips had been very busy, and more than 330 Members
were present. The Opposition thought it saw a good opportunity for;
an ugly rush ” at the Ministry. And the rush was ugly enough, in i
one sense. The object was to crush _Mr. Stansfeld, and the Cabinet, •;
n iu should stand by him.. And it did stand by him. Lord Palmer-
ston’s hands were up in no time. He condescend to address the
Emperor because a French lawyer had sought to please his master by
talking m the style of those French Colonels. Not old Pam, if he
knew it. Mr. Stansfeld’s answer had been more than satisfactory.
A PRETTY EXHIBITION.
We thought we were too wise, to be surprised at anything; but we
certainly were startled to see this in the Reader:—
“ The private view of the Society of Female Artists wiH take place this day
(Saturday) at their Gallery in Pall Mall.”
Baby-shows there have been, we believe, in plenty, but it is quite a
novelty to hear of a Lady-show. . We wonder how the Female Artists
liked being inspected at their private view, and whether many of them
showed much colour hi their cheeks at it. We presume they were
allowed to pose themselves artistically before their being viewed, and
to arrange their drapery with an eye to picturesque and personal effect.
Most of them no doubt came in their newest bonnets, and their most
expansive Crinolines, and chose the dresses that best suited their com-
plexions for the show. We wish we had been present at the private
view, for it really must have been a very pretty sight, but as a public
character we suppose that Mr. Punch was considered inadmissible. We
trust next time that this objection will be waived, for we had always
*ather see a pretty woman than her picture, and if the private view of
the Society of Lady Artists (we object to the word “ female,” save
when applied to brutes) be what the writer in the Reader leads us to
imagine, we certainly should wish next season to attend it. Ladies
have in general remarkably short memories (except in millinery matters,
for they remember to a ribbon all the dresses at a party held a dozen
years ago), but we trust the Lady Artists will recollect our wish, and ,
favour us next year with an admission card to see them at their private
view.
125
March 26, 1864.
Man to Honest and Safe Life Assurance, had offended Mr. Sheridan
by certain allusions, and the latter had vehemently protested against
ST. PATRICK’S DAY.
them. To-night the Chancellor vindicated himself at some length,
and Mb,. Sheridan had a good innings. He showed much spirit, but
was slightly rude, saying that Mr. Gladstone ought to have taken
lessons from Elliston if he wished to play the character of a bully.
The remark might have come from the great and theatrical Sheridan,
only he would not have said so coarse a thing. Then Sir Minto Far-
qtjhar moved that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee. Mr.
Hodgkinson opposed this, and made great fun by'quoting the miserable
doggerel puffs by which certain Assurance Offices try to get business.
The verses are not nearly. so good as those us servants read on the
tawdry placards of the Marine Store Keepers, when we go on Saturdays
to sell the candles, dripping, keys, spoons, overcoats, and any other
trifles which we have stolen, or hidden away, during the week, to the
discontent of our masters and mistresses. But the poems of the Offices
and of the Stores are much in the same key, and in this style
“ I should have felt humiliated,” said the Bottleholder, “ had I had to
be a party to a communication to tell the French Government that an
English Member of Parliament, holding office in the Queen’s Govern-
ment, was not connected with an infamous plot against the life of the
Emperor.” Then he scoffed at the “seeming” friendship of the
Opposition for the Emperor, and reminded them that having once
given assent to a measure for preventing conspiracies, and having
found that by breaking their promises to support it they could oust a
Ministry, they had pocketed their indignation, and defeated the Bill.
A very dexterous smash, this, because it pleasingly brought to the
Emperor’s attention the former affectionate conduct of his new patrons.
Mr. Disraeli was very wrathful, and wondered that the Government
was afraid of any humiliation after its late exploits. He rang the
changes on poniards and assassins, and Mazzini; and his party cheered
him with more warmth than they usually show, for dislikes must be
forgotten when we can unite to damage enemies. Mr. Bright began
with some peace-making observations, but he could not long restrain
his ardour for battle, and dashed at the Tories with a charge of trying
to exasperate the ill-feeling in France, and with having a hardly less
worthy object, than that of “ worrying ” the English Government.
Lord Robert Cecil renewed the accusation of sympathy with
assassins. Mr. Gladstone seconded Lord Palmerston, and severely
rebuked an “unmannerly” interruption. Lord Claude Hamilton
politely said that Mr. Stansfeld was either Mazzini’s accomplice or
duge, and Mr. Cox said something which was drowned in the roar for a
division. There were 171 for Government, but 161 against it. Did
not both sides shout; one because Pam was victorious, the other
because the majority was only 10. Even the ladies behind the gallery
beat a tattoo of triumph with their fans, which was unconstitutional.
So ended the battle of Stansfeld-Mazzini.
Friday. Lord Ellenborougi-i had intended to have a great Dano-
German night, but Lord Russell begged him to “shut up,” and he
closed accordingly, like a gentleman.
More snarling over the Sheridan affair—a dull School for Scandal.
Mr. Stansfeld offered to resign, and Lord Palmerston told him
to do nothing of! the kind. Touching which Mr. Osborne spoke
capitally, and called the conduct of the Opposition a painful persecution,
and then made it painful for the Opposition by dint of some damaging
ridicule.
A debate on the demolition of the fortresses of Corfu closed the First
Act of the Comedy called the Session. An interval of Easter Holidays
elapses before the next rise of the curtain. Vivat Regina, and decidedly
no money returned.
“ Quis Tulerit Gracchos de Seditione Querentes ? ”
When Roebuck dropped atop of Russell,
And fierce at his despatches flew,
As “ scoldings of an angry woman ”
Or “ screamings of a cockatoo,”
Who could forbear regrets to see
Brother thus pitching into brother,
And not (though low tu quoques be)
Warningly whisper—“ You ’re Another ! ”
“ 0 where are you going, you merry throng ? ”
“ To the ‘Stunning Assurance,’ so you come along.”
“ But what ’ll I get by my going there ? ”
“ Why everything what is right and fair.
You’ll pay very low, and when you die
There ’ll be banknotes to wipe your widow’s eye.”
“ Indeed! Then of delays I ’ll have no endurance,
But haste with you, dear friends, to the ‘ Stunning Assurance.’ ”
(The above is Copyright.)
The House being thus put into temporary good humour, Mb.
Gosciien, Member for the City, defended the Bill in a most elaborate
and able speech, and the debate was adjourned, for another kind of
scene was expected.
(t Sir Henry Josias Stracey, of Yarmouth and Boodle’s, moved
that the statement of the Procureur-General on the trial of Greco,
implicating a Member of the House and of the Government in the plot
tor the assassination of our ally, the Emperor of the French, deserves
the serious attention of the House.” This was the formal opening of
the battle. The whips had been very busy, and more than 330 Members
were present. The Opposition thought it saw a good opportunity for;
an ugly rush ” at the Ministry. And the rush was ugly enough, in i
one sense. The object was to crush _Mr. Stansfeld, and the Cabinet, •;
n iu should stand by him.. And it did stand by him. Lord Palmer-
ston’s hands were up in no time. He condescend to address the
Emperor because a French lawyer had sought to please his master by
talking m the style of those French Colonels. Not old Pam, if he
knew it. Mr. Stansfeld’s answer had been more than satisfactory.
A PRETTY EXHIBITION.
We thought we were too wise, to be surprised at anything; but we
certainly were startled to see this in the Reader:—
“ The private view of the Society of Female Artists wiH take place this day
(Saturday) at their Gallery in Pall Mall.”
Baby-shows there have been, we believe, in plenty, but it is quite a
novelty to hear of a Lady-show. . We wonder how the Female Artists
liked being inspected at their private view, and whether many of them
showed much colour hi their cheeks at it. We presume they were
allowed to pose themselves artistically before their being viewed, and
to arrange their drapery with an eye to picturesque and personal effect.
Most of them no doubt came in their newest bonnets, and their most
expansive Crinolines, and chose the dresses that best suited their com-
plexions for the show. We wish we had been present at the private
view, for it really must have been a very pretty sight, but as a public
character we suppose that Mr. Punch was considered inadmissible. We
trust next time that this objection will be waived, for we had always
*ather see a pretty woman than her picture, and if the private view of
the Society of Lady Artists (we object to the word “ female,” save
when applied to brutes) be what the writer in the Reader leads us to
imagine, we certainly should wish next season to attend it. Ladies
have in general remarkably short memories (except in millinery matters,
for they remember to a ribbon all the dresses at a party held a dozen
years ago), but we trust the Lady Artists will recollect our wish, and ,
favour us next year with an admission card to see them at their private
view.