Punch (47.1864)

T UNE 20th. Monday. Really, in the best of the Season, it is not the
^ thing to expect the gay young Yiscount Punch to be attending
Parliament. He has enough to do in what is philosophically called the
“ reflex of energy,’5 namely, the pursuit of pleasure. And though he
cordially agrees with the late Sir G. C. Lewis, who said, inimitably,
that “ life would be very tolerable, but for its pleasures,” the ladies
have claims upon him which he is not the nobleman to ignore. What
with his flower-shows, his morning-concerts (you dear Grisi, you are
worth all the young ones, yet), his garden-parties, his fetes, his horti-
cultural bazaars, his Alexandra Park, his botanic gardens, his dinners
, at Grmnage and the Etoile et Jarretiere, his operas, his balls,

“ Hastati potius, Gyrusque, et Polka—supremus
Sub matituna luce, Rogerus Eques.”

to say nothing of Paddy Green’s, of which, however, he could say
much that would be acceptable to many a “ dear fellow,” the Viscount
finds little time for his senatorial duties. However, he looks into
Parliament when he remembers it, and happens to be in the neigh-
bourhood. Indeed, his determination to study and thoroughly compre-
hend the magnificent ‘(Moses,” with which Mr. Herbert has adorned
the Palace of Westminster, has taken the Yiscount to that edifice
pretty regularly of late.

To-day there was a dramatic entrance in the Commons, where as a
rule a member’s exit is more pleasant to behold and see. Everybody,
naturally, desired a Ministerial statement about the Conference, and as
to what England was going to do, and Mr. Disraeli led off with three
solemn questions on the subject. Mr. Gladstone told him to put his
queries on the paper for next day. “ Oh ! ” cried Members. Mr.
Disraeli said that such questions might properly be put without
notice. “ Hear! ” cried the House. Mr. Osborne wished to know
what Lord Russell meant by saying that the British Eleet was pre-
pared for any service. Mr. Gladstone objected to further questions
in the absence of Lord Palmerston. Mr. Eitzgerald said that
every Minister must know all about the matter, and hoped that answers
would be insisted on. Mr. Darby Griffith, received as usual with
“ much laughter,” nevertheless told a home truth, for he said that the
Government was notoriously divided on the Danish question. More-
over, he hoped that if the Conference did not arrange matters satisfac-

torily, England would put forth her Naval Strength. “Hear, hear!”
cried a great many voices. Lord John Manners said that it was the
duty of Lord Palmerston to be in his place-

Enter Lord Palmerston. Loud cheers.

Lord John Manners and Mr. Osborne instantly set upon him for
information.

Yiscount Palmerston said that when Lord Russell replied that
the fleet was ready to go anywhere, he meant that it was prepared for
any service, and so it was. He declined giving any further explanations,
except that when the armistice should be over, the war would recom-
mence, unless an arrangement were made.

Mr. Bright, in a very sweet manner, said that he never asked
questions, nor would he do so then, but he thought that Lord
Palmerston would get on better if he would tell all he could.

Lord Palmerston regretted to be obliged to repeat, that for the
present his Tongue was Tied.

Later in the week, when every one knew that the Conference could
or would settle nothing, it was announced that the untying the tongues
of the Premier and the Eoreign Secretary should be performed on
the following Monday. Lord Russell said that the recommencement
of the War was the most probable event.

The Gladstonian Bill for giving the Working Man a safe Assurance
was passed, and very justifiable congratulations were exchanged upon
the enactment of a law calculated to do so much good to the humbler
classes. Mr. Lunch hereby credits Mr. Gladstone with a large item
of honour for his wisdom and courage hi this matter, in fact begs him
to receive the Assurance, &c.

Having seen to the interests of good men, we next took the bad men
in hand, and by a majority of 116 to 19 we read the Gaols Bill a Second
Time. The Government was warmly supported by Sir John Paring-
ton, a Conservative, who understands the subject. Mr. Whalley
talked some anti-Catholic nonsense, but the Brummagem Spooner was,
of course, not heeded. The Criminal class will discover, when this Bill
becomes law, that “ doing that lot upon my head ” will be a difficult
feat in gymnastics.

After so much smooth sailing came a storm. The Third Bill was like
the third wave, hi classic reading. Mr. Gladstone’s measure for

PUNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Yol. 47.

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