DOI issue:
July 6, 1867
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16880#0015
July 6, 1867.]
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
3
PUNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
Russell, Earl, came to the front on Monday, June 24, to obtain
an inquiry into the property and revenues of the Irish Church, with a
view to their being more productively and equitably applied. He
reminded us of Tom Moore’s story about the painter, who was
limning Lord John a good many years ago, being recommended to
throw into the face more hostility to the Irish Church establishment.
After exposing the weakness of that Church, and dwelling on it as a
grievance which, if “ sentimental,” was all the more to be taken into
account, he suggested a variety of modes in which to treat it, the one
he recommended being the division of the revenues between the three
principal sects.
Lord Cairns did his best for the Church, as if she were a client,
and Lord Kimberley described the great lawyer’s speech as one of a
No-Surrender stamp. The Bishob oe Down got up and proposed
to take all the revenues and re-distribute them over the Irish Church
in an equitable manner, also reducing the staff. The Duke oe Argyll
declared that the State had a right to do what it liked with the
tithes.
Lord Derby met the motion by saying that it was not large
enough, and he assented to the Bishop of Ossory’s amendment,
which got rid of the hostile part of Lord Russell’s proposal, and. by
90 to 38 an address for a Commission of Inquiry, only, was carried.
That is one step towards Reform, and Mr. Punch congratulates the
Peers in having done a goodish evening’s work. He recommends
Mother O’Church to look out.
Colonel Wilson Patten joins the Ministry as Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster. Chancellor Patten will be no clog on the
j Government.
After the two daily and invariable formalities in the Commons,
prayers, and a shout of ironical laughter at Mr. Darby Griffith, we
resumed Reform.
There are to be five Boundary Commissioners instead of seven, and
these are to be Lord Eversley, Sir Francis Crossley, Sir John
Duckworth, Mr. Walter, and Mr. Russell Gurney. _ Sir
Francis is put on in compliance with Mr. Bright’s wish for a
Radical Member. Mr. Bright expressed his satisfaction.
The Committee refused to abolish the Freeman, rejected an amend-
ment intended to prevent Colourable qualifications, declined to
enfranchise Copyholders (contributors who hold back “ copy ” to the
inconvenience of editors), dismissed the claim of Leaseholders, and
assented to the exclusion of University men from the elections for
Oxford or Cambridge boroughs. This last proposition was opposed
by Professor Fawcett, Sir R. Palmer, and Mr. Selwyn, and there
is to be another fight over it. Why so many educated persons holding
residences should be shut out, it is difficult to say.
Tuesday. We got to the 43rd and last clause in the Bill, but then
several clauses stand over, and there are the Schedules to dissect. The
united wisdom of the Committee was applied to invent a meaning for
the word Dwelling-house. Mr. Disraeli said that for two months
people had been raining definitions upon him. For the present we
agreed that it should mean “ any part of a house occupied as a separate
dwelling, and separately rated.” Even that is not clear. Is the
“ part,” or the “ house ” to be occupied ?
On the discussion of the Boundary names, Mr. Darby Griffith
enunciated his remarkable discovery, “that few men would venture to
i say in the House what they said in the Clubs.” We think with him,
and that many of the anecdotes told at club windows would not adorn
a debate on Religious or Educational Establishments.
Lord Hotham, adverting to the discomfort of the House, com-
plained that Members spoke in a conversational manner, and therefore
could not be heard. The late Sir Robert Peel could always, he said,
be heard, because he spoke up, and to the House itself, and not to one
person. There is to be a Committee on the arrangements of the
, place, and Mr. Punch suggests that an Elocution Committee should sit,
| with power to ask any Member why he does not open his mouth and
( sound his vowels.
The Libel Bill—for saving newspapers harmless for publishing
reports—went through Committee. Mr. Sandford talked unwisely
about Press tyranny. Mr. Lyster 0‘Beirne truthfully denied that
such a thing existed. Somebody called out that Mr. 0‘Belrne was
connected with the Press. That gentleman denied it, adding that he
wished he had that honour. He looks at things from a right point of
' view.
The railway folks obstinately opposed the Bill for making them
provide communication between passengers and guards, but it was
forced through Committee, Mr. Cave warning them of their folly,
which might lead to much more stringent legislation hereafter. How
Punch would like to read that some railway director had had his head
moderately well punched by a couple of cardsharpers, who should also
take away his watch. There would be communication on that line in
a month. We have almost a mind to send a couple of our most
athletic young men to do the job in the interest of the public.
Wednesday. Sir Colman O’Loghlen described his Irish Land
Bill, the main object of which was to discourage tenancies from year
to year, and substitute leasehold tenancies. If there is no written
contract, a twenty-one years’ lease is to be presumed. We imagine a
House of landowners will think twice before they assent to so stringent
a measure. Debate adjourned.
Thursday. Discussion by the Lords on the present clumsy system of
transporting and supplying troops. A Committee has proposed large
changes, and the “ authorities” evidently do not like them. But when
Lord Strathnairn (Sir Hugh Rose) gets up, and declares that he
has been personally harassed in the field by the bungling system, and
that in war time it puts the Army in great danger, it is time that public
opinion should back up the reformers against the Horse Guards. We
cannot afford to have another edition ol the Crimean disasters.
Another angry wrangle over the Committee on the Roman Catholic
Titles. Mr. Newdegate showed displeasure with Mr. Disraeli, and
Mr. Bouverie actually lectured the Speaker. Late at night, after
two more fights, the Committee was appointed.
Captain Jervis, who had the difficulty with Silt William Mans-
field in India, was sentenced to be dismissed the Service, but was also
recommended to mercy. So we are to pay him the money value of his
commission. His relatives consider him hardly treated. So are those
who have to pay.
We got over some Reform details about bribery, polling-places, and
the like, and an effort was made by Professor Fawcett to throw the
legitimate expense of elections upon the county rate. A series of weak
objections were made to this reasonable proposal. Why should a man
be fined for trying to serve his couptry F Why should the country be
deprived of the services of ah men who have not much money ? But
the plan, supported by Mill and Gladstone, was rejected by a great
majority of 248 to 142.
We then went at the Swearing Clauses, and agreed to some oaths,
refusing by 178 to 173 to have declarations instead.
Quacks, we passed the Vaccination Bill, but did not introduce a
clause for whipping you. It will come in a Reformed Parhament,
though, unless you hold your tongues very distinctly.
Friday. The Viceroy of Egypt is coming here. His friendship is
most valuable to England, Egypt being the highway to India. He has
always shown ah courtesy and hospitality to Englishmen. We gave
him no invitation, though he was in Paris, and he had arranged to be
the guest of a gentleman at Blackheath. To-night the Government
announced, as if they had worked themselves up to miraculous
enerosity, that they had decided on lodging this Prince in a public-
ouse, and would pay his bill!
The Marquis of Townshend—we interpolate a compliment to this
nobleman, who gives daily proof that he feels a sense of the duty the
rich owe to the wretched—did not succeed in getting a Committee to
inquire into a case of alleged piracy of an engineer’s designs. The
Duke of Marlborough said that 137 other persons might prefer
similar complaints, which was, of course, a reason for not listening to
one grievance.
On Reform, the Parliamentary Lion was once more roused, and
roared tremendously.
We have given the Borough Suffrage to all who are rated, and pay
the rates. But as some people don’t pay rates, unless asked (and not
always then), it was thought, in the earlier debates, that payment
should be demanded, and the Government undertook to bring in a
clause making such demand compulsory. It was introduced to-day by
the Attorney-General. But the House has changed a good many of
its ideas, and though the clause was brought in, as agreed, it was soon
felt that the Government meant to take no pains to have it carried.
Mr. Hardy disapproved it, and would have voted against it, but that
it had been prepared by his learned friend. Ministers voted for it, but
it was rejected by a majority of 2 in a House of 412. Then did the
Opposition, especially Mr. Gladstone, blaze out like fire, and declare
that Government had not kept faith, and that it was open to the Com-
mittee to re-consider the whole Bill. The answer was, that the original
idea had not been the Government’s, and now it was not the idea of
the House. In the course of the debate Mr. Roebuck observed that
he did not wish to see the country handed over to ignorance and vice,
which would rule if the Rabble [came in, and we were going to let in
the Rabble. This does not seem the point. Mr. Punch permits him-
self to be somewhat indifferent to the political opinions of anybody
who will not take the trouble to know when rates are due, and to pay
them. A debate on the postponement of the Irish Reform Bill closed
the week. Mr. Disraeli made things pleasant, and was jocular about
Irish deputations, which he said he liked to receive.
NARROW ACCOMMODATION.
Is it hospitable when you ask a stout friend to come and see you, to
tell him that you will give him a spare bed ?
A Lawn “ Party.”—A Bishop.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
3
PUNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
Russell, Earl, came to the front on Monday, June 24, to obtain
an inquiry into the property and revenues of the Irish Church, with a
view to their being more productively and equitably applied. He
reminded us of Tom Moore’s story about the painter, who was
limning Lord John a good many years ago, being recommended to
throw into the face more hostility to the Irish Church establishment.
After exposing the weakness of that Church, and dwelling on it as a
grievance which, if “ sentimental,” was all the more to be taken into
account, he suggested a variety of modes in which to treat it, the one
he recommended being the division of the revenues between the three
principal sects.
Lord Cairns did his best for the Church, as if she were a client,
and Lord Kimberley described the great lawyer’s speech as one of a
No-Surrender stamp. The Bishob oe Down got up and proposed
to take all the revenues and re-distribute them over the Irish Church
in an equitable manner, also reducing the staff. The Duke oe Argyll
declared that the State had a right to do what it liked with the
tithes.
Lord Derby met the motion by saying that it was not large
enough, and he assented to the Bishop of Ossory’s amendment,
which got rid of the hostile part of Lord Russell’s proposal, and. by
90 to 38 an address for a Commission of Inquiry, only, was carried.
That is one step towards Reform, and Mr. Punch congratulates the
Peers in having done a goodish evening’s work. He recommends
Mother O’Church to look out.
Colonel Wilson Patten joins the Ministry as Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster. Chancellor Patten will be no clog on the
j Government.
After the two daily and invariable formalities in the Commons,
prayers, and a shout of ironical laughter at Mr. Darby Griffith, we
resumed Reform.
There are to be five Boundary Commissioners instead of seven, and
these are to be Lord Eversley, Sir Francis Crossley, Sir John
Duckworth, Mr. Walter, and Mr. Russell Gurney. _ Sir
Francis is put on in compliance with Mr. Bright’s wish for a
Radical Member. Mr. Bright expressed his satisfaction.
The Committee refused to abolish the Freeman, rejected an amend-
ment intended to prevent Colourable qualifications, declined to
enfranchise Copyholders (contributors who hold back “ copy ” to the
inconvenience of editors), dismissed the claim of Leaseholders, and
assented to the exclusion of University men from the elections for
Oxford or Cambridge boroughs. This last proposition was opposed
by Professor Fawcett, Sir R. Palmer, and Mr. Selwyn, and there
is to be another fight over it. Why so many educated persons holding
residences should be shut out, it is difficult to say.
Tuesday. We got to the 43rd and last clause in the Bill, but then
several clauses stand over, and there are the Schedules to dissect. The
united wisdom of the Committee was applied to invent a meaning for
the word Dwelling-house. Mr. Disraeli said that for two months
people had been raining definitions upon him. For the present we
agreed that it should mean “ any part of a house occupied as a separate
dwelling, and separately rated.” Even that is not clear. Is the
“ part,” or the “ house ” to be occupied ?
On the discussion of the Boundary names, Mr. Darby Griffith
enunciated his remarkable discovery, “that few men would venture to
i say in the House what they said in the Clubs.” We think with him,
and that many of the anecdotes told at club windows would not adorn
a debate on Religious or Educational Establishments.
Lord Hotham, adverting to the discomfort of the House, com-
plained that Members spoke in a conversational manner, and therefore
could not be heard. The late Sir Robert Peel could always, he said,
be heard, because he spoke up, and to the House itself, and not to one
person. There is to be a Committee on the arrangements of the
, place, and Mr. Punch suggests that an Elocution Committee should sit,
| with power to ask any Member why he does not open his mouth and
( sound his vowels.
The Libel Bill—for saving newspapers harmless for publishing
reports—went through Committee. Mr. Sandford talked unwisely
about Press tyranny. Mr. Lyster 0‘Beirne truthfully denied that
such a thing existed. Somebody called out that Mr. 0‘Belrne was
connected with the Press. That gentleman denied it, adding that he
wished he had that honour. He looks at things from a right point of
' view.
The railway folks obstinately opposed the Bill for making them
provide communication between passengers and guards, but it was
forced through Committee, Mr. Cave warning them of their folly,
which might lead to much more stringent legislation hereafter. How
Punch would like to read that some railway director had had his head
moderately well punched by a couple of cardsharpers, who should also
take away his watch. There would be communication on that line in
a month. We have almost a mind to send a couple of our most
athletic young men to do the job in the interest of the public.
Wednesday. Sir Colman O’Loghlen described his Irish Land
Bill, the main object of which was to discourage tenancies from year
to year, and substitute leasehold tenancies. If there is no written
contract, a twenty-one years’ lease is to be presumed. We imagine a
House of landowners will think twice before they assent to so stringent
a measure. Debate adjourned.
Thursday. Discussion by the Lords on the present clumsy system of
transporting and supplying troops. A Committee has proposed large
changes, and the “ authorities” evidently do not like them. But when
Lord Strathnairn (Sir Hugh Rose) gets up, and declares that he
has been personally harassed in the field by the bungling system, and
that in war time it puts the Army in great danger, it is time that public
opinion should back up the reformers against the Horse Guards. We
cannot afford to have another edition ol the Crimean disasters.
Another angry wrangle over the Committee on the Roman Catholic
Titles. Mr. Newdegate showed displeasure with Mr. Disraeli, and
Mr. Bouverie actually lectured the Speaker. Late at night, after
two more fights, the Committee was appointed.
Captain Jervis, who had the difficulty with Silt William Mans-
field in India, was sentenced to be dismissed the Service, but was also
recommended to mercy. So we are to pay him the money value of his
commission. His relatives consider him hardly treated. So are those
who have to pay.
We got over some Reform details about bribery, polling-places, and
the like, and an effort was made by Professor Fawcett to throw the
legitimate expense of elections upon the county rate. A series of weak
objections were made to this reasonable proposal. Why should a man
be fined for trying to serve his couptry F Why should the country be
deprived of the services of ah men who have not much money ? But
the plan, supported by Mill and Gladstone, was rejected by a great
majority of 248 to 142.
We then went at the Swearing Clauses, and agreed to some oaths,
refusing by 178 to 173 to have declarations instead.
Quacks, we passed the Vaccination Bill, but did not introduce a
clause for whipping you. It will come in a Reformed Parhament,
though, unless you hold your tongues very distinctly.
Friday. The Viceroy of Egypt is coming here. His friendship is
most valuable to England, Egypt being the highway to India. He has
always shown ah courtesy and hospitality to Englishmen. We gave
him no invitation, though he was in Paris, and he had arranged to be
the guest of a gentleman at Blackheath. To-night the Government
announced, as if they had worked themselves up to miraculous
enerosity, that they had decided on lodging this Prince in a public-
ouse, and would pay his bill!
The Marquis of Townshend—we interpolate a compliment to this
nobleman, who gives daily proof that he feels a sense of the duty the
rich owe to the wretched—did not succeed in getting a Committee to
inquire into a case of alleged piracy of an engineer’s designs. The
Duke of Marlborough said that 137 other persons might prefer
similar complaints, which was, of course, a reason for not listening to
one grievance.
On Reform, the Parliamentary Lion was once more roused, and
roared tremendously.
We have given the Borough Suffrage to all who are rated, and pay
the rates. But as some people don’t pay rates, unless asked (and not
always then), it was thought, in the earlier debates, that payment
should be demanded, and the Government undertook to bring in a
clause making such demand compulsory. It was introduced to-day by
the Attorney-General. But the House has changed a good many of
its ideas, and though the clause was brought in, as agreed, it was soon
felt that the Government meant to take no pains to have it carried.
Mr. Hardy disapproved it, and would have voted against it, but that
it had been prepared by his learned friend. Ministers voted for it, but
it was rejected by a majority of 2 in a House of 412. Then did the
Opposition, especially Mr. Gladstone, blaze out like fire, and declare
that Government had not kept faith, and that it was open to the Com-
mittee to re-consider the whole Bill. The answer was, that the original
idea had not been the Government’s, and now it was not the idea of
the House. In the course of the debate Mr. Roebuck observed that
he did not wish to see the country handed over to ignorance and vice,
which would rule if the Rabble [came in, and we were going to let in
the Rabble. This does not seem the point. Mr. Punch permits him-
self to be somewhat indifferent to the political opinions of anybody
who will not take the trouble to know when rates are due, and to pay
them. A debate on the postponement of the Irish Reform Bill closed
the week. Mr. Disraeli made things pleasant, and was jocular about
Irish deputations, which he said he liked to receive.
NARROW ACCOMMODATION.
Is it hospitable when you ask a stout friend to come and see you, to
tell him that you will give him a spare bed ?
A Lawn “ Party.”—A Bishop.