DOI issue:
July 20, 1867
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16880#0034
22
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI
°UNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
ell me, dear Mr. Punch,"
writes a young and lovely
correspondent, enclosing
her photograph, henceforth
enshrined among Our Pets,
“ tell me why you ended
your last delightful Essence
(the only politics I ever
read) with a Thursday. You
always give Friday also,
and I hate to be cheated.”
“Dear young and lovely
Correspondent,” replies Mr.
Punch, “ the reason was
Beans. Once a year it hath
ever been so, I hope ever
will be so. Conceive a
Feast of Beans, and its ar-
rangements demanding
earlier closing of the Golden
Inkstand. Are you an-
swered, dear? But, you
shall not be cheated.” On
Friday, July 5, we got
again upon Reform. We
discussed the Cumulative
Vote, and had a very good
debate, in which the best
men joined. Lord Cran-
borne said that the Monarchial principle was dead, that the Aris-
tocratic principle was now being sentenced to death, and the
Democratic principle was to be left unchecked. Mr. Disraeli
denied that the Monarchy was dead, and asserted that Lord Cran-
borne, as one who had been an able Minister, must have felt that the
Sovereign exercised a salutary criticism in all departments. The
Aristocracy would never die while it produced men like Lord Cran-
borne. He was not afraid of the terrible word Democracy, or of a
measure which would confer, at the utmost, 350,000 votes, upon men
“ born, bred, and brought up under the laws, manners, and traditions
of the country—considerations that went far beyond Flesh and Blood.”
Mr. Lowe finished with a defence of the Cumulative Vote, and various
awful warnings. The Vote was then rejected by 314 to 173.
We beguiled the later hours with an ill-natured wrangle over the
conduct of some Country Magistrates who had served out a couple of
alleged poachers after the fashion of Country Magistrates when dealing
with such persons. Mr. Peter Taylor brought the matter up, as
was natural, he being Member for Leicester, and the circumstances
having occurred at Salisbury, and Mr. Hardy was so angry with him
that other Members interfered, and the battle became somewhat
general. The word Game--
By Demogorgon, a light flashes on us. There is a passage in
ShaJcspeare wtiicti has baffled all the Commentators. It is where the
Windsor Landlord asks, “ Cry’d I game?” Nobody expounds it
satisfactorily. Siiakspeare (a reputed poacher) must have heard the
word “game” pronounced among a lot of preserving Magistrates,
like Sir Thomas Lucy, and seen how it stirred up the most stupid
into life and anger. “ Cry’d I game ? ” means “ Have I waked you
up?” To this day, in the House of Commons, do but name a par-
tridge and a poacher, and the Country Gentlemen are awake and
roaring.
Monday. Lord Portman made the oddest proposal in the Lords.
It was that a Bishop should be enabled to consecrate a churchyard
without going to the place. Being a spiritual peer it was enough for
him to attend in spirit,. The refinement was too much for the Peers.
Lord Shaftesbury still broils over the slow fire of the Ritualistic
Commission. He attacked the Primate for having written somet hing
about the inexpediency of Parliament’s meddling with the Prayer Book,
without the concurrence of Convocation. The Archbishop defended
himself satisfactorily; but Convocation is a sham. We should not
desire to see the Hebrew, Unitarian, or other Dissenting Members
editing the Church Prayer iBook ; but if the Bishops cannot do it, we
must have some or,her and more popular machinery than Convocation,
and its gravamenivorous orators.
Mr. Disraeli announced what, all with American friends will like
to hear. By a new Convention, the postage between John and Jona-
than is to be reduced from a shilling to sixpence, or as fast young
ladies would say, from a bob to a bender.
Who brought the cavalry from Aldershot to Hounslow, for the in-
tended review, and kept them from 8 or 9 in the morning till 4 in the
afternoon without, rations ? Sir John Pakington determined to find
out, and did. It was our Deputy Commissary General. He has ac-
tually been removed from his district. Nay, wonderful to relate, no
[July 20, 1867.
Military Member scoffed or stormed at a civilian for asking the
question.
Reform again. As all City men live out of town, we enlarged the
area of their residences (for voting purposes) to twenty-five miles.
We decreed that the police should not have votes, but that thieves and
other bad characters, if they had houses, (as hundreds have,) should
have votes ! Lord Eustace Cecil was for disqualifying any one who
had been convicted, but Mr. Gladstone was not for punishing twice,
but for restoring offenders to liberty and hope. We own that if we
were in prison it would be a great and blessed thought to us, and one
which would make us earnestly labour to become good, to reflect that
on emerging and getting a house, we might vote for Serjeant Gaselee,
Mr. Whalley, or Mr. Tom Chambers. Mr. Henley thought, and
rightly, that, in early life men may be convicted of small offences, of
which they become ashamed, and for which they ought not to suffer all
their days. But there are offences which ought to exclude a man for
ever. A conviction for cruelty of any kind to woman, child, or beast,
is one. Omitting to read Punch is another, unless the plea of idiotcy
be set up, as it might successfully be.
Mr. Beaumont tried to get a Second Member for Huddersfield, and
failed.
Mr. J. B. Smith wished to shut all public-houses on election-days,
but withdrew his motion.
Mr. Dilwyn tried to get a Second Member for Swansea, and failed.
Mr. Gladstone wished to get more Members for South Lancashire.
If we could get some more like himself, it would be the thing to do,
but as this could not be secured, the proposal was rejected.
Colonel Gilpin (Conservative) tried to take away four Members
from as many small boroughs, and give the seats to Luton, Keighley,
Barnsley, and St. Helen’s. Rather an amusing debate. Mr. Denman
fought for Tiverton (which would have gone down), Mr. Walrond
protested against more sacrifices to the political Moloch, Serjeant
Gaselee again proclaimed his geographical ignorance, of which he
seems proud, and Sir Robert Peel made some fun about Luton, and
its straw-workers, and its lax morals. At length we dismounted
Gilpin by 224 to 195.
Tuesday. Resuming Reform, Mr. Disraeli, in his pleasantest
manner, informed Mr. Whalley, who intruded a proposal about de-
ferring part of the Bill, that he, the Chancellor, was so perfectly
satisfied with things as they were, that he could not disturb so agree-
able a prospect.
One more decision of importance. We returned to the question
about giving notice to the rate-payer to fork out. We agreed to Mr.
Locke’s clause (amended by Mr. Hardy), for securing such a notice,
and the Star considers this important, and exultingly adds, that Abso-
lute Household Suffrage has virtually become the law of the land.
And so the Reform Bill passed through Committee. The schedules
(pronounced “ sheddles ” by some Members), were settled, and the
preamble was agreed to. There was some shouting.
In the Lords, to-day, Earl Derby said that he shared in the feeling
of horror which had been excited in every civilised country by the
barbarous and useless murder of the Emperor Maximilian. The
House of Lords applauded. As Punch goes everywhere, he records
this demonstration.
Mr. Whalley, intruding himself for the second time, in reference to
a foul book, purporting to be a translation from Roman Catholic works,
received a contemptuous snub from Mr. Hardy, who spoke as a
gentleman speaks when a person invites his attention to something
loathsome. But we doubt whether Murphy’s friend felt the meaning
of the auswer.
Some Irishmen have a notion that Ireland is over-taxed. She is not,
and Mr. Disraeli left Mr. Hunt to explain this, as he did cleverly.
“ Take a tenth of our income. Sir. Ay, that they do, and they’d take
a twentieth, if they dared,” said an Irishman once, on tithes. The
complaint to-night was not much more to the purpose.
Wednesday. A good man, and a most useful Member, who has repre-
sented Birmingham, in the Liberal interest, for twenty years, Mr.
William Scholefleld, had died, somewhat suddenly. Mr. Newde-
gate bore a tribute to the merits of this gentleman, and it was warmly
applauded on all sides.
Mr. Bruce moved the Second Reading of a Bill for the education of
the poor. It is a step towards compulsory secular teaching. The
usual arguments against disturbing existing systems, and the necessity
of religious instruction were paraded, umil time to adjourn. But a
sentence from Mr Forster, ultra-liberal, may be worth heeding:
“ The Dangerous Class is greatly increasing.” But we won’t diminish
it by the School Class —we are too “conscientious” for that.
Thursday. Lord Stanley gave admirable reasons why England
should take no action in reference to the murder of the Emperor Maxi-
milian. We must not withdraw our representative, for his business
is to assert the claims of British subjects against the Mexican Govern-
ments. Doubtless the latter would be very glad to see their creditors’
attornev withdraw.
The Trades’ Union Outrages Commissioners believe that there are
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI
°UNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
ell me, dear Mr. Punch,"
writes a young and lovely
correspondent, enclosing
her photograph, henceforth
enshrined among Our Pets,
“ tell me why you ended
your last delightful Essence
(the only politics I ever
read) with a Thursday. You
always give Friday also,
and I hate to be cheated.”
“Dear young and lovely
Correspondent,” replies Mr.
Punch, “ the reason was
Beans. Once a year it hath
ever been so, I hope ever
will be so. Conceive a
Feast of Beans, and its ar-
rangements demanding
earlier closing of the Golden
Inkstand. Are you an-
swered, dear? But, you
shall not be cheated.” On
Friday, July 5, we got
again upon Reform. We
discussed the Cumulative
Vote, and had a very good
debate, in which the best
men joined. Lord Cran-
borne said that the Monarchial principle was dead, that the Aris-
tocratic principle was now being sentenced to death, and the
Democratic principle was to be left unchecked. Mr. Disraeli
denied that the Monarchy was dead, and asserted that Lord Cran-
borne, as one who had been an able Minister, must have felt that the
Sovereign exercised a salutary criticism in all departments. The
Aristocracy would never die while it produced men like Lord Cran-
borne. He was not afraid of the terrible word Democracy, or of a
measure which would confer, at the utmost, 350,000 votes, upon men
“ born, bred, and brought up under the laws, manners, and traditions
of the country—considerations that went far beyond Flesh and Blood.”
Mr. Lowe finished with a defence of the Cumulative Vote, and various
awful warnings. The Vote was then rejected by 314 to 173.
We beguiled the later hours with an ill-natured wrangle over the
conduct of some Country Magistrates who had served out a couple of
alleged poachers after the fashion of Country Magistrates when dealing
with such persons. Mr. Peter Taylor brought the matter up, as
was natural, he being Member for Leicester, and the circumstances
having occurred at Salisbury, and Mr. Hardy was so angry with him
that other Members interfered, and the battle became somewhat
general. The word Game--
By Demogorgon, a light flashes on us. There is a passage in
ShaJcspeare wtiicti has baffled all the Commentators. It is where the
Windsor Landlord asks, “ Cry’d I game?” Nobody expounds it
satisfactorily. Siiakspeare (a reputed poacher) must have heard the
word “game” pronounced among a lot of preserving Magistrates,
like Sir Thomas Lucy, and seen how it stirred up the most stupid
into life and anger. “ Cry’d I game ? ” means “ Have I waked you
up?” To this day, in the House of Commons, do but name a par-
tridge and a poacher, and the Country Gentlemen are awake and
roaring.
Monday. Lord Portman made the oddest proposal in the Lords.
It was that a Bishop should be enabled to consecrate a churchyard
without going to the place. Being a spiritual peer it was enough for
him to attend in spirit,. The refinement was too much for the Peers.
Lord Shaftesbury still broils over the slow fire of the Ritualistic
Commission. He attacked the Primate for having written somet hing
about the inexpediency of Parliament’s meddling with the Prayer Book,
without the concurrence of Convocation. The Archbishop defended
himself satisfactorily; but Convocation is a sham. We should not
desire to see the Hebrew, Unitarian, or other Dissenting Members
editing the Church Prayer iBook ; but if the Bishops cannot do it, we
must have some or,her and more popular machinery than Convocation,
and its gravamenivorous orators.
Mr. Disraeli announced what, all with American friends will like
to hear. By a new Convention, the postage between John and Jona-
than is to be reduced from a shilling to sixpence, or as fast young
ladies would say, from a bob to a bender.
Who brought the cavalry from Aldershot to Hounslow, for the in-
tended review, and kept them from 8 or 9 in the morning till 4 in the
afternoon without, rations ? Sir John Pakington determined to find
out, and did. It was our Deputy Commissary General. He has ac-
tually been removed from his district. Nay, wonderful to relate, no
[July 20, 1867.
Military Member scoffed or stormed at a civilian for asking the
question.
Reform again. As all City men live out of town, we enlarged the
area of their residences (for voting purposes) to twenty-five miles.
We decreed that the police should not have votes, but that thieves and
other bad characters, if they had houses, (as hundreds have,) should
have votes ! Lord Eustace Cecil was for disqualifying any one who
had been convicted, but Mr. Gladstone was not for punishing twice,
but for restoring offenders to liberty and hope. We own that if we
were in prison it would be a great and blessed thought to us, and one
which would make us earnestly labour to become good, to reflect that
on emerging and getting a house, we might vote for Serjeant Gaselee,
Mr. Whalley, or Mr. Tom Chambers. Mr. Henley thought, and
rightly, that, in early life men may be convicted of small offences, of
which they become ashamed, and for which they ought not to suffer all
their days. But there are offences which ought to exclude a man for
ever. A conviction for cruelty of any kind to woman, child, or beast,
is one. Omitting to read Punch is another, unless the plea of idiotcy
be set up, as it might successfully be.
Mr. Beaumont tried to get a Second Member for Huddersfield, and
failed.
Mr. J. B. Smith wished to shut all public-houses on election-days,
but withdrew his motion.
Mr. Dilwyn tried to get a Second Member for Swansea, and failed.
Mr. Gladstone wished to get more Members for South Lancashire.
If we could get some more like himself, it would be the thing to do,
but as this could not be secured, the proposal was rejected.
Colonel Gilpin (Conservative) tried to take away four Members
from as many small boroughs, and give the seats to Luton, Keighley,
Barnsley, and St. Helen’s. Rather an amusing debate. Mr. Denman
fought for Tiverton (which would have gone down), Mr. Walrond
protested against more sacrifices to the political Moloch, Serjeant
Gaselee again proclaimed his geographical ignorance, of which he
seems proud, and Sir Robert Peel made some fun about Luton, and
its straw-workers, and its lax morals. At length we dismounted
Gilpin by 224 to 195.
Tuesday. Resuming Reform, Mr. Disraeli, in his pleasantest
manner, informed Mr. Whalley, who intruded a proposal about de-
ferring part of the Bill, that he, the Chancellor, was so perfectly
satisfied with things as they were, that he could not disturb so agree-
able a prospect.
One more decision of importance. We returned to the question
about giving notice to the rate-payer to fork out. We agreed to Mr.
Locke’s clause (amended by Mr. Hardy), for securing such a notice,
and the Star considers this important, and exultingly adds, that Abso-
lute Household Suffrage has virtually become the law of the land.
And so the Reform Bill passed through Committee. The schedules
(pronounced “ sheddles ” by some Members), were settled, and the
preamble was agreed to. There was some shouting.
In the Lords, to-day, Earl Derby said that he shared in the feeling
of horror which had been excited in every civilised country by the
barbarous and useless murder of the Emperor Maximilian. The
House of Lords applauded. As Punch goes everywhere, he records
this demonstration.
Mr. Whalley, intruding himself for the second time, in reference to
a foul book, purporting to be a translation from Roman Catholic works,
received a contemptuous snub from Mr. Hardy, who spoke as a
gentleman speaks when a person invites his attention to something
loathsome. But we doubt whether Murphy’s friend felt the meaning
of the auswer.
Some Irishmen have a notion that Ireland is over-taxed. She is not,
and Mr. Disraeli left Mr. Hunt to explain this, as he did cleverly.
“ Take a tenth of our income. Sir. Ay, that they do, and they’d take
a twentieth, if they dared,” said an Irishman once, on tithes. The
complaint to-night was not much more to the purpose.
Wednesday. A good man, and a most useful Member, who has repre-
sented Birmingham, in the Liberal interest, for twenty years, Mr.
William Scholefleld, had died, somewhat suddenly. Mr. Newde-
gate bore a tribute to the merits of this gentleman, and it was warmly
applauded on all sides.
Mr. Bruce moved the Second Reading of a Bill for the education of
the poor. It is a step towards compulsory secular teaching. The
usual arguments against disturbing existing systems, and the necessity
of religious instruction were paraded, umil time to adjourn. But a
sentence from Mr Forster, ultra-liberal, may be worth heeding:
“ The Dangerous Class is greatly increasing.” But we won’t diminish
it by the School Class —we are too “conscientious” for that.
Thursday. Lord Stanley gave admirable reasons why England
should take no action in reference to the murder of the Emperor Maxi-
milian. We must not withdraw our representative, for his business
is to assert the claims of British subjects against the Mexican Govern-
ments. Doubtless the latter would be very glad to see their creditors’
attornev withdraw.
The Trades’ Union Outrages Commissioners believe that there are