Punch (54.1868)

“RES ANGUST/E DOM!.”

Family Man. “Where ho you go this Year, J innings ? ”

Bachelor (in a sketchy manner). “ Oh—Baden for a few weeks, and the Whine, Belgium—f’waps get as far’s Vjennah !
Where 'you off to?”

Family Man. “Oh, I suppose I shall take the Old Woman down to Worthing—as usual!”

[And he says this in anything hat a sprightly manne?—which was weak and injudicious.

PUNCH’S ESSENCE OE PARLIAMENT.

Thursday, June 4. The House of Commons (a very small one) met
after the Whitsuntide Holidays, and Punch was reminded of a verse in
a gallant old ballad by James Hogg, a poet of whom Scotland is not
half so proud as she ought to be—

“ Rough was the onset—boast, nor threat,

Nor cry was heard from friend or foe ;

At once began the work of fate.

With perilous thrust and deadly blow.”

Scarcely were Members in their places, when Sir Thomas Bate-
| -son, Member for Devizes, and Conservative, demanded of the Premier
i whether his attention had been called to a letter signed by Mr. Glad-
stone, and published for the benefit of the Liberals (who won) at the
Bast Worcestershire Election. In that letter the writer accused the
Ministers of proposing to endow the Catholic Church iu Ireland, and
to create a Catholic University to be paid out of the taxes of the
country.

Mr. Disraeli [with a masterly imitation of the bantering manner of
the late Lord Palmerston). My attention, Sir, is called to most things.
I believed that letter, and still believe it to be, one of those effusions
which, iu election language, are sometimes called squibs, and some-
times hoaxes. (Laughter.) It appeared to me to be a gross caricature
ul the right hon. gentleman’s least happy style; and, as it contained
assertions which could not be proved, and which nothing bat the
excitement of an election would justify, I really have given no further
■consideration to it. (Loud laughter.)

Mr. Gladstone. Sir, I wish-

Mr. Surtees. Sir, I rise to order. The-

Speaker [sharply and sternly). There is no question of order. You
must, not interrupt the proceedings of the House.

Mr. Gladstone. I will speak presently.

When the Motion for going into Supply came,

Mr. Gladstone had his innings. He had written the letter, and if
it had helped the Hon. Mr. Lyttleton to beat Mr. Laslett, was
very glad of it. He was not going to defend his style. But he showed,
with great earnestness and elaboration, that the policy pointed out in
that letter had been the policy of the Cabinet.

Mr. Disraeli, preserving something of bis sportive manner, endea-
voured to prove that Ministers had never said anything that amounted
to what Mr. Gladstone had charged. The country knew better, be
said, than to believe that he wished to do more than improve the
status of the Catholic Church.

The battle of the knights was followed by the battle of the squires,
Mr. Cardwell and Lord Mayo having a set-to, which was in favour
of the former. Ttien the debate went down so low as to include dis-
cussion as to the politics of Mr. Beardon ! Then it ceased, ior I
nothing could “ live ’twixt that and silence.”

Estimates, Education, Exhibitions, and the like, until half-past one
in the morning.

Observe, however, that Mr. Hardy gave notice of a Bill for Expe-
diting the new Registration of Electors. They are coming !

Friday. Mr. Lamont (Liberal) presented a Petition, signed by 76
Peers. 6 Bishops, 20 M P.’s, 400 Clergymen. 66 Generals and Admi-
rals, 300 Justices of the Peace, and about 30,000 other persons, prayiug
that Mr. Eyre might be restored to public employment, and compen-
sated for the losses he has sustained by persecution.

Debate on Maynootli, ended by a resolntion that the vote for this
Establishment, and also the Regium Donum to the Presbyterians
should cease simultaneously with the destruction of the Irish Ghurcti.

Colonel Stctart Knox said somethiug which Mr.. Reardon
(Queen Insulter) held to imply contempt for him, and which the
Sfeaker ruled to be unobjectionable.

Couut Out on proposal to count out more money to Sir John
Thwaites for the Embankment.