Punch (55.1868)

July 4, 1868.]

PUNCH, OP THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

PUNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

T\/T ONDAY, June %2nd. Question in the Commons about the Half-
, -“■*- Crown, which has not been coined for fifteen years. Is that coin to
be withdrawn ? There is no present intention of withdrawing it. We
hope not; we like to use it for tormenting a cabman, whose fare may
j be a florin. It is sweet revenge to seem about to tender him the larger
com, and suddenly to see your mistake, and give him his due—which
every body and every spirit should have.

An odd mistake was made over a petition recently presented in
honour of Mu. Eyre. The numbers and the importance of the signa-
tories were largely over-stated. The explanation was that a clerk had
taken on himself to suppose that all the subscribers to the Defence
\ Fund might be counted as subscribers to the petition. It was careless,

; but we can hardly regret anything that gave the House the fun afforded
by a member of the Jamaica Committee, who declared that body to be
“persecuted ” by the Defence Fund. Wolf and Lamb.

Row about the last Friday’s Count. Of course Government was
charged with being in a “ plot ” to lose time, and delay the general
election. Any stick will do, in certain circumstances, for castigatory
purposes. The idea of keeping a House, this weather, to debate the
rights of Excisemen to Yote! The fact was that an Irish Member

“ Came winking through the House,

And canted off the Exciseman.”

A short Indian debate, Ayrton floored, and the Government Bill
advanced in Committee. Question is, shall the Council over-rule the
Indian minister, or only have a Yeto. House decided for the over-
ruling, as at present.

The Irish Reform Bill, much scorned by the Irish Members, went
through final stages, ana passed at the end of the week, in silence.
Fancy an Irish measure passing in silence!

i Tuesday. The Lords read the Scotch Reform Bill a Second Time,
and received a remarkable petition in favour of the destruction of the
Irish Church. It was presented by Lord Lyttelton, and signed by
261 beneficed and other clergymen of the Church of England. Lord
Redes dale was dreadfully shocked, and said that they were asking
for a Sin and a Sacrilege. Lord Granville complimented their
moral courage, and the Bishop of Oxford, who at once grappled with

the petition and began to count the names, found very few incumbents,
and called the others “ clergymen unattached.” When Punch adds,
that among the names are those of Maurice, Kingsley, Jowett,
Temple, Alford, Gilbert Elliot, Farrar, and Montagu Butler,
it may be thought that such a petition means a good deal.

Lord Elcilo made an elaborate speech upon the ineffectiveness of
the British Army, and there was much military talk, ending with some
severe comments upon the misbehaviour of a portion of the V olunteers
at the Queen’s Windsor Review of the previous Saturday. It is hard
to say whether the misconduct of those Volunteers or the blundering
of the Railway authorities deserves most reprobation; only the Railway
folks are paid to do their duty, and the others are not.

Ought the Knights of Windsor to be obliged to go to daily service
in St. George’s Chapel? Sir C. O’Loghlen thought not, because they
might be Catholics. Mr. Labouchere thought not, because they
were old, and might be ill. But Mr. Hardy shoved that they were
the Chapel guard, royal soldiers, peculiar champions, and almost part
of the Dean and Chapter. So by S3 to 39 the old knights were desired
to attend to their military-religious duties. It does not seem very
hard to have to say one’s short prayers, with fine music, in a fine
chapel, just across the square.

A Lords’ Committee reports that the Ecclesiastical Titles Act is no
mere vain flourish, but a significant protest against Papal arrogance,
and that it ought not to be repealed. The Bill for repeal vras with-
drawn, in the Commons. So was Mr. T. Hughes’s Sunday Trading
Bill, to the great delight of Houndsditcli.

Wednesday. An Education debate, ending with the death of Mr.
Bruce’s Bill.

Thursday. Began the Grand Debate in the House of Lords on the
Irish Church. The splendid chamber was crowuled with Nobles, and
brilliantly-attired Ladies smiled from the galleries on the knights below'.
The Commons swarmed around the Throne, and the audience was
altogether one to make a gentleman, with anything in him, seek to
bring it out in his best way. The only things that might rather tend to
dull his efforts w'ere the facts, firstly that it was perfectly well known
what was going to be done ; and, secondly, that it did not much signify.

Vol. 55.

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