Punch (59.1870)

July 2, 1870.]

PUNCH, OE THE LONDON CHARIVAEI.

1

PUNCH'S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

MONDAY, June 20. Earl .Russell proposed that, the Lords should of debate, while the Speaker went to hear himself addressed in very
ask Her Majesty to appoint a Commission to inquire into the \ choice ancient Italian,
means best fitted to guarantee the security of every part of the Queen's | Education-Obstruction was then resumed. Mr. Richard, rising
dominions. He thinks that Lord Granville snubs the Colonies, from Mr. Bright's seat in old days, but not rising to the level of the
Also, he showed his reading, thus :— argument, as Mr. Bright would have done, placed himself in antago-

" In one of Dryden's plays a man and his wife came upon the stage, and j nism to the Government, and moved an Amendment, to the effect that
stated that, having loved each other as long as they could, and lived together Grants to the present Denominational Schools should not be
so long as was pleasant to both, they had determined to separate. But that increased,

was the immoral sentiment of an immoral poet, and was not a proper guide ! Attendance should be everywhere compulsory,

for the colonial policy of this country." Religious instruction should be supplied by voluntary subscription.

We had not heard that the works of "glorious John" had been Now, on this sectarian Amendment the House debated this night,
selected as the text-book for the Colonial Office, but we entirely agree and on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. But Mr. Punch, having embodied
with Earl Russell that the above sentiment is decidedly improper. ! uls 1(iea of the whole business m a Cartoon so suggestive and so subtle,
We should not call Drtden an " immoral poet," but a noble writer 1 that while the simplest mind can comprehend it, the profoundest must
who sometimes ceased to be a poet, and stooped to immorality. The admire it, has no intention of wasting typography upon a resume of the
motion was resisted. Somebody has well said that the Commission hundred-times-urged arguments. He records his approval of Sir
desired by the Earl already exists, and the Commissioners are known! John Bakington's sentiments. That gentleman declared that he
as Her Majesty's Government. Finally, after a pleasing little debate, would support the Bill m two ways—by his vote, and by not occupying
which ended in time to enable the Beers to dress for " a late 8" precious time with long speeches. Mr. Fokster announced that
dinner (as Lothair says), the proposal was withdrawn. ■ Government had come to the end of their concessions. On those who

Sir H. Hoare asked Mr. Ayrton to state " with his usual delayed the Bill should rest the responsibility. Acquirable was one of
courtesy," what he meant to do about that unfortunate Kensington Mr- Forster's sentences, and it told. "It is not of the poor little
Road. Mr. Ayrton promised the courtesy and the explanation on children that we are thinking." In the course ot debating, Lord R.
another evening. We may as well say that he redeemed his promise, ' Montagu said that the Denommationalists lost more than they gained,
and gives up the plan. Hence learn a lesson. What all the sarcasms but that they wished to settle the question. Mr. Dixon, of the
and violences of political opponents failed to obtain from the right League, complained that he and his fi lends were attacked, for they
honourable gentleman was thus gained by Mr. Punch's exquisitely I were the quietest people in the House, and seldom spoke, but
gentle but perfectly irresistible Representation of the undesirableness represented a great mass of opinion outside. Mr. Henley, but in no
of Mr. Ayrton's course. bigoted way, stood up for the Catechism, as teaching the great truths

Doctor Denison, as we may now call him, apprised the House that
he had been invited to go to Oxford, to receive from the new Chancellor,
Lord Salisbury, the degree of D.C.L. He requested a brief holiday
for that purpose. Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli begged that he
would go, and might have sung from Coo: and Box—

" Saying, ' Dear Sir, you '11 oblige us and honour us,
If you'll accept this as your holi-<f«?/.' "

It was therefore arranged that Mr. Dodson should dispel the Fogs

dear to almost all.

On the last night, there was some good speaking by Mr. Mundella,
who asked how spiritual instruction was to be refused unless we
withheld Milton and other religious poets from the schools;
Mr. W. H. Smitii declaring, from his large personal knowledge, that
the artisan class was hostile to the exclusion of religion ; Mr. Walter
confirmed that testimony, and believed the Bill a wise one, because
tentative ; Mr. Horsman galloped over everybody, but himself came
a moral cropper, and Mr. Gladstone finished with a fine and vigorous