DOI Heft:
May 22, 1875
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16940#0223
PUNCH, OP THE LONDON CHAEIYAEI.
215
May 22, 1875.]
PUNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
Asliamentari
winding: up week
before Whitsun-
tide. General
cleaning, mak-
ing all a-taunto,
and flemishing
down, as they
say aboard, ship.
Monday, May
10 th {Lords).—
Railway Acci-
dents discussed
in a light and
airy tone. The
only Peers dam-
aged in this way
lately have been
piers of railway-
bridges. Agricultural Holdings Amend-
ments considered, and Bill reported
therewith. Duke of Argyll solemnly
adjured Lord Chancellor. Would he
answer for the Bill as it stood amended-
that freedom of contract was maintained
by it? The Lord Chancellor would
answer for it, in so far as any statute
could be answered for. In their Lord-
ships’ Monday business Punch notes the
passing of a “Piers and Harbours Con-
firmation Bill.” That Peers should be
confirmed (at a proper age) is_ only right
and proper, but the confirmation of Har-
bours is a new ceremony. Probably it
has been thought becoming, since we have employed The Arch-
bishop of Canterbury in christening ships of war.
(Commons.)—Questions, answers, announcements of good in-
tentions, and promises of consideration, with due allowance of
laughter, by way of lever de rideau.
Among the questions, one from Mr. Stacpoole, when the
Whitsuntide holidays would be fixed, on which the Head
Master startled the school by the solemn announcement that he did not at that moment feel sure that
it would be his pleasing duty to fix anv Whitsuntide holidays at all. But if they were good boys,
and got on with their tasks, he would see. Peace Preservation Bill, as amended, brought up for
consideration. Most of the Amendments, already rejected, brought up again, in new forms, by the
Home-Rulers, and rejected again. So the night was consumed, till—
Thrice they routed Home-Rule foes,
And thrice they slew their slain.
There was one passage of arms and fun between our own Major and Mr. Macarthy Downing.
The Major had written to ask Mr. M. D. by what authority he had thanked the Government, the
other night, for their courtesy in the Peace Preservation discussions. Mr. M. D. wanted to read his
reply to the Major. The Major insisted on his letter being read first. The House, mindful of the
fun of the Major’s speeches, was delighted to hear one of his letters. So it was read; and then came
Mr. Downing’s answer, and then the Major asked for a reading of his answer to Mr. D.’s answer.
Then up jumped the irrepressible Biggar, and, jealous of the success of the Major as a complete
letter-writer, asked that his letter to Mr. Downing might be read—for so he pronounced the word—
verbattim. This was too much; and Biggar was at once sat upon. By midnight the Bill as amended
was disposed of amid cheers.
Tuesday {Lords).—The Earl of Shaftesbury moved the Second Reading of his Bill to Prevent the
Cruelties of Chimney-sweeping by Climbing-boys, which, though illegal, is still largely practised.
The Bill would compel all master chimney-sweeps to take out licences, revocable on breach of the law.
Punch has no heart to joke on this sad and sickening subject of the cruelties still perpetrated,
in defiance of the law, on wretched little Climbing-boys and winked at, he blushes to say, by local
authorities. Facit indignatio versum. He has spoken his heart out on the matter in metre in the
present number. The Bill was read a Second Time, and Punch heartily prays may become law this
year. The Session will, in that case, have done something to lessen the sum-total of human suffering.
Artisans’ Dwellings Bill read a Second Time. Punch is sorry to see Lord Shaftesbury hopes for
little good from it. He ought to know. What we want is more Shaftesbury towns, like that near
Clapham Junction, where working men may enjoy the luxuries of light, cleanliness, space, fresh air,
and comfortable dwellings, at rents not exorbitant, and within a distance not incompatible with the
conditions of their labour. If we could only decant the London slums into the London suburbs !
After a sharp spar between Lord Sandhurst and the Duke of Richmond, the Regimental
Exchanges Bill passed through Committee.
{Commons-Morning Sitting.) Mr. Bourke, in answer to Sir C. Dilke, said that the Government
had that morning received from Berlin assurances of a thoroughly satisfactory character, and that
the Government was of opinion that there was no further cause for apprehension as to the maintenance
of peace in Europe.
The ugly fact remains that there has been such cause. All the more thanks to our Bear, who
Aas danced “ to the genteelest of tunes” this time. Perhaps,—indeed Punch thinks very probably—
Bismarck played to him, and he has recorded his belief accordingly. But whichever made the music,
Czar or Chancellor, the right tune seems to have been hit upon. (See Cartoon.)
Mr. Whalley made an af-
fecting appeal on behalf of the
Claimant and referred to his
complaints in the ’ Tizer of short
allowance of food and physic at
Dartmoor.
Mr. Cross, admitting that the
prisoner has fallen off consider-
ably in weight, thinks this was
only to be expected, and rather
for his good than otherwise.
So does Punch, and the rational
Public will probably agree with
him. The medical officer is watch-
ing the case, and will feed or
physic the Claimant as his bodily
needs may dictate.
Sir Wilfrid wanted to know
if Mr. Disraeli meant to adjourn
over the Derby Day. Mr.
Disraeli gravely said, “ he
should consider the subject.”
Poor “ consideration ”! How art
thou fallen, when even a Prime
Minister dares thus poke fun at
thee! But our chief Augur should
really take care. The two Heads
—Government and Opposition—
may exchange a harmless snig-
ger, but it isn’t well to laugh
right out in the presence of the
whole College.
Third Reading of the Peace
Preservation Bill. The Home-
Rulers fought to the last, on Mr.
Butt’s Motion for third reading
that day six months, negatived
by 287 to 70, and Bill passed.
D. L. “All’s well that ends
well.”
A fight over the Bill for creat-
ing a new Bishop of St. Alban’s,
to make a fourth Episcopal head
for the enormous population now
left with three such heads only
—London, Rochester, and Win-
chester. That this three-headed
Episcopal Giant is not enough
for the work may be taken for
granted. A fourth head is none
too many.
Mr. Richard, as in Quaker-
duty bound, opposed the Bill, in
a speech as thick-set with plums
of petitio principii, and as rich
in inconsequential logic, as any
ever spoken in Parliament—and
that’s a bold word.
Mr. Hope answered him, and
told his “ flattering tale ” of the
Church and the Bill. Sir W.
Harcourt would support the Bill
because it was one for making
a State Bishop for a State Church,
and because the best point in the
constitution of the Church of
England was that it teas a State
Church. ... In other words, Sir
W. Harcourt sees the Church’s
highest recommendation in that
which is its sentence of condem-
nation for Mr. Richard. Mr.
Cross summed up sensibly, for
the Church, the Bishops, and
the Bill, which passed Second
Reading by 273 to 61. Food and
Drugs’ Bill in Committee. The
Government accepts an amend-
ment, throwing all analyses on
Somerset House Laboratory. Dr.
Playfair warned them of the
seriousness of the responsibility
they are thus assuming. Mr.
Sclater-Booth accepts it “ de
cceur legerP The only thing that
215
May 22, 1875.]
PUNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
Asliamentari
winding: up week
before Whitsun-
tide. General
cleaning, mak-
ing all a-taunto,
and flemishing
down, as they
say aboard, ship.
Monday, May
10 th {Lords).—
Railway Acci-
dents discussed
in a light and
airy tone. The
only Peers dam-
aged in this way
lately have been
piers of railway-
bridges. Agricultural Holdings Amend-
ments considered, and Bill reported
therewith. Duke of Argyll solemnly
adjured Lord Chancellor. Would he
answer for the Bill as it stood amended-
that freedom of contract was maintained
by it? The Lord Chancellor would
answer for it, in so far as any statute
could be answered for. In their Lord-
ships’ Monday business Punch notes the
passing of a “Piers and Harbours Con-
firmation Bill.” That Peers should be
confirmed (at a proper age) is_ only right
and proper, but the confirmation of Har-
bours is a new ceremony. Probably it
has been thought becoming, since we have employed The Arch-
bishop of Canterbury in christening ships of war.
(Commons.)—Questions, answers, announcements of good in-
tentions, and promises of consideration, with due allowance of
laughter, by way of lever de rideau.
Among the questions, one from Mr. Stacpoole, when the
Whitsuntide holidays would be fixed, on which the Head
Master startled the school by the solemn announcement that he did not at that moment feel sure that
it would be his pleasing duty to fix anv Whitsuntide holidays at all. But if they were good boys,
and got on with their tasks, he would see. Peace Preservation Bill, as amended, brought up for
consideration. Most of the Amendments, already rejected, brought up again, in new forms, by the
Home-Rulers, and rejected again. So the night was consumed, till—
Thrice they routed Home-Rule foes,
And thrice they slew their slain.
There was one passage of arms and fun between our own Major and Mr. Macarthy Downing.
The Major had written to ask Mr. M. D. by what authority he had thanked the Government, the
other night, for their courtesy in the Peace Preservation discussions. Mr. M. D. wanted to read his
reply to the Major. The Major insisted on his letter being read first. The House, mindful of the
fun of the Major’s speeches, was delighted to hear one of his letters. So it was read; and then came
Mr. Downing’s answer, and then the Major asked for a reading of his answer to Mr. D.’s answer.
Then up jumped the irrepressible Biggar, and, jealous of the success of the Major as a complete
letter-writer, asked that his letter to Mr. Downing might be read—for so he pronounced the word—
verbattim. This was too much; and Biggar was at once sat upon. By midnight the Bill as amended
was disposed of amid cheers.
Tuesday {Lords).—The Earl of Shaftesbury moved the Second Reading of his Bill to Prevent the
Cruelties of Chimney-sweeping by Climbing-boys, which, though illegal, is still largely practised.
The Bill would compel all master chimney-sweeps to take out licences, revocable on breach of the law.
Punch has no heart to joke on this sad and sickening subject of the cruelties still perpetrated,
in defiance of the law, on wretched little Climbing-boys and winked at, he blushes to say, by local
authorities. Facit indignatio versum. He has spoken his heart out on the matter in metre in the
present number. The Bill was read a Second Time, and Punch heartily prays may become law this
year. The Session will, in that case, have done something to lessen the sum-total of human suffering.
Artisans’ Dwellings Bill read a Second Time. Punch is sorry to see Lord Shaftesbury hopes for
little good from it. He ought to know. What we want is more Shaftesbury towns, like that near
Clapham Junction, where working men may enjoy the luxuries of light, cleanliness, space, fresh air,
and comfortable dwellings, at rents not exorbitant, and within a distance not incompatible with the
conditions of their labour. If we could only decant the London slums into the London suburbs !
After a sharp spar between Lord Sandhurst and the Duke of Richmond, the Regimental
Exchanges Bill passed through Committee.
{Commons-Morning Sitting.) Mr. Bourke, in answer to Sir C. Dilke, said that the Government
had that morning received from Berlin assurances of a thoroughly satisfactory character, and that
the Government was of opinion that there was no further cause for apprehension as to the maintenance
of peace in Europe.
The ugly fact remains that there has been such cause. All the more thanks to our Bear, who
Aas danced “ to the genteelest of tunes” this time. Perhaps,—indeed Punch thinks very probably—
Bismarck played to him, and he has recorded his belief accordingly. But whichever made the music,
Czar or Chancellor, the right tune seems to have been hit upon. (See Cartoon.)
Mr. Whalley made an af-
fecting appeal on behalf of the
Claimant and referred to his
complaints in the ’ Tizer of short
allowance of food and physic at
Dartmoor.
Mr. Cross, admitting that the
prisoner has fallen off consider-
ably in weight, thinks this was
only to be expected, and rather
for his good than otherwise.
So does Punch, and the rational
Public will probably agree with
him. The medical officer is watch-
ing the case, and will feed or
physic the Claimant as his bodily
needs may dictate.
Sir Wilfrid wanted to know
if Mr. Disraeli meant to adjourn
over the Derby Day. Mr.
Disraeli gravely said, “ he
should consider the subject.”
Poor “ consideration ”! How art
thou fallen, when even a Prime
Minister dares thus poke fun at
thee! But our chief Augur should
really take care. The two Heads
—Government and Opposition—
may exchange a harmless snig-
ger, but it isn’t well to laugh
right out in the presence of the
whole College.
Third Reading of the Peace
Preservation Bill. The Home-
Rulers fought to the last, on Mr.
Butt’s Motion for third reading
that day six months, negatived
by 287 to 70, and Bill passed.
D. L. “All’s well that ends
well.”
A fight over the Bill for creat-
ing a new Bishop of St. Alban’s,
to make a fourth Episcopal head
for the enormous population now
left with three such heads only
—London, Rochester, and Win-
chester. That this three-headed
Episcopal Giant is not enough
for the work may be taken for
granted. A fourth head is none
too many.
Mr. Richard, as in Quaker-
duty bound, opposed the Bill, in
a speech as thick-set with plums
of petitio principii, and as rich
in inconsequential logic, as any
ever spoken in Parliament—and
that’s a bold word.
Mr. Hope answered him, and
told his “ flattering tale ” of the
Church and the Bill. Sir W.
Harcourt would support the Bill
because it was one for making
a State Bishop for a State Church,
and because the best point in the
constitution of the Church of
England was that it teas a State
Church. ... In other words, Sir
W. Harcourt sees the Church’s
highest recommendation in that
which is its sentence of condem-
nation for Mr. Richard. Mr.
Cross summed up sensibly, for
the Church, the Bishops, and
the Bill, which passed Second
Reading by 273 to 61. Food and
Drugs’ Bill in Committee. The
Government accepts an amend-
ment, throwing all analyses on
Somerset House Laboratory. Dr.
Playfair warned them of the
seriousness of the responsibility
they are thus assuming. Mr.
Sclater-Booth accepts it “ de
cceur legerP The only thing that