Punch (70.1876)

44 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [February 12, 1876

" * ------- T' w — ' v —' ^-^j-^j-j..

PUNCH OPENS PARLIAMENT.

will notr:have" opened till after this number goes to Press. The
Queen's Speech will have to wait a week for Punch's commentary.
Failing the actual discourse, why should not Punch offer a
Speech of his own as the best substitute ? This might run:—

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I congratulate you, the Nation, and the Queen, on the
opening of Parliament by Her Majesty in person and in State.

I condole with you on your return to the gloom and fog and
dirt of this great Metropolis. I observe a growing tendency to
postpone the date of your re-assembling to as late a day as pos-
sible. I cannot wonder at this reluctance on your part to come
back to London.

I commend to your notice the discreditable state of its streets,
especially after snow-storms.

The inundations which befell many parts of the coxmtry during
the recess have been followed by a flood of new Peers and Baronets.
If, by means of questions addressed in no unfriendly spirit to those
amongst these Noblemen and Gentlemen who form part of your
ranks, you can extract from them the reasons for their elevation, you
will solve a difficulty which has perplexed many intelligent persons.