Punch: Punch (70.1876)

AFTER-DINNER CRITICISM.

" For when our veins are filled
With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls
Than in our priest-like fasts."—Shakspeare : Coriolanus.

Guest (who has had a pleasant evening, will just have a look at his Host's Pictures before he goes). " Yesh—(hie)—'like tha' Pictsh're !

Fi' Lanshc'pe ! 'Like the Treesh ! 'Branshes wave 'bout s' nash'rally ! ! ! "

Mr. Chaplin gave a neat summary of the chief supporters of a
Feminine Franchise, as "Masculine women and feminine men."
Punch himself could not have put it more epigramniatically.
Loving, reverencing, and looking up to the sex, as Mr. Punch.&oes,
he must needs rejoice in the defeat of those who would carry "Woman
into about the dirtiest field that Man has to work in— Politics.

Thursday.—The Lords reassembled. Lord Stratheden and
Campbell called attention to the Felsted Scandal, and the Bishop
of Rochester did not succeed in clearing himself of the discredit of
having dismissed a laborious and successful Head-Master without
inquiry, on the ex parte showing of Trustees, who, not to put too
fine an edge on it, nad in no way entitled themselves to such con-
fidence in their discretion.

One thing is quite true. After speaking his mind as freely as he
bad done, the Master of Felsted could clearly not have gone on in
his work with advantage to the school under such a Board of Trustees.
As the Trustees were fixtures, there was no alternative but for the
Master to go. But the question still remains, Who was to blame for
bringing matters to this issue ?

Lord Henniker tried to fshift the saddle off the Trustees and
on to the Head-Master. Punch agrees with Lord Campbell that the
attempt was not successful. For the Bishop—well, least said soonest
mended. Only one thing seems clear—the Rev. Mr. Grignon is well
rid of Felsted. But we should have felt happier, if, as he went, the
Bishop had been seen at his side rather than that of the Trustees. \

(Commons.) — The third bout of the fencing-match between the
Leaders, apropos of the Royal, Titles Bill. See above for its sub-
stance. Fresh interlude of the great Merchant Shipping Muddle.

The Chancellor, of the Exchequer stepped in as deus ex ma-
china, and announced, to the great relief of the House, in the teeth
of all Sir Charles Adderley has been painfullv hammering out
for the last two nights, that the Government had decided to intro-
duce a clause directly dealing withDeck-loads of Timber-ships in the
winter months, and hoped to frame a clause to prevent or punish
the improper loading of foreign ships.

Sir W. Harcourt enjoyed the pleasure of double-thonging the
Ministerial management of the Merchant Shipping Bill for about an
hour, till the ears of the House were almost as tired as bis tongue.
But the House dropped back into the original muddle on the great
battle-ground of Load-line. Think of discussing for ever so long
whether " Billy-boys " should or should not be obliged to mark a
disc amidships ! ' He minimis non curat lex," say the lawyers.
They never anticipated these debates on the Merchant Shipping Bill.

Friday (Lords).—In reply to Lord Blachford, Lord Car-
narvon threw what light be could on the Barbadoes " scare." It
seems pretty clear that the Planters' party either actually wild, or
pretending to be wild, with fear of the Mggers,_ is running a-muck
at Governor Hennesst, in the hope of getting him summarily
recalled. Meanwhile, their telegrams, read by the light of one from
Colonel Sargent commanding the Military at Barbadoes, are
clearly chargeable with gross exaggeration.

While reserving judgment till the arrival of more dispassionate
accounts of the facts, Punch trusts—as he believes the country, and
Governor Hennesst, and the Planters, and the friends of both, may
safely trust—Lord Carnarvon. Thus far there is nothing to show
that the Planters have not been more in fault than the Governor.

(Commons).—Mr. Eustace Smith asked for a Select Committee to
inquire into the mode in which the Bengal Famine was met. Mr.
Smith complains of extravagance. Slr G. Campbell vindicated the
Indian authorities.

Lord G. Hamilton deprecated the proposed inquiry.

Mr. Fawcett declared it would do great good.

Mr. Grant Duff declared it would do enormous mischief.

Mr. Punch admired Doctors' differences— and wondered which
John Bull would have considered the worst extravagance—to lose a
few thousands in money, and no life, or to lose a few thousands in
lives, and no money.

The Committee was refused by 149 to 46; and Punch can't say
he is sorry. On this matter he would rather be wrong with Sir
George Campbell than right with Mr. Eustace Smith.