Punch (70.1876)

June 10, 1876.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

231

PUNCH'S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

umph! Nothing to yield a drop of Essence in the Lords on
Monday, May 29.

{Commons.)—Mb. Callan means to move for a Select
Committee to subject Bubble Companies to the same pricking
as Foreign Loans have gone through. Emma Mines, Lisbon
Tramways, and similar swindles, promise a rich crop of
revelation under the operation of James's Powders. But
one hardly dares to hope there can be any legal punishment
for "financial enterprise" that has robbed to the tune of
millions.

The writ for Norwich is to be suspended, till that borough
has repented in its native crape—if not in sackcloth and
ashes. The same Bill will disfranchise the scheduled voters
for Boston.

Mb. Mitchell-Henry moved a Resolution declaring that
no financial arrangements can be satisfactory which do not
relieve Ireland from a burden of taxation,
beyond her ability to pay, as compared
with Great Britain. As the taxes levied
in the Green Isle and the rest of the United
Kingdom are the same—except the Assessed
Taxes, from which Ireland is exempt—it
is not easy to say where the injustice lies.
But Paddy is at liberty to fit the burden
to his own back. Let him drink less
whiskey, and he will contribute so much
less to the Imperial Exchequer.

Mb,. Heney did not venture on a division.
In Committee on the Commons Bill. As
the law stands, if a Lord of the Manor and
the Commoners agree, a Common can be
enclosed without sanction of Parliament.
This leaves out of sight the public interest
in the enjoyment of Commons, which does
not constitute a legal right.

Me. Shaw-Lefevbe tried in vain to
press an enactment that henceforth no
enclosure of a common, town or village
green, shall be legal, except under the
statute. "Propputty, propputty!". was
trotted out against him by Me. Cross.

(Happily Commoners are growing more
wide-awake than of old, and there is less
prospect of the lord being allowed to have
his own way with the waste than there
used to be. The great point is to give us
Enclosure Commissioners who understand
the importance of protecting open spaces

wherever they are wanted for public enjoyment, health, 'and recreation. That the Bill, with all its shortcomings, will forward. It
might be better, but it is good as far as it goes.)

Tuesday (Lords).—Loed Donoughmobe moved Resolutions for the amendment of the Irish Grand Jury system. The Duee of Rich-
mond had little to say against them but that they must be embodied in a Bill which must originate in the House of Commons. The
Loed Chancellob admitted that the discussion had shown the need of an amendment of the law: so the Resolutions, though withdrawn,
were not moved to no purpose.

A conversation about Foreign Titles conferred on English subjects elicited from Loed Deeby the rather startling admission that there
is no legal penalty for the assumption of a title to which a man has no right. {Punch never assumes his Foreign Titles in this country,
much as Judy has pined to be presented as La Mabchesa de Poeincinello, and recommends his friends of the Upper House to follow
his example.) His Lordship confirmed the startling news of the deposition of the Sultan. (Abdul Aziz—as some hundreds of his
indefatigable correspondents have already taken care to inform Mr. Punch—is now Abdul as was. The Sottas have settled the revo-
lution in the softest style. Moubad the Fifth is now Commander of the Faithful. May the elevation not invest him with another title,
already familiar to Eastern story—Moubad the Unlucey. "We are informed that he passed the four weeks previous to his accession in
a cellar. He may yet regret even that calm and secluded retreat. On the time-honoured principle that " When things are at their worst
they'll mend," the change must be an improvement; which, no'doubt, accounts for the jump up of Turkish Stock from nine to
fourteen on receipt of the telegram, and the general rejoicing which seems to have hailed the news, at Constantinople and elsewhere.)

{Commons.)—After this stirring news had been confirmed by Me. Boueke, the House was recalled from its excitement by Me.
Disbaeli's curt Motion for adjournment over the Derby Day, on which Sib Wilfeid had his usual innings. He scored his first
laugh by claiming the Motion for a Party one—"supported by the party of sentiment and opposed by the party of sense." He must
have meant the Amendment. He denied that he had been seen at the Derby in a scarlet coat and a green tie. He quoted from the
Daily Telegraph a summary description of Epsom Downs on the Derby Day, as "the grandest assemblage of blackguardism on the
face of the earth," with the comical comment, a few lines further on, that " the sight is one of the prettiest in the world." He asked
for votes against " a proceeding which was somewhat inconvenient, slightly mischievous, altogether childish, and thoroughly con-
temptible."

Mb. Bbomley-Davenpoet said he had gone to the Derby for twenty years, and meant to go to-morrow. The Derby was a
general holiday, and he did not see why Members should not have the chance of enjoying it. When he was at Hyde Park Corner, in
the evening of last Derby Day, he saw a carriage pass with a gentleman in it, rather dusty, and apparently very cheerful, bearing a
most remarkable resemblance to the Honourable Member, and carrying a doll in his hat.

_ Me. Assheton deprecated jocularity. He denied that the custom of adjourning over the Derby Day was either good or old. He
believed the time would come when people would wonder that so late as 1876 the House of Commons in its busiest time adjourned its
proceedings for a whole day to see a horse race. (Punch hasn't a doubt of it, by the time when cakes and ale are things of the past.)

Mb. Beight followed Me. Assheton's grave lead, and gave the House a weighty lecture on the evils of horse-racing. He believed
that the character of the House would stand higher in the country, and wherever their debates were read, if they abandoned the
custom the Right Honourable Gentleman proposed they should follow now. (So does Punch, with one qualification, however—that
the sense and morality of the country shall have grown pari-passu with that of the House. In the meantime, Punch fears that a taste

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