Punch (72.1877)

74

PUNCH. OR TRE LONDON CHARIVARJ.

[February 24, 1877.

PUNCH'S LSSE NCE OF PARLIAMENT.

WliMW

Preliminary.

The Ghost of Samuel Pelts, flattered by the admission of his
report of the debate on the Address, and delighted to resume his
habit, when in the flesh, of recording the day's news, has so pressed
for permission to supply Punch's Parliamentary Essence once more
at least, that Mr. Punch has consented, after a long interview with
Samuel's spirit materialised, in the ghost of his purple camlet suit
with silver buttons, to humour the social old spirit.

" And methinks," said the Ghost, after urging other reasons,
'1 it should be pretty and profitable to your readers to see how the
debates of my Lords and Commons do seem to one that remembers
the Long Parliament, and the Rump and the Parliaments after the
King's joyful Restoration, when money was so hard to come by for all,
and Our Office especially, in such straits. Though, indeed, save in the
matter of money, it do seem as if Our Office were still for the most part
in as sore straits as when I was Clerk of the Acts, and as many'mis-
haps among our ships, and the Board abused, on all hands, as
roundly ; but, Lord, to see how coolly they do take it, so as my Lord
Sandwich himself could not have borne the storm more easily."

Mr. Punch had some difficulty in stopping the mouth of the gar-
rulous old Ghost, which he did at last with Admiralty Blue Books on
the cases of the Captain and the Vanguard. "We subjoin his report,
just received. It is tco long, but we print it as sent:—

Monday, February 12 {Lords).—Question by my Lord Duke oe
St. Allans, touching the Officers of Her Majesty's Engineers sent
out last autumn to Constantinople, to what end was their survey of
the defences thereof, and what the Turk was like to have thought of
the same, as promising them from us help in need. But my Lord
Cadogan answered roundly that these Officers had surveyed and re-
ported for service of Her Majesty's Government, and not of the
Turk, and as for what the Turk might argue thereof, they of the
Government knew not, and had no need to trouble themselves, with
which my Lord Duke was fain to be content; and methinks my Lord
Cadogan, for a young Lord, hath already well learnt the manner of
answering, that we had in my time in Our Office, when saucy rogues
would put questions easier to ask than to answer.

And then the Lords to mighty serious debate of the new
roadway at Hyde Park Corner, which do much concern many of
my Lords, their wives and daughters, that do drive oft that way,
and are sore hindered by the great press of common coaches, and
marvellous to see how all wheeled carriages be multiplied in this town
since the first.licensing of the hackney coaches which I remember.
My Lord Beaconsfield did speak mighty solemnly on this grave
matter; and methinks it is well their Lordships should give their
minds to other questions than Eastern. But no new road yet, nor,
methinks, like to be this long while, but much sedulous consideration