Punch (74.1878)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVAEL

[Mabch 23, 1878.

PUNCH'S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Monday, March 11 {Lords).—Lord Derby, to Lord Granville's
satisfaction and that of Her Majesty's Opposition, at least, con-
firmed the announcement that our Government has proposed the
introduction of Greece to the Conference. England will be glad. So
should Europe. Friction is all but inevitable in readjusting that
very delicate weighing-machine, the balance of power. A lubri-
cating fluid will be most useful, though no doubt Russia would have
preferred bear's-grease to the Hellenic article.

Lord Stanhope wanted to know whether Lord Derby would bar
a Russian President under any circumstances.

Lord Stratheden and Campbell wished to know if the Confer-
ence would have power to say Yes or No to any question submitted
to it.

Lord Denman wanted to know if Parliament couldn't be muzzled
while Conference was sitting, or otherwise restrained from making
an ass of itself and embarrassing the Government by asking silly
questions.

Lord Derby said the general rale was that a Conference should
eleot its President, and should deal with the questions coming before
it. But what they would be, or how they would be brought forward,

he preferred, for the present, not to communicate to the House, as
he was communicating with other Governments.

Their Lordships maintained, by 54 to 36, indirect (by ballot, with
cumulative votes) in preference to direct, election of the Metro-
politan Board of Works, now Vestry-elected. Would the change
give us a better Board ? Punch, like their Lordships, advisari vult,
and gives the Board, as it is, the benefit of the doubt.

Lord Truro wanted the Government to inquire into the alleged
Cat-Worrying Case at Beaconsfield. Their Lordships seem indis-
posed to go into the case, and declare there was no evidence.

It looks fishy. Suppose, as some may suspect, a Cross in the Lords,
why doesn't some humane M.P. try Cross in the Commons ?

{Commons.)—The House welcomed Miss Hellas as John Bull's
little Partner at the Conference Ball—if it ever get set a rolling—See
Mr. Punch's Cartoon. "'Tis Greece, and Living Greece, once
more I " in contradiction to Lord Byroit. Sir H. D. Wolfe asked the
question, and both sides cheered the answer. This is as it should be.
Diplomacy will have the opportunity of mending one of its own
worst bungles—the half-and-half measure given to Greece when the
Great Powers last had their hands in the grease-pot.