Punch (78.1880)

May 15, 1880.] PUNCH, OP, THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

PUNCH’S ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

THE HEW “ COCK OF THE WALK ” FOR CONSTANTINOPLE.

Me. Alexander Beeeseoed Hope has supplied us with a picture
of Parliament this week as a “ Half-hatched Chick.” “Essence of
Half-hatched Chick” is not a pleasant idea. But Essence of Over-
hatched dhick is worse. That is the essence which, in old times,
used to be freely bestowed on culprits in the pillory, and is even
now, occasionally, administered to unpopular candidates on the
platform. At all events, the Half-hatched Chick has been heard
chirping this week, if not to much purpose.

On Monday, May 3, the Peers met in what seems, just now, their
normal character, as a Corps of Royal Commissionnaires and Com-
mons-Keepers, to proclaim a Recess for the provision of new pegs
for the official holes in the Lower House, square for round, and
vice versa, as the case may be. Till these holes are stopped, the
vessel of the State being unseaworthy, my Lords will sit aboard her,
in harbour, as Highest Court of the Realm, for declaring law, but
not adventure on the high seas, as Highest Branch of the Legisla-
ture for enacting it.

{Commons.)—To Members merrily swearing enter Mr. Bradladgh,

and asks leave to say instead of swear, “ as a person by law permitted
to make a solemn affirmation or declaration instead of an oath.”

[Tableau! Sensation! Curtain! JExit Me. Beadlaugh for
the rest of the Act.

Mr. Be ad laugh being a legal Ulysses, conversant with the minds
and manners of many courts and judges, says he has many times,
since 1870, been admitted to affirm instead of swearing. He asks
Mr. Speaker’s leave to do so in the House of Law as in the Courts
of Justice.

Mr. Speaker having his doubts handed them over to the House.

Lord F. Cavendish, treading in the path of Parliamentary Pro-
cedure, which—

“ slowly broadens down
From Precedent to Precedent.”

as the Laureate has said or sung, moved that the House, following the
tracks left in the times of Quaker Pease and Hebrew Rothschild,
should appoint a Select Committee to sit on Mr. Bradlaugh’s case.