"_Punch_ and the Elections!" Truly a compendious text.
With how many Burning Questions men to-day are vext!
Then the Whigs perceived their tether pretty nearly run,
And--they're watching Bye-Elections now in Ninety-One.

Then Lord JOHN was on the Treasury Bench, though ill at ease,
Thence to be soon torn--like Theseus;--PEEL, the Hercules.
Now SMITH smiles a toothy smile in little JOHNNY's place,
White the Grand Old Hercules sits watching grave of face.

_He_ remembers Forty-One! Few, except _Punch_ and him,
Linger from those brave old days, now distant grown and dim!
He has reached his Jubilee, as _Punch_ this year hath done.
Veterans both, we drink each other's health in Ninety-One!

Forty-One was fierce and fiery. Young DISRAELI then
Bravely buttered stout Sir ROBERT as the best of men.
Pheugh! But in how short a time was BEN's envenomed steel
Destined to find rankling lodgment in the breast of PEEL!

Now? Well, there is jaunty JOSEPH poisoning his pint;
Seeking in GRANDOLMAN's mail some penetrable joint!
Heroes and ex-armour-bearers still keep up the fun;
One-and-Forty saw it so, and so does Ninety-One!

Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD (who was _he_? Let quidnuncs guess!)
Moved Amendment relative to "Popular Distress."
_Then_ his cure was Wider Suffrage. _Now_ what would it be?
Land with little or no Rent, and Education Free?