Then the Corn Laws cramped Free Trade; free Competition now
Breeds the Sweater, harsh exploiter of the toiler's brow,
When brave PEEL achieved Repeal some deemed the task was done,
But Commissions upon Labour sit in Ninety-One.

SIBTHORP then amused St. Stephen's; we have SEYMOUR KEAY,
D'ORSAY then was wit and dandy, OSCAR WILDE have we.
And if wild FEARGUS O'CONNOR fashioned Land Schemes then,
BURNS and MORRIS well can match him now with tongue or pen.

Then TOM HOOD could sing that Song[1] which moved a world to tears,
London Laundrydom on Strike now in Hyde park appears.
Ah! since Eighteen Forty-One much has been tried--and _done_,
But _Punch_ finds no lack of labour e'en in Ninety-One!

The HER MAJESTY, a Maiden Queen, fresh graced the Throne,
Now her Royal Jubilee is full four years bygone.
He who has illumed her reign with wisdom, wit, and fun,
Greets her loyally to-day as then, in Forty-One.

Madam, much since then has happened, much has been achieved;
Marvels, commonplace to-day, few then would have believed.
Science, Liberty, Pure Manners, order, Peace, Goodwill,
_Punch_ for Fifty Years has championed, and will champion still.

Then and now! The captious cynic at the contrast sneers,
_Punch_ believes in, and would help, the Progress of the Years.
When his Century's full course, fifty Years hence, has run,
With good heart and glad may he look back on Ninety-One!