The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

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last jest, I think, is amazingly witty :
The Legion at Shornoliffe had. met t'other day
In the grounds of an eminent swell from the city
To get their new flags ere they went to the fray.
And proudly the warriors' bosoms were glowing
When a Prince and a soldier, true heart and brave hand,
The dearly-prized gift to the corps was bestowing,
And speaking proud words of their dear Fatherland.

And as Cardigan rode down the line they were cheering
The hero whose deeds had aroused them afar ;
But whom do they see mid tho horsemen appearing,
And playing his part in the pageant of war?

Our pleasant old Pammy, who thought 'twould be funny
For him to come down to a soldiers' review,
And talk patriotic, look genial and sunny,
And seem quite in earnest in what he went through.
•
And see by his side, just to heighten the story,
A thing cold and bloodless whose heart never beat
At a generous deed or recital of glory,
With soul callous alike to success or defeat.

And Pam in his sleeve laughed that low, hollow chuckle
(We all know in the House how it checks a man's zeal),
"'Tie a capital joke such odd comrades to buckle,
And see brave men and soldiers consort with Fred: Peel"

CABINET SPIRIT-RAPPERS.
Tax announcement by the " Wizard of the North " that he intends
to fit up the Lyceum Theatre for magic purposes, and especially
for spirit-rapping, has, we understand, caused considerable sensation.
It is a good deal talked about by the few people left in London, and it
was not unnatural that at the Cabinet Council held on —day it
should be one of the topics of conversation. When the Council broke
up, some of the members suggested that as they had nothing to do,
and plenty of time to do it in, it would be good fun to drive down to
the theatre and see what sort, of a stock of spirits the Wizard had
laid in. Two or three of the party objected on the ground that necro-
mancy was wicked, but on discussion it was unanimously agreed that
they were no conjurors, so there could not be any harm in it, and finally
they all came down to the Lyceum. The Wizard received them with
great politeness, apologised for the unfinished state of the preparations,
and begged to put his infernal resources entirely at their disposal.
After some debate, nobody seeming particularly anxious to evoke
the spirit of any deceased person, the Wizard relieved their minds by
explaining that in his establishment it was not at all necessary that
the spirits should be permanently disembodied. They might call on
anybody they liked.
Lord Palmerston then proposed that they should call Lord John
Russell. The Wizard said that there was so very little spirit about
that individual that it might be hard to get him ; but, luckily, an odd
volume of Blackstone's " Commentaries " was found (it had done
duty, in a red cover, as a jewel-case, supposed to contain priceless
diamonds, in the Lyceum burlesques), and by dint of reading the Magna
Charta chapter very loud, three raps were obtained. The Premier's
levity nearly spoilt the experiment, for he irreverently exclaimed that
" It couldn't be Johnny, for he wasn't worth a rap," and the Spirit was
sulky for a long time, but being at length appeased, some questions
were put and answers obtained.
Are you happy ?
No answer.
Are you envious ?
An affirmative rap.
Can you foretel future events ?
• The Spirit rapped in a very arrogant manner, explained by the
Wizard to mean that of course he could, and always had been able
to do so. _ _ _ _

How long shall we keep office ?
Five raps.
What's that, years?
Spirit very impatient.
Sessions ?
Spirit nearly frantic.
Parliaments ?
The row the Spirit now made was perfectly awful, and the Wizard
was obliged to suggest "months," at which a thundering affirmative
rap was given. Several of the party recommended that the subject
should be changed, as it was being disagreeably treated. But the
Premier persisted, and demanded of the exhibitor " whether he
couldn't make the little humbug speak." The Wizard said no, for
that a person must be a decent speaker in the flesh to be heard at all
when out of it, but that answers could be obtained on paper, though
they were not always comprehensible, even by him. He then cut
some slips from the flyleaves of the Blackstone, and laid them on a
table against the wall Questions were again put, and the first slip
drawn was in answer to a question of the Premier's.
" I dont understand it, my lord," said the Wizard, ‘‘ what did
you ask ?" .

SATURDA'

" I asked him what I was."
" Some mistake ' • the Spirit has drawn an old pantaloon." There
was a great shout at this, in which, to do the Premier justice, hejoined
very heartily. The next inquiry was by Mr. Vernon Smith, who
begged the spirit to describe him. A stick was found drawn upon the
second slip : and, in reply to a similar demand by the Colonial Secre-
tary, the Wizard exhibited a very good likeness of a guy.
" But how comes he to make pictures?" asked Lord Palmerston.
" embodied life he could never draw anything, except a muddled
Reform Bill now and then."
The Magician explained, that, according to the American doc-
trine, spirits gain additional powers, out of the body ; and that these
are usually what they most lack when in it. Upon which the Premier
advised the Chancellor of the Exchequer to jump out of his skin, as
his shortest cut to some knowledge of arithmetic. While tie latter
was considering whether he ought to be offended, and rather carrying
the question in the affirmative, Sir Charles Wood said that he had
heard that the spirits in America made poetry.
" Exactly," said the Wizard; " because scarcely a man in America
has an atom of poetry in him. That is the new power. Caii Lord
John Russell write poetry ?"
The Spirit here interposed, without being spoken to, and rapped
very loudly, signifying that he rather thought he could.
" Then," said the Wizard, "he will not be able to make a
rhyme—that will test his powers. If he rhymes here, he is no poet
elsewhere."
Lord Palmerston immediately demanded of the Spirit what
course he intended to adopt next session. The paper bore as a
response—

To keep the field against all comers,
To quote Lord Grenville, Fox, and Somers,
And bother you, in any case,
tlntil you take me into place,—
Then you'll not know what I'm about,
Till I upset you, cout•kick•out.
" Yes, that's his patent French—those last three words," shouted
the Premier. " But he rhymes. Don Carlos' was not poetry."
This remark so enraged the Spirit that be hammered and clat-
tered until, for the safety of his property, the Wizard was obliged
to beg that the offended entity might be either appeased or dis-
missed.
" Ask him if he sees ghosts," said Sir William Molesworth.
The Spirit assented.
" Ask him how many ghosts of Reform Bills he sees," said the
Premier.

The Spirit sulky. No answer.
Two or three other questions were put, which the Spirit, like the
person who writes answers to sham correspondents in the newspaper,
" either declined, or was unable to answer, or thought them too frivo-
lous," when Lord Palmerston tried again.
" Ask him what Buol is doing."
A strange laugh of ironical triumph followed the speech, and on
the paper was written—
" Devising a peace which you will accept, and which will throw you all
out of office."
The Spirit's an ass," said the Premier, losing his temper.
us go. Good day, Mr. Anderson."
And we can state, upon authority, that the Ministers do not be-
lieve in Spirit-rapping, and declare that it is all humbug. And,
as that is an article which they should understand, probably they
are right.

" Let

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