The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-03 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

ADOLPH (terrified): See, Caspar, who is there?
CASPAR : A Conventionalism.
ADOLPH : 0, is it though ?

A.

SATURDAY,

CASPAR : Seven bills. On these his hopes are built.
ZAMIEL: Six miss—the seventh hits.
CASPAR : So be it. I care not. We are ever at sixes and sevens.
ZAMIEL : So be it. But remember. When ho falls, all fall. Ha!
ha! ha!

[ Vanishes.
CASPAR : Do they ? The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman, and
clearly unfit for practical statesmanship. He is here

[Enter ADOLPH.]
ADOLPH (recitative) : I am here !
But truly, and in this dreary vault,
I am bound to say,
That neither in the old immortal scroll
Called Magna Charta,
Nor in the Bill of Rights, nor in the speeches
Of Somers, Chatham, Fox,
Nor in the works of Hansard,
See I a precedent
For meeting at such hour, in such a place.
Resolve me, straightway, why bast brought me hither?
CHORUS OF DEMONS : He's come, he's come ! How near the day
He'll wish that he had stopped away.
CASPAR : Here at last, comrade ! But that I was rehearsing one of
mine own speeches, the time had seemed long.
ADOLPH : It had seemed longer to me had I heard you. Ha! ha!
What's that ? [The laugh is echoed.

CASPAR : A warning to you not to jest on sanctimonious subjects.
But come, time presses.
ADOLPH : Would that I could believe your course constitutional !
But it is too late for reflection. Begin your mummery.
CASPAR: Another such word, and you are lost. You are not now
dictating a Durham letter. Come, to our work !
[CASPAR takes off his paktot, and discovers a Jesuit's robe. He kindles a fire, and
puts into it the 7'hirty-nine Articles, the Common Prayer Book, and some
other Protestant compositions, and fans them with a Tract for the Times. The
Gothic tracery of the vault is shown in strong relief, and red firs is seen behind
the glass of the windows.
ADOI.PH : I shudder !
[The GHOST OF THE BRITISH CO:
waves him back.

oN comes from the Lords' corridor and

I. The GHOST OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY slightly the worse for wear) comes
from the Commons' corridor, and waves him back.
ADOLPH : 0, Caspar, behold that figure !
CASPAR : A mere figure of speech. Art a coward ?
ADOLPH : Who dares say that ? Go on !
CASPAR (aside): Had him there. Now, Zamiel. (Thunder.)
ADOLPH (solemnly) : An awful night !
CASPAR : Ilqiat's that to you ? you are not out in it.
[d furnace riser, iames underneath.]
CASPAR (recitative) : See what, into this cauldron,
I fling, to accomplish thy will.
First, this sparkling jewel,
Torn from a Sovereign's crown
Just as the coronation oath was said.
Next, this piece of sealing-wax
From Magna Charta, known to thee.
Next, this piece of some old buttress
That held up an ancient Church ;
And, lastly, this humble-looking key
Of some poor man's loved cottage.
Now, Zamiel!
[He casts the various articles into the furnace, and a blue,flame rmecl
ADOLPH : How blue you look!
CASPAR: Thou wilt look bluer yet, ere all is done. Now, as
children use to do at snapdragon, plunge thy hand into the furnace,
and pluck out what comes first.
ADOLPH : I shall burn my fingers.
CASPAR : Not improbably. But it is too late to retract.
ADOLPH : Who's afraid ? (Snatching.) One !
ECHOES : ONE—ONE—ONE—Oxx—Osz-
ADOILPH (reads): A Bill on the Settlement and Removal of Poor.
CHORUS : Lost ! Lost ! Ha! ha! ha
ADOLPH (snatching : Two !
ECHOES : TWO—Two—Two—Two_Two.
ADOLPH : A Bill on Scottish Education!
CHORUS : Lost ! Lost! Ha! ha! ha!
ADOLPH : (snatching): Three !
ECHOES • THREE—THREE—THREE—ToiIer—Timm
ADOLPH : A Bill for Altering Parliamentary Oaths
CHORUS: Lost! Lost! Ha! ha! ha!
ADOLPH (snatching) : Four !
ECHOES : FOUR—FOUTI—FOUR—FOUR—Fora.
ADOLPH : A Bill for Reforminirdre Civil Service
CHORUS : Lost ! Lost ! Ha ! ha ! ha!
ADOLPH (snatching) : Five!
ECHOES : FlVE—FlVE—Five—Fm:.—Frrx•
ADOLPH : A Bill for Disfranchising Corrupt Voters!
CHORUS: Lost! Lost Ha! ha! ha!
ADOLPH (snatching): Six!
ECHOES: SIX—SIR—SI
ADOLPH : A Bill for Ref rmingX—Sni--Sm. the Representation of the People !
CHORUS : Lost ! Lost! Ha! ha! ha!