The Press.
London, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

THE POLITICAL ASTRONOMERS.

At a recent soirée given in Paris by M. Leverrier, the magnificent lens just completei for
the French Observatory, and for which the late M. Arago obtained a grant of lOo,ooof. from the
Chambers, attracted much attention. By this glass, according to the celebrated astronomer, the
moon can be seen " as we see Montmartre from the boulevard."—Paris Paper.
ON reading the paragraph announcing this optical miracle, his Grace-
of Argyll, as the representative of British science, sent over to Paris
to borrow the instrument. His request being granted, in the true
spirit of the Alliance, the lens was carefully mounted on the parapet of
the General Post-office, and the several members of the Administra
tion whom the Duke condescends to instruct, together with some
of their chief supporters in both Houses, were invited to test its
powers. Fortunately the evening proved fine, and the atmosphere
was so clear that even Sir Cornewall Lewis (who had been studying the
revenue-tables in the cab all the way down to St. Martin's-le-Grand)
fancied that he almost saw his way.
When the apparatus was properly adjusted, some ceremonious
altercation fur precedence took place among the company. The con-
troversy was, however, cut short by the Duke of Argyll, who pushed
forward to take the lead and first peep. After gazing for a minute or
two, his Grace uttered an exclamation of delight and surprise, declar-
ing that he saw a star and green ribbon as plain as if he held them in
his hand.

The omen was so encouraging that Sir B. Hall elbowed his way
in front of the lens. With a good deal of perseverance, he managed
to see something like a coronet, but complained that it was very small,
and looked a long way off. Lord Palmerston goodnaturedly suggested
that this might be an effect of perspective, but Sir Benjamin was less
than half satisfied.

Lord Palmerston, on looking through the tube, began singing that
" The young May moon was beaming, love." Mr. Labouchere, turning
to an almanack, observed that the sun was then in Capricorn. Lord
Panmure added as another piece of information, that the moon was
waning, having, in fact, passed the last quarter.
Mr. V. Smith, looking into the glass, saw himself. He remarked
that he had not expected to find a reflecting telescope, but considered
it very pretty.
Lord Panmure, when his turn came, said that the moan looked
like a Lancaster shell, but, on longer examination, found more resem-
blance to a box of pills.
Admiral Napier saw the Man in the Moon, presenting a strong
family likeness to Sir J. Graham, eating humble pie.
Lord John Russell detected a number of loose bodies, looking
like drafts of Reform Bills, floating in the blank space which Seleno-
graphers have named the Mare Mortuum. The Noble Lord wept
copiously at this unexpected sight of his lost darlings.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer pored for many minutes through
the glass, and then declared he saw a Treasury balance. Lord Pa
merston remarked that, " as usual, it was all moonshine."

THE ABRAHAM OF THE NEW REVIEW.
Abr'am precocious talent early shows
By turning others' verse to wretched prose;
But now his youthful faults he would reverse,
By changing his own wretched prose for worse.

The rump who rode the Chronicle so hard,
To kill their new Review, deHired a bard,
So asked for Moses's, who said " you flout me,
You'll do it easily yourselves without me."