The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-05 00:00:00

Mr. Gladstone's Small and Early.

The following delicious skit appeared in yester-
day's number of The Owl:
" Mr. Gladstone received a numerous company
on Monday afternoon at Kennington Common.
The spot chosen was singularly appropriate, being
near a pump and a public-house, so that refresh-
ments might be obtained by those of the guests who
support the Permissive Bill, as well as by those who
prefer more stimulating comforts. The proceedings
began at three o'clock, when Mr. Gladstone was en-

thusiastically voted to the milestone, which on these
occasions takes the place of a chair. The warmth of
his reception was undoubted. The people refused
to believe that their beloved leader is no longer a
member of the Administration, for, as will be seen,
they insisted on addressing him as " Governor," a
term indicative of confidence and hope.
" Mr. Gladstone, who was supported by Mr.
Forster, Mr. Stansfeld, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Lucraft,
Mr. Holyoake, Mr. Bright, and other leaders of
public opinion, proceeded to read letters of apology
too numerous for insertion. Amongst others was one
from Mr.Milner Gibson. The audience having lighted
their pipes and bestowed themselves as they best
could, the business of the evening began. Our report
is necessarily imperfect, as our reporters could find
no resting-place for their note-books, except on the
backs of adolescent Reformers, who chartered the
accommodation for three-halfpence, a noggin of
Old Tom (Brown !), and the unburnt end of a
cigar.
" Mr. Gladstone said—Gentlemen—You have
As ladies
been invited to-night—not by myself.
your cause, Mr. Bright—
awisfrihneingd,tohigahchlyiepvleatchede,trtiouminpvhitoef
tshoeciiral lifecon bpaesnyeeh , cso
did I, humbly venturing, entreat that old and stal-
you to the wel-
come,without refreshment, which I have come
I(vda re
atf e nc nh agl7
to offer. (Cries of Tip us a skiv, old
ciohnee4—to bid
'un !' How about the Exchequer 21 A drain
can't do us no harm,' and laughter.) Gentlemen,
.1 am not worthy of you. (Brayvo.) lam not
meet for men of such respectable appearance and
good order. I come amongst you an outcast.
(Shouts of 6 So you do.')
An outcast from those
with whom I had associated,
the slow and resistless
that ? "We've force of conviction. C What's
been convicted—some of us !') But
I may plead in
mitigation. I was born under the
shadow of the great name of Canning. (Cheers.)
Every influence connected with that name governed
the politics of my childhood and my youth, and it
was Canning who sang the song of the seven-
pounder, of the hardy knife-grinder—(tremendous
uproar)—of whom I may cite to the proudest
scion of the most ancient house as an example of
gentle nature and of good breeding, nay, of high
breeding. (' Go it, old 'un." Tip us a song, Go-
vernor.' ' Won't you stand something to drink ?'
Three cheers for Doulton !') Yes, I come to you
in pauperit forma. ("Then you won't do for us.'
Oh! he's a casual, is he ?') But I may say to you
—one humble as myself may say to you—
' Non in caro nidore voluptas
Summa, sed in teipso est: to pulmentaria qucere

Sudando.'
(' Give us that once more, Governor.' Won't you
take something after that ?')
" This, then, gentlemen—
" At these words a posse of roughs so disturbed
this respectable meeting that, on the representation
of a representative of public authority that the
n.
c
peace was likely to be disturbed, the right
hogentleman, with due deference, accosting a
hansom cab, drove homewards in the society of Mr.
Beales, who lighted a Vevay cigar, and proceeded
to martyrdom at Charing-cross."