"'For dear to ARTHUR was that hall of ours, As having there so oft with all his Knights Feasted,'"
quoted the Sage, musing deeply of many things. Many of _my_ Knights have 'gone before,' but they have not
"Their monograms are carven on this Table, their memories abide with us as we drink to _Punch's_ Jubilee, and will abide when, as I hope, yet another fifty years hence, our successors drink with equal heartiness to _Punch's_ Centenary!"
[Illustration: J. Tenniel. H. Silver. C. Keene. T. Taylor. F.C. Burnand. R.F. Sketchley. H. Mayhew. M. Lemon. Shirley Brooks. Du Maurier. P. Leigh.]
[Illustration: MR. PUNCH'S JUBILEE PAGEANT.
[Illustration: JUBILEE SHADOWS; OR, THE WHIRLIGIGS OF TIME.]
_House of Commons, July 14th, 1891._--Things going on here much as usual. Rapidly winding up Session amid familiar surroundings. OLD MORALITY in seat of Leader of the House; Mr. G. opposite; SPEAKER in Chair; Sergeant-at-Arms on guard by the door; and WINDBAG SEXTON on his feet.
Brings back to my mind the first time I saw House. Wasn't in the House then; a mere puppy, which, indeed, some say I remain to this day. The date was August the 19th, 1841, and from seat where Strangers were admitted in the old House (the temporary building occupied whilst BARRY was erecting this lofty pile) I looked on at the opening of the first Session of the Fourteenth Parliament of the then United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, appointed to meet at Westminster in the fifth year of the Reign of HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA.
[Illustration: "The Sphinx is Silent," 1876.]
Remember it as if it were yesterday. It was MELBOURNE's Ministry; but he of course sat in another place. On the Treasury Bench, distinctly visible under his hat, was JOHNNY RUSSELL, Colonial Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons. At a safe distance from him sat PAM, then in the prime of life, and at the time holding the post of Foreign Minister, in which he was able to make a remarkably large number of people uncomfortable. There was Sir GEORGE GREY, Chancellor of the Duchy, whilst a sturdily built gentleman, then known as the Right Hon. THOMAS BABBINGTON MACAULAY, was Secretary for War; HENRY LABOUCHERE (not the SAGE OF QUEEN ANNE'S GATE) was President of the Board of Trade, and Master of the Mint; whilst FRANCIS BARING was Chancellor of the Exchequer, all untroubled by the necessity of constructing a Budget since he knew he would never be called on to bring one in.