in the barque of old Charon.
At sight of War's murderous monsters half frighted,
E'en valour may pause,
And drink deep to the Cause,
Of Good-will among Nations and Neighbours United!

But, gushing apart, 'tis a sight for sad eyes
To see ancient rivals on joint messmate duty.
A French ship in our waters and not as a prize
Might once have perturbed British Valour and Beauty.
But now Father NEPTUNE, "At Home," calmly grips
His trident, and smiles with most friendly benignity.
We welcome French Sailors, and shout for French ships,
Without an abatement of patriot dignity.
To see any friend of JOHN BULL NEP's delighted.
He holds out his paws,
And will drink to the Cause
Of Peace on the Ocean and Neighbours United!

Then shout, Britons, shout, while the neighbouring crews
Hob-nob, as the symbol of neighbouring nations;
Whilst NEPTUNE at Home welcomes brave Brother Blues,
And serves out the stingo to each in fair rations.
Your spirits, ye sturdy old seadogs, might smile
On a friendship which to your true hearts is no treason.
The Sea-God makes free of his favourite Isle
The French lads he once would have shied, and with reason.
Now to greet brave GERVAIS and his tars he's delighted.
Midst general applause
Let us drink to the Cause.
Hooray for NEP's Visitors, Neighbours United!

* * * * *

[Illustration: NEPTUNE'S "AT HOME;" OR, NEIGHBOURS UNITED.

JOHN BULL (_loq._). "ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MY MESSMATE, MR. NEPTUNE."

NEPTUNE. "ALWAYS GLAD TO WELCOME ANY FRIEND OF YOURS, JOHN!"]

* * * * *

TO THE SHELVED SEX.

(_BY ONE WHO KEEPS HIS EARS OPEN._)

["Believing firmly in the absolute justice of woman's claim
to the 'Parliamentary' franchise, I shall at all times support
that claim."--_Mr. Logan, the new M.P. for the Harborough
Division._]

[Illustration]

O woman, in our hours of ease.
The mockery of false M.P.'s!
When an Election comes in sight,
E'en Ministers admit thy "right."
Believe them not; they do _not_ dote
On the Political Petticoat.
'Tis all a politic pretence.
Some of them are upon the fence;
Some of them have "political" wives,
And shirking stings in their home-hives,
Take up "the Cause" with a sham zeal,
Which not five in five thousand feel.
But hear them over a Club-dinne