tance_] by
COLONEL FLINT."--_Court Circular._

_King._ To continue, _mon cher_, our talk of yesterday. Why not let
Russia have Moldavia and--

_Prince._ Mark! [_Fires, and pheasant falls._]

_King._ And Wallachia? You will perceive that Austria, who by the way,
has been shamefully libelled by your press; you will perceive, ALBERT,
that--

_Prince._ Mark again! [_Both fire, and both miss._]

_King._ Austria requires peace. In fact, the interests of humanity
demand peace. France wants peace, Belgium wants peace, Saxe-Coburg wants
peace; and Saxe-Gotha wants peace!

_Prince._ How wild the dogs are this morning! To be sure, Saxe-Gotha.

_King._ And England.--for I am more than half an Englishman, my dear
ALBERT--England wants peace. Think of your debt. Eight hundred millions!
A sum enough to strike the house of ROTHSCHILD flat into gold-leaf.
Eight hundred millions, _mon cher_, and Europe in a blaze. How do you
know your eight hundred wouldn't be doubled?

_Prince._ Twice eight's sixteen.

_King._ Exactly. I saw a passage in the papers about some wild Indians
who fire golden balls. Why, doesn't England always fire golden balls?
Load with lead and iron; and don't taxes turn 'em to gold?

_Prince._ ABERDEEN the respectable says the same.

_King._ ABERDEEN'S a great statesman. That is, he's great in his
respectability. And the English--I know the noble islanders--the English
are so devoted to a respectable Minister, that they'd rather be
half-ruined by respectability, than saved and served by anything that's
brilliant. They fear brilliancy, as it is said JAMES THE FIRST winced at
a drawn sword.

_Prince._ To be sure, PALMERSTON--

_King._ A firebrand, _mon cher_: but now excellently disposed of.
However, for the peace of Europe--

_Prince._ Mark! [_Fires; bird falls._]

_King (to dogs)._ Down charge! But for the peace of Europe PAM is
capitally placed. It is all right to have a firebrand in the Home
Office, so long as you keep a Wet Blanket in the first place of the
Treasury.

_Prince._ Peace is certainly to be desired. You have not seen my
picture--an allegory of Peace?

_King._ I have. ---- showed it me yesterday. My dear ALBERT, do let me
have a copy--nay two copies, by your own hand; one for Austria, one for
Russia; they will be delighted. Such "material guarantees" for the peace
of Europe; and peace at any price will be cheaper than ever.

_Prince._ ABERDEEN deplores war. He said at the Council