's head on which her
bonnet rests.

* * * * *

IMAGINARY CONVERSATION.

(_Without the least foundation._)

_Mr. Punch._ CAPTAIN LEICESTER VERNON, you will be good enough to answer
a few questions.

_The Captain._ Sir, I shall be happy to do so.

_Mr. Punch._ You are, CAPTAIN, I believe, the adapter of the drama
called _The Lancers_, performing at MR. CHARLES KEAN'S theatre?

_The Captain._ I am.

_Mr. Punch._ You are also the member for Chatham?

_The Captain._ I am.

_Mr. Punch._ You intend to take your seat in the next Parliament, and do
your duty by your constituents and the nation?

_The Captain._ Such is my desire.

_Mr. Punch._ And the aspiration does you credit. Some very important
questions will come before the Legislature during the approaching
Session.

_The Captain._ Ah! They always say that--always.

_Mr. Punch._ And rightly, Sir. But in the next Session we are promised
measures whose importance is indisputable. In the first place, CAPTAIN,
there is the Reform Bill. To vote rightly--I will not say speak
sensibly--upon its clauses, some information is necessary to a member of
Parliament. Favour me with a sketch of the history of popular
representation, of the principles on which you consider it should be
based, and of the arguments for and against extension of the suffrage.

_The Captain._ Really--a--a--

_Mr. Punch._ Ah! You have not studied the subject. Well. We are to have
a measure for the better distribution of the revenues of the Church of
England. Pray what is the amount of those revenues, and upon what tenure
are they held?

_The Captain._ Amount. Tenure. Really--a--a--

_Mr. Punch._ Ah! you have not studied the subject. _Non omma possumus
omnes._ Well--we are to have a revision of the criminal law. What do you
consider the principal defects of the present system, and what remedies
would you adopt with regard to old, as distinct from juvenile offenders?

_The Captain._ Distinction. Come--well--why--a--if--that is--a--

_Mr. Punch._ Ah! You have not studied the subject. Well. The question of
Colonial Administration is to be raised, and the comparative advantages
of central and of local self-government will be discussed. Will you
sketch the working of each system in our colonies, distinguishing those
to which constitutions have been granted, and will you point out the
defects of both the existing systems?

_The Captain._ Why--a--if you come to f