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PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE, 85, FLEET STREET,

AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1869.

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66

"I

PREFACE.

WAS obliged to ask you to meet me, MR. PUNCH," said the EMPEROR," and this was about the only place where we could meet without fear of listeners. Deign to accept my apology for having asked you to pull out into mid-channel in such weather."

"Don't mention it, MAJESTY. I am the Old Salt of the Earth, and shan't melt in the sea. Majesty's service, so far as that is consistent with my devotion to Balmoral."

I am at your "Would I injure your admirable balmorality, my dear friend? You will confer a benefit on all Europe by advising me at this crisis."

"I advise your MAJESTY to light up."

"I imitate you in this, and in much else, MR. PUNCH. And now to business.

I,' as our friend DU MAURIER saith. You have noted and considered my Elections ?"

No man of many words am

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"One half of France, and that half which contains the Brain, has unmistakeably pronounced against Personal Government. You see, Sire, that some personalities cannot be tolerated by civilised society?"

"You put things pleasantly," grumbled the EMPEROR. "But the fellows on my side don't want cleverness." "I should say that they did not, Sire. They must have a good stock in hand. For they never use any. Even the work of managing your elections with reasonable decency very few of them have done. Half your victories are moral defeats. But never mind that. You have out of the 290 men in the Chamber 213 of your own to 77 liberals, 42 real, 35 red. Are those the figures?"

"Are you ever wrong?"

66

Never, Sire. I may take that slight credit. Well, your President can frown on the Opposition, and stop any mouth that is uttering disagreeable things, and a majority of 136, like a certain commination,

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