r the grandeur that
seems to be intended as a fine defiance--like a gilt lion--of the
Corporation Commission. The cause for which SIDNEY bleeds in his
tailor's bill is, no doubt, a cause very dear to aldermen and
councilmen; and it is expected that, emulating his Lordship, they will
on the present ninth--as it may be the _last_ show--die gloriously;
dying like dolphins in surpassing colours.

Meanwhile, we trust that a watchful eye will be kept upon the angelic
footmen and archangelic coachman. What have they done, poor fellows!

* * * * *

NOBLE CONDUCT OF MESSRS. COBDEN AND BRIGHT.

Having recently had a slight corvine plucking with MR. COBDEN and MR.
BRIGHT, _Mr. Punch_ has the more pleasure in bearing testimony to their
noble conduct in reference to the strike disturbances at Wigan.

As soon as MR. COBDEN was informed of these painful outbreaks, he laid
aside a pamphlet which he is writing, to prove that Russia never went to
war with anybody, and he hurried off to MR. BRIGHT. He found the latter
busily arranging the library which has recently been presented to him
for his anti-Corn Law exertions; and that gentleman, hastily dashing
down a fine copy of "_Boxiana_," which he was reading with great zest,
got into his friend's carriage.

"I think," said MR. COBDEN, with one of his frank smiles, "that we, who
have shown that everything can be arranged by diplomacy, have assailed
everybody for not settling differences by arbitration, and have so often
vaunted the superiority of the cultivated town operative over the
agricultural dolt, would hardly like to be accused of allowing thousands
of our own disciples to rise in riot close to our own doors, without
interfering and arguing with them."

"By Jove!--I mean verily," said MR. BRIGHT, nearly smashing the carriage
window in his energy, "I should like any dastard to say that I sneaked
out of such an affray."

The missionaries of peace and political economy went pleasantly on,
reached Wigan, had the military sent away, and convoked the populace.
MR. COBDEN then explained to the rioters that a question of wages was
not to be settled by violence, and invited them to a peaceful
discussion; and MR. BRIGHT, in the kindest manner, offered to fight
anybody who was irrational. Their appeals were successful, and after
three hours of peaceful talk, MESSRS. C. & B. went off to the employers
with proposals, enforcing them by sound argument. They w