proffering an
object at which the eyes of BRITANNIA sparkled like diamonds,
"this--which--as your game is over, I will pray you to keep in pledge
that, six months hence, I will present you with its still richer
successor."

And BRITANNIA--the smile at her heart reflected in her face--accepted

MR. PUNCH'S TWENTY-FIFTH VOLUME.

[Illustration]

* * * * *

INTRODUCTION.

VOLUME XXV.----JULY TO DECEMBER, 1853.

THE ABERDEEN CABINET.--1853.

First Lord of the Treasury EARL OF ABERDEEN.
Lord Chancellor LORD CRANWORTH.
Chancellor of the Exchequer RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE.
President of the Council EARL GRANVILLE.
Lord Privy Seal DUKE OF ARGYLL.
Home Office VISCOUNT PALMERSTON.
Foreign Office EARL OF CLARENDON.
Colonial Office DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.
Admiralty RIGHT HON. J. R. G. GRAHAM, BART.
Board of Control RIGHT HON. SIR C. WOOD, BART.
Secretary at War RIGHT HON. SIDNEY HERBERT.
First Commissioner of Works, &c. RIGHT HON. SIR W. MOLESWORTH, BART.
Without Office LORD JOHN RUSSELL
Without Office MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE.

* * * * *

POLITICAL SUMMARY.

The unjust demands of the EMPEROR OF RUSSIA on the Ottoman Porte, and
his subsequent occupation of the Danubian Principalities, occupied the
earnest attention of the Parliament and the people throughout the year,
and was the occasion of much inquiry and discussion.

We cannot do better than add a summary of LORD JOHN RUSSELL's Speech,
towards the close of the Session, in explanation of the position of
affairs:--

"When he entered office, he said, his attention was called to the
question of the Holy Places; and he instructed LORD COWLEY, at Paris, to
give the subject his earnest attention. Soon after he, LORD JOHN
RUSSELL, learned that a special Russian Minister would be sent to the
SULTAN, to put an end, by some solemn act, to the differences that
existed with regard to the Holy Places. He did not object to that; and
PRINCE MENSCHIKOFF arrived at Constantinople on the 2nd of March. From
this point, LORD JOHN RUSSELL went over the subsequent events--the
resignation of FUAD EFFENDI; the message of COLONEL ROSE To ADMIRAL
DUNDAS, sent at the