“I shall be glad to do what honour urgeth;
Grind on alone, if you will give me carte-blanche,
Make room for JUSTIN, and forbear to meddle

                    With politics, Sir!”

Friend of Ireland.

“I give thee carte-blanche? I will see thee blowed first—­
Fraud! whom no frank appeal can move to frankness—­
Sophist, evasive, garrulous, word-web-spinning

                    Subtle Old Spider!!!”

[Kicks the Knife-Grinder, overturns his Wheel, and exit in a fury of patriotic enthusiasm and forcible language.

* * * * *

CAPITAL AND LABOUR FORECAST;

OR, SIX OF ONE AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHER.

Though in some quarters a better feeling was reported to have prevailed, still, according to latest accounts, the outlook can scarcely be regarded as satisfactory.  A meeting of the Amalgamated Engineering Tram-Drivers’ Mutual Stand-Shoulder-to-Shoulder Strangulation Society was held on Glasgow Green yesterday afternoon, at which, amid a good deal of boisterous interruption, several delegates addressed the assembled audience and recounted their recent experiences up to date.  There were still 1700 of the Company’s old hands out of work, and though, thanks to the profound enthusiasm, “their just cause” had excited amidst the Trade Societies in the South, by which, owing to subscriptions from no less important bodies than the Bootmakers’ Benevolent Grandmothers’ Association, and Superannuated Undertakers’ Orphan Society, they had been able to stay out and defy the Company, receiving all the while, every man of them, a stipend of 3s. 9d. a-week, still they had almost come to the end of their resources, and all that they had in hand towards next week’s fund for distribution, was L1 13s. 7-1/2d., received in coppers from the Deputy-Chairman of the Metropolitan Boys’ Boot-blacking Brigade, accompanied with an intimation that that help must be regarded as the last that can be counted on from that quarter.  Under these circumstances it became a question whether it was not almost time to consider some terms of compromise.

In the above sense one of the speakers addressed the meeting, but he was speedily followed by another, who insisted that, “come what might,” they would stick to their latest terms, which were, a three-hours’ day—­(loud cheers)—­and time-and-three-quarters for any work expected after three o’clock in the afternoon. (Prolonged cheering.)

A Delegate here rose, and said it was all very well their cheering, but could they get it? (A Voice, “We’ll try!") For his part, the speaker continued, he had had enough of trying.  With wife and children starving at home, he had only one course open to him, and that was, to knock under to the Company and their ten-hours’ day, if they would have him. (Groans, amid which the Speaker had his hat knocked over his eyes, and was kicked out of the assembly.)