Old NEP is “At Home” to the Sailors of France. 
Old foes turn new friends as their reason grows riper;
“All hands for Skylarking!” A measure we’ll dance,
With friendship for fiddler and pleasure for piper. 
’Tis a good many years since they sought our white shore;
Once more at hands’-grip we are glad to have got ’em. 
As to Jingos or Chauvinists,—­out on the bores! 
Such Jonahs should promptly be plumped to the bottom;
Poor swabs!  For this party they are not invited;
Shall they come athwart hawse
As we drink to the Cause
Of Shipmates for ever and Neighbours United?

Yes, we know that humanity fondly may scheme
For Peace, of all ills the supposed panacea: 
We know that Utopia’s only a dream,
Unbroken good fellowship but an idea. 
Old NEP knows his great Naval Show is now on,
And ARMSTRONG and WHITWORTH’s huge works he’s aware on;
He sees what our shipwrights and gunsmiths have done
To send foes o’er the Styx in the barque of old Charon. 
At sight of War’s murderous monsters half frighted,
E’en valour may pause,
And drink deep to the Cause,
Of Good-will among Nations and Neighbours United!

But, gushing apart, ’tis a sight for sad eyes
To see ancient rivals on joint messmate duty. 
A French ship in our waters and not as a prize
Might once have perturbed British Valour and Beauty. 
But now Father NEPTUNE, “At Home,” calmly grips
His trident, and smiles with most friendly benignity. 
We welcome French Sailors, and shout for French ships,
Without an abatement of patriot dignity. 
To see any friend of JOHN BULL NEP’s delighted. 
He holds out his paws,
And will drink to the Cause
Of Peace on the Ocean and Neighbours United!

Then shout, Britons, shout, while the neighbouring crews
Hob-nob, as the symbol of neighbouring nations;
Whilst NEPTUNE at Home welcomes brave Brother Blues,
And serves out the stingo to each in fair rations. 
Your spirits, ye sturdy old seadogs, might smile
On a friendship which to your true hearts is no treason. 
The Sea-God makes free of his favourite Isle
The French lads he once would have shied, and with reason. 
Now to greet brave GERVAIS and his tars he’s delighted. 
Midst general applause
Let us drink to the Cause. 
Hooray for NEP’s Visitors, Neighbours United!

* * * * *

[Illustration:  NEPTUNE’S “AT HOME;” OR, NEIGHBOURS UNITED.

JOHN BULL (loq.).  “ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MY MESSMATE, MR. NEPTUNE.”

NEPTUNE.  “ALWAYS GLAD TO WELCOME ANY FRIEND OF YOURS, JOHN!”]

* * * * *

TO THE SHELVED SEX.

(BY ONE WHO KEEPS HIS EARS OPEN.)

["Believing firmly in the absolute justice of woman’s claim to the ‘Parliamentary’ franchise, I shall at all times support that claim.”—­Mr. Logan, the new M.P. for the Harborough Division.]

[Illustration]