Wednesday, June 4th.—­The Meteor is furious about our meeting yesterday.  It says, in a leader:—­“Do these gentlemen suppose that the froth blown by them over the addle-pates who cheered their speeches is likely to shake sir THOMAS CHUBSON from the secure position in which the affection of the Billsbury public has enthroned him?  We have nothing to say against Mr. PATTLE except this, that his youth, combined with the ridiculous immaturity of his views, absolutely disqualifies him for the responsible post to which his foolish ambition aspires.  Let him go back to the briefs, which the vivid imagination of his supporters pictures as crowding his table in the Temple.  Let him join debating societies, and learn how to speak in public; let him eat, drink, and be merry in London; let him, in fact, do anything except run the head which flattery has turned against the sturdy stone of Billsbury Liberalism.  We give him this advice in no unfriendly spirit.  Let him be wise in time, and take it.”

The Guardian is of course jubilant.  “Never,” it says, “has it been our lot to hear the magnificent principles of our cause expounded with an eloquence so convincing.  Mr. CARDEW spoke, as he always does, with that sturdy good sense which has not only made him a redoubtable foe in the House of Commons, but has endeared his name to the masses of the English people.  Mr. VULLIAMY again showed himself a master of the great questions of finance, and held his audience enthralled while he contrasted the futile extravagance of Liberal Governments with the wise, but generous economies, established by those who now hold the reins of Government.  Our popular and eloquent young Candidate, Mr. PATTLE, showed himself not unworthy to take his place side by side with the two great men we have mentioned upon the Government benches.  Rarely has any meeting displayed greater enthusiasm and unanimity.  Our wretched opponents may well hide their diminished heads.  Another nail has been struck into the coffin of the CHUBSONS, and the rest of the gang whom the unfortunate apathy of the Conservatives, at the last election, permitted to rise to high places in Billsbury politics.  They have earned their doom. Sic semper tyrannis!”

There’s a curious paragraph in a little weekly sort of Society rag published in Billsbury.  It says:—­“Mr. PATTLE has prolonged his stay in Billsbury for some time.  Can it all be politics?  I say nothing.  But others have been heard to whisper nothings which are sweet.  What price bonnets?” I suppose the idiot means to hint that there’s something between me and Miss PENFOLD?  Hope MARY won’t hear of this rubbish.

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MODERN TYPES.

(By Mr. Punch’s Own Type Writer.)

NO.  XXVI.—­THE LADY SHOPKEEPER.