There was undoubtedly a strong wave of anti-monarchical sentiment in England in 1871. It was not confined to agitators or extremists, but found utterance in organs which represented moderate opinion. Lord Morley in his _Life of Gladstone_ quotes from the _Pall Mall Gazette_ of September 29, 1871, to illustrate the depth and wide range of this discontent. He might very well have quoted _Punch_ also as documentary evidence. _The Political History of England_ sums up the grounds of this resentment among friendly critics not unfairly: "Ten years' seclusion from social activity and public duty seemed an excessive indulgence in the luxury of sorrow." The sympathy stirred by the Queen's illness in September, 1871, marked the beginning of a reaction; the acute anxiety "aroused by the dangerous illness of the Prince of Wales in the following December, and the subsequent rejoicings on his recovery, did much to improve the relations between Crown and people"; and _Punch_ quotes the Queen's message of thanks to the nation as the most "acceptable Christmas gift which could have been bestowed on a loyal and affectionate people." In the verses on the Thanksgiving Service in St. Paul's on February 27 he is at pains to meet the sneers of those who only saw:-- A Queen, and Prince and Princess, and their Court, And coaches passing to St. Paul's to prayer; To settle scores with Heaven in stately sort:-- A Show for once! and _our_ shows are so rare. But the defensive tone is soon dropped for one of congratulation: Happy the Queen that can, love-guarded, go Still, through a prayerful capital, to pray Happy among these million hearts to know Not one but beats in tune with hers to-day. It was reserved, however, for later historians to detect in the renewed political activity of the Queen evidence of her distrust in the foreign policy of Gladstone. Among the signs of the times which mark the close of this period and the great Conservative revival which followed, few are more curious than the cartoon headed, "A Brummagem Lion," inspired by the visit to Birmingham of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the courtesy displayed by Mr. Joseph Chamberlain as mayor, in spite of his Radical proclivities. [Illustration: A BRUMMAGEM LION]