The proposed "federalization" of the British Isles is burlesqued in the figure of John Bull, looking very much ashamed of himself, arrayed in top-boots, with a kilt, a shamrock-sprigged waistcoat, a Welsh steeple-crowned hat, and a shillelagh. The "People's Budget" is disparaged in a picture showing the general apathy of those whom it was intended to benefit. And as for the threatened creation of 500 Liberal Peers to outvote the recalcitrant "backwoodsmen," _Punch_ satirized the plan as a mere piece of window-dressing. In "The Chance of a Lifetime" Mr. Asquith is seen arraying his shop-front with 500 coronets "dirt cheap," Mr. Lloyd George as his assistant handing up the hat-boxes with the comment, "Bound to go like hot cakes." [Sidenote: _Death of King Edward_] Perhaps the shrewdest comment on international politics made by _Punch_ in this year is to be found in his "Charivaria" column for November 9:-- Sir Edward Grey declared at Darlington that he saw no need for war. Unfortunately, however, this is a great age for luxuries. Here _Punch_ added a gloss to a wise truism. A remark in the Isle of Man _Weekly Times_ at the beginning of the year touched the nadir of sordid parochialism. Discussing the "inevitableness" of a war with Germany, the writer observed: "It would mean the ruination of the Island. It would kill all chances of a successful season, upon which the Island depends." _Punch_ "lifted" the quotation, but here the text beggared any comment. By the assassination of the King and Crown Prince of Portugal in the autumn, monarchy was ended in the country of our "Oldest Ally." _Punch_ denounced murder whether as the maker or unmaker of kings; and on this occasion added to his condolences with the survivors a caustic reference to France, who is shown briefly congratulating Portugal on becoming a Republic; but she is "too busy to talk, having just escaped another revolution at home"--an allusion to the railway strike and its suppression by the drastic measures of M. Briand's Ministry. The death of King Edward in May, at the height of his popularity and prestige, was happily unattended by violence or upheaval, and left the position of the Crown unshaken. _Punch_ was not one of those who regarded King Edward as the initiator of our foreign policy, but gratefully acknowledged his services in smoothing the path of his Ministers:-- At midnight came the Majesty of Death-- Kings of the earth abide this King's decree-- Sudden, and kindlier so, to seal the breath And set the spirit free. And now the Peace he held most near his heart, That Peace to which his country's steps he led-- So well for us he played his royal part-- Broods o'er him lying dead. [Illustration: TOWARDS THE RAPPROCHEMENT CROWN PRINCE OF GERMANY (in India, writing home): "Dear Papa, I am doing myself proud. These English aren't half bad fellows when you get to know them."] [Sidenote: _The German Menace_]