So every day, and all day long Poor Vulcan’s sweat must flow, Toiling for Europe’s sovereigns, And still the orders grow For breech-loaders, and armour-plates, Steel-shot and chilled also. With Chassepots for the EMPEROR (O’er Dreyses they’ve the pull); With Remingtons for Austria, And Sniders for JOHN BULL, Balls, Cochranes, Mountstorms, Henries, His hands may well be full. Meanwhile the EMPEROR writes to us, And bids us be good boys: It does one good to hear him preach, And see how he enjoys The shift of weights that trim the POWERS For Europe’s equipoise. How glad he is that Prussia comes So strong out of the row, That Italy Venetia gains―― _Viâ_ France, as all allow: Proving “whatever is, is best”―― At all events, _just now_. And when France sulks that East and South Her neighbours’ power increases, He hints, ’tis not from _every_ smash She can “pick up the pieces,” While Peace is Peace, although it brings No Savoys, and no Nices. Some say ’tis like the voice that once Wiled Eve in Paradise: But it preaches so delightfully, And gives such good advice, Bidding France arm, because she’s sure Of peace at any price. So Vulcan all his toil and stock Must on War’s task bestow, And iron, good for spade and share For sword and gun must go: For before this the Emperor’s word Has been a word and blow. Then let us thank the Emperor For the lesson he has taught, That it is in the forge of War The arms of Peace are wrought, And if we haven’t breech-loaders, Breech-loaders must be bought. _Punch_, September 29, 1866. It will be remembered that the Austrians had been completely defeated by the Prussians at Sadowa, on July 3, 1866, and that the Emperor Francis Joseph had ceded Venetia to Napoleon III., requesting his intervention with the King of Prussia to arrange the terms of peace. From that period until the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, Napoleon was looked upon as the arbiter of Peace or War in Europe. ―――――――― Although the following parody is taken from an old Christmas annual, it is singularly _à propos_ at the present time, when disgust is universally expressed at the costliness and uncertainty of our Legal system. Recent scandals have also greatly detracted from the confidence and respect which should be felt for the administrators of Justice:―― THE LORD CHANCELLOR. (_Loq._) “Were it once known that only right could win, No villain then an action would begin; Did rogues not know how equal was their chance With honest men’s, false claims they’d not advance; In short, were only simple justice done, The special pleader’s course were well-nigh run.” _Song_: The LORD CHANCELLOR. _Tune_: “_The Village Blacksmith._”