A cry of bitter disappointment broke out on the discovery that the "munitions" consisted of nothing but books. But the uproar died down as the old gentleman was seen to assume the attitude of an orator. His words were at first received in courteous silence; then with sympathetic approval; finally with deafening applause. "Nationalist Volunteers!" he said: "I come from performing a similar mission of camaraderie among the hosts of Ulster. I am no partisan. I am like a certain philanthropist of whom I have heard who purveyed sherbet to the rival camps of the Sultan of MOROCCO and the Pretender. I trust that my fate may not be his, for he was the sole person killed in one of the noisiest battles ever fought in the environs of Fez. "This tome, identical with the rest of my munitions of peace, embodies (for I made the contents myself, and so ought to know) the highest wisdom mingled with the purest material for mirth. Its contemporaneous perusal in both camps should encourage a common ideal of humour and so promote mutual respect and affection. "I would go even further and express the hope that here may be found a spirit of genial tolerance which, if assimilated by all parties, will infallibly lead to a solution of the Irish Question without the inconvenience of bloodshed. Gentlemen, permit me!" And thereupon he presented to the admiring gaze of his audience _Mr. Punch's_ ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIXTH VOLUME. * * * * * ILLUSTRATION: CARTOON. ILLUSTRATION: INDEX PARTRIDGE, BERNARD After Ten Years, 311 Amending Bill (The), 411 Asquith to the Rescue (An), 271 Couleur d'Orange, 51 Crescendo, 371 Desperate Remedies, 151 Devotee of "The Doctrine" (A), 171 Diversion (A), 331 Dove of Peace (The), 491 From Fife to Harp, 291 Gift Horse (The), 111 Holiday Task (A), 431 Latest Velasquith (The), 211 Missing Word (The), 131 Neptune's Ally, 231 New Bellerophon (The), 91 New Shylock (The), 391 Price of Admiralty (The), 71 "Sincerest Flattery" (The), 451 "There's Many a Slip...", 251 Triumph of the Voluntary System, 471 Ulster King-at-Arms (The), 351 Wooing (The), 191 RAVEN-HILL, L. After Closing Hours, 243 Black Man's Burden (The), 43 Captains Courageous, 483 Circus of Empire (The), 423 Clean Slate (A), 103 Coalition Touch (The), 403 Concert of South America (The), 383 Easter Egg (An), 263 Exit Tango, 83 Fight for the Banner (The), 283 Giants Refreshed, 443 Gift for Gift, 183 Lightening the Darkness, 223 Nine Old Men of the Sea (The), 163 One of Us--Now, 123 Penny Wisdom, 203 Penultimatum (A), 303 Refreshing the Fruit, 463 Sand Campaign (The), 31 Sitting Tight, 343 "Sort of War" (A), 323 Splendid Paupers (The), 11 Swashbucklers (The), 363 Throne Perilous (The), 143 Trust Clinch (The), 63 TOWNSEND, F. H. Earthly Paradise (The), 3 Sea-Change (A), 23 * * * * * ARTICLES.