“_‘Grip’s’ Perpetual Comedy._” The adjournment of the Ontario Legislature was immediately followed by the assembling of the Dominion Parliament at Ottawa. MARCH 28th, 1874. [Illustration: No. 43. “GRIP’S” PERPETUAL COMEDY. “THEY HAVE THEIR EXITS AND THEIR ENTRANCES.”—SHAKESPEARE.] NO. 44. “_The Vacant Chair._” Louis Riel, the leader of the Red River Rebellion and alleged murderer of Thomas Scott, had been returned for Provencher, Manitoba, to the Dominion Parliament. He prudently failed to take his seat in the House, while the unanimity with which both sides cried for his arrest made “the vacant chair” a bond of union for the time being. APRIL 4th, 1874. [Illustration: No. 44. THE VACANT CHAIR. A _RIEL_ BOND OF UNION.] NO. 45. “_The Science of Cheek._” A great sensation was caused throughout the country at the announcement that Riel had actually appeared in the House at Ottawa and signed the Members’ Roll. This he did _incog._, and immediately afterwards disappeared. The cartoon anticipated his next step in the “Science of Cheek.” APRIL 11th, 1874. [Illustration: No. 45. THE SCIENCE OF CHEEK; OR, RIEL’S NEXT MOVE. RIEL (_loq._)—“FIVE TOUSSAND DOLLARES! BY GAR, I SHALL ARREST ZE SCOUNDREL MYSELF!”] NO. 46. “_A Touching Appeal._” On the accession of Mr. Mackenzie’s Government a large deficit in the treasury was discovered. Mr. Cartwright, Finance Minister, in his Budget speech, attributed this to the extravagance and corruption of the preceding administration. A new tariff was issued, in which the duties on various articles were raised considerably. APRIL 18th, 1874. [Illustration: No. 46. A TOUCHING APPEAL. (“TOUCHING” THE SECRET OF INCREASED TAXATION.) YOUNG CANADA—“SAY, UNCLE JOHN, WON’T YOU GIVE ME A ‘DEFICIT?’ MA SAYS YOU GAVE THE GRITS ONE!”] NO. 47. “_Protestantism at Ottawa._” The new tariff proved very unpopular in many points, and the Finance Minister was for several weeks fairly besieged by the representatives of various branches of trade and commerce, who called to _protest_ against the objectionable items. APRIL 25th, 1874. [Illustration: No. 47. PROTESTANTISM AT OTTAWA; OR, “JOB” CARTWRIGHT’S COMFORTERS. BEING ONE OF THE “PLEASANTRIES OF PUBLIC LIFE.”] NO. 48. “_Mrs. Gamp’s Home-Thrust._” Early in the session a committee was appointed to inquire into the cause of the North-West difficulties, and during the progress of the inquiry evidence was elicited (mainly from Archbishop Tache) which implicated Sir John A. Macdonald. The Reform Party is represented in the cartoon as facetiously anticipating a repetition of the right hon. gentleman’s famous asseveration of his innocence. (See Cartoon No. 11.) MAY 2nd, 1874. [Illustration: No. 48. MRS. GAMP’S HOME-THRUST. SAIREY GAMP (_The Reform Party_)—“’AVEN’T GOT NOTHINK TO SAY ABOUT THEM ’ANDS THIS TIME, I SUPPOGE, MISTER SIR JOHN?”] NO. 49. “_The Political Atlas._”