Representing the spirit in which the Leaders of the Respective Parties approached what was expected to be the decisive date. OCTOBER 11th, 1873. [Illustration: No. 19. REHEARSING FOR THE 23RD INSTANT. M—K—ZIE—“I WILL FIGHT HIM UPON THIS THEME UNTIL MY EYELIDS WILL NO LONGER WAG!”—HAMLET, _Act v., Scene 1_. JOHN A.—“WHAT DO I FEAR?”—RICHARD III., _Act v., Scene 3_.] NO. 20. “_Will he get Through?_” The question which was on all lips during the interim between the prorogation of the House of Commons on the 13th of August and the day fixed for its re-assembling, October 23rd. The prophecy conveyed in the unreasonable smallness of the hoop in the clowns hand, was duly realized. OCTOBER 18th, 1873. [Illustration: No. 20. “WILL HE GET THROUGH?”] NO. 21. “_A Case of Riel Distress._” The murder of Thomas Scott, at Fort Garry, during the Red River Rebellion, naturally excited great indignation throughout the Dominion, and a universal demand was made for the apprehension and punishment of Louis Riel, the leader of the malcontents, at whose instigation the deed was committed. This righteous sentiment, however, ultimately resolved itself into mere political “claptrap,” and the action of the Conservative Government, then in power, was hypocritical throughout, they having secretly promised the rebels an amnesty, while publicly professing an anxious desire to “catch him.” OCTOBER 25th, 1873. [Illustration: No. 21. A CASE OF _RIEL_ DISTRESS!] NO. 22. “Of comfort no man speak; Let’s talk of graves and worms and epitaphs!”—SHAKESPEARE. Typical of the overwhelming grief which seized the Conservative Party on being turned out of office, after a reign of nearly twenty years. NOVEMBER 1st, 1873. [Illustration: No. 22. “OF COMFORT NO MAN SPEAK; LET’S TALK OF GRAVES AND WORMS AND EPITAPHS!”—SHAKESPEARE.] NO. 23. “_Miss Canada’s School._” Being a word of advice to the new Premier. The persons represented in the cartoon, are, commencing at the head of the “class,” Hon. A. Mackenzie, Hon. Edward Blake, Hon. Geo. Brown, Hon. E. B. Wood, Louis Riel (who had been elected M. P. for Provencher, Manitoba), Hon. M. Langevin, James Beaty, Esq., M. P., T. C. Patteson, Esq., manager of _The Mail_, Sir Francis Hincks, and Sir John Macdonald. Monitor, His Excellency, Earl Dufferin, Gov. General. NOVEMBER 8th, 1873. [Illustration: No. 23. MISS CANADA’S SCHOOL (DEDICATED TO THE NEW PREMIER.) MISS CANADA (_to the Boy at the Head_)—“NOW ALEXANDER, BE VERY CAREFUL, OR I’LL PUT YOU WHERE JOHN IS!”] NO. 24. “_The Political Mother Hubbard._”