St. Peter's and St. James's face to face
Exchanging with a more than courtly grace
Their mutual gifts and greetings!
A sight to stir the bigot; but the wise
Regard with cheerful and complacent eyes
This pleasantest of meetings.
And so on with praise of the Good Queen and Holy Father, Punch, as a "true freeman unfettered by servile fear or hate's poor purblind heat," being free to celebrate them both.
It was also the Centenary year of the United States, welcomed by Punch in John Bull's song on Miss Columbia's Hundredth birthday to the air of "I'm getting a big boy now." Mr. Gladstone was invited to the celebrations but did not cross the Atlantic. John Bull abounds in professions of good-will, but there is a slight sting in the last chorus:—
You are getting a great girl now,
May you prosper, and keep out of row;