“Beaconsfield’s dead, and Northcote is led
By the nose, and whatever the last man has said,
Richmond’s a donkey; Cairns is a parson;
Who but myself can carry this farce on?
People agree that there must be a head;
And there’s only myself in the old man’s stead;
Tell me, Sir Secretary, what think you,
What can a born statesman find to do?”
He paused, and the gentleman scratched his head,
“There’s only the Land Bill, my lord,” he said,