1-150-185 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'The Good Little Robins burying the Bills in the Wood', 1858. There had been much infighting in Parliament on the relative merits of the two India Bills introduced by first Palmerston (the bird on the right) and then Disraeli (the bird on the left). In order to avoid a damaging blow to the Tories if Disraeli's bill were to fall in favour of Palmerston's, Lord John Russell proposed that neither bill should be accepted, but that general resolutions should be discussed instead. Like Babes in the Wood, the two little bills were abandoned; 'Thus wandered these poor innocents Till deathe did end their griefe. In one another's arms they died, As wanting due reliefe. No burial this pretty pair Of any man receives,Till Robin-Redbreasts, Diz and Pam, Did cover them with leaves.' From Punch, or the London Charivari, May 8, 1858.