The Princess is--bless her!--scarce fifteen years old; One summer more even o'er _Dinah_ had roll'd. To marry so early she can't be inclined; A suitable _Villikins_ some day she'll find.
Moreover, in her case, we know very well, There exist no "stern parients" her hand to compel, Affording the Laureate a theme for a lay, With a burden of "Teural lal leural li day."
Whether the German newspaper had been merely exercising "intelligent anticipation" or not, the projected alliance was confirmed in 1856. _Punch's_ comment on the Princess's dowry was unsympathetic, but the betrothal was celebrated in verse at once ceremonial and friendly. References to the Queen during the Crimean War are noticed elsewhere; we may note, however, that when one "Raphael" published a Prophetic Almanack in which he took liberties with the Queen's name, _Punch_ administered a severe castigation to the offender. _Punch_ did not like his monopoly to be infringed.
Between the aristocracy as depicted in the pages of _Punch_ and in those of the _Morning Post_ in the 'forties and 'fifties there is a wide gulf. As we have seen, _Punch's_ admiration of the Duke of Wellington stopped a long way this side of idolatry. Yet even when the Duke was criticized most severely as a politician, the recognition of his greatness was not denied. A good example is to be found in the cartoon of the "Giant and the Dwarf," which was inspired by Napoleon's legacy to the subaltern Cantillon, who was charged with an attempt to murder Wellington. Wellington himself had been approached with a view to similar action against Napoleon, and here was his reply:--
"---- wishes to kill him; but I have told him that I shall remonstrate; I have likewise said that, as a private friend, I advised him to have nothing to do with so foul a transaction; and that he and I had acted too distinguished parts in these transactions to become executioners; and that I was determined that, if the sovereigns wished to put him to death, they should appoint an executioner, which would not be me."[15]
The cartoon is accompanied by this comment:--
The Duke has made his political blunders and in his time talked political nonsense as well as his inferiors. Moreover he exhibits a defective sympathy with the people.... Nevertheless, contrasting Wellington's answer to the proposed death of the ex-Emperor with Napoleon's reward of the would-be assassin of the General (i.e. Wellington himself), need we ask which is the Giant and which is the Dwarf?