25 JUNE 1887, Page 24

Mr. Punch's Victorian Era. (Bradbury, Agnew, and Co.)—The proprietors of

Punch have had the happy thought of reproducing for the Jubilee iteecaricattuos of political events daring her Majesty's reign. This collection is issued in parts at two shillings, the present one opening with Peel's first presentation to the Queen as Premier, and ending with the Duke of Wellington stirring up the British Lion in 1848. It is curious to glance at the present moment at the striking drawing of Sir E. Peel in 1844 straining himself, as Sisyphus, to roll a mighty stone nphill. Then, as now, the stone was Ireland. A few of the caricatures now require an explanation, which is carefully given ; but the majority are as patent and as laughable now as they were then, and some are of high historic importance. A situation was never better explained than on p. 47, where Lord John Russell appears before the Queen as a servant in Peel's overcoat of political economy. "It is not the beat fit in the world," remarks the Queen; "but we'll see how he goes on." When the parts are complete, they will contain a full caricature history of the reign.