THE SECRET TREATY.

Otago Witness, Issue 987, 29 October 1870, Page 17

THE SECRET TREATY.

A vision of the secret treaty is afforded by the following communication of "Jeremiah Smallbones " to the P.*H Mall Gazette : — " Respected Friend — I d reame d a dream yesternight, the which, if it pleaseth thee, thou mayeat insert in thy journal of to-morrow. Methoughc 1 saw friend Bismarck and friend Napoleon striving furiously against each other, while friends Gladstone and Granville were poring over a dr»ft of the treaty. So intensely were they scrutinising this document, that they scarce heeded the yells and the blows of the two combatants. ' Methinks,' quoth friend Gladstone, ' 'tis the writing of friend Napoleon, yet a^ain methinks 'tis the writing of friend Biamarck.' ' Methinks,' quoth friend Granville, "tis the hand of friend Bismarck that I do recognise, and yet it doth greatly resemnle the hand of friend Napoleon.' In the meantime, friends Biamarck and Napoltson, having smi'ten each other sorely, lay breathless on the ground, when said friend Bismarck to friend Napoleon, ' Brother, as thou art wearieil like myself, let us both divide the spoil. Th«»u shall take Luxemburg and Belgium, while I will content myself with Holland.' Upon which the two embraced each other with fervour, and departed homewards. By this time, friends Gladstone and Granville having rubbed their spectacles, grown dim by reaßon of their fears at the terri le warfare of these ungodly men, were about to recite the original treaty of 1831, which, after much fumbling, friend Gladstone had found in the pocket of friend Granville. 'Bit,' said friend Granville, 'where are our misguided brethren V 'Methin^s.' rejoined friend Gladstone, ' I see them disappearing in the distance, their pnckets bulging out with new territories, which d«>ub<less by mistake they have carried wi'h them.' j ' Let us run,' quoth friend Gr&nville, 'and address to th«m a reraor.str.tnce.' *Not so, 1 said friend Gl.vis'one, ' lest wre provoke them to mitth and destroy the effect of our dignified neutrality. Peradventure 'au imposing attitude' will in duce them to restore that which they have taken.' Upon which friends Gladstone and Granville assumed an' imposing attitude, but by the time I awakened friends Bismarck and Napoleon had not restored the territories they had taken, and methought I heard friend Granville say the word * Damn.' "