THE THRONE OF GREECE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 24 March 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE THRONE OF GREECE.

A C©MEDY. [La Charivari —Paris Punch.] Prologue. Yesterday the following appeared in all the papers : — 'Amongst the candidates to the throne of Greece the name of his Highness Prince Alfred, son of Queen Victoria, has been put forward. * We are authorised to declare that this candidature is a mockery,and that the Prince will most decidedly refuse.' Scene I. [Prince Alfred in his apartment reflecting.] * I fill the throne of Greece ! No, never! I should not be nominated, so I had better not come forward. If, however —l was thinking —l can very well say that I would prefer the crown of Greece to my chance of succeeding to the Duchy of Coburg. Between a King and Duke there is an essential difference.' [An usher enters.] «May it please your Royal Highness, a deputation wishes to wait on you.' Who are they?' 'Some Greeks who are going to England.' « Greeks!' ' Yes, they say they have come to offer to no.rainate your Royal Highness to the throne.' 'Me ! I will not suffer such a thing— 1 < Still they would like to see your Highness/ 'Yen will tell them I am opposed to any such thing, and that T don't want them here, because Europe —' ' Yes, Your Royal Highness.' ' You will shut the door in their face.' ' Yes, your Royal Highness; directly. 'Stop a minute —after you have shut the door, take care to leave the key in the lock.' ' I understand, your Royal Highness. 1 'And then —at any risk —if they com« up by force, open the blinds of the grand saloon.' [The usher re-enters." 'Your Royal Highness—' 'Well? 'I have strictly fulfilled your orders.' ' And they have gone away ? Well, so much the better.' 'On the contrary, your Royal Highness, they have entered by force, opening the door with the key I forgot in the lock You know.' The Prince [preteuding to be astonished.] What! you forget the key!' < Confound it! your Royal Highness told —' ' Hush ! Where are they?' 'In the grand saloon.' Good gracious I What am Itodo ? I must not appear to Europe —. Go quick aud scud them away.' *Yes, your Royal Highness.' ' Stop a moment. You are always in too great a hurry. On second thoughts, it is better for me to dismiss them myself. That will have weight.' Scene 11. The grand saloon. The Prince enters, and is received with acclamations and cries of 'Long live King Alfred! Long live King Alfred!' The Prince : ' Gentlemen, these cries are particularly disagreeable to me. Do not forget. First of all you proclaim a fact which is not yet accomplished.' The Deputation: • But it will be; it will be !' 'No, gentlemen, no; it will not be. Ido not want it to be.' [Hisses] 'Gentlemen, once more I tell you that this is unpleasant for me. You expose me to ridicule; for it would be ridiculous for an English prince to fail if he were a candidate.' 'But you will not fail.' •Who can answer for it? To succeed, we should have to have active agents scattered throughout the provinces.' 'We will scatter ourselves.' ' They would have to promise enormous reforms to liberty,' 'We will promise.' ' They would have to represent to the Greek people that Russia is a pretended good woman.' 'We will represe.it all that.' t Oh, don't, citizens, for heaven's sake.' 'Don't you frighten yourself, your Royal Highness ; now we know the programme, we can follow it.' ' Well, mind, I did not tell you ; for I repeat Ido not wish any such thing. I had even commeuced a protest against such a thinjr, when I was interrupted bya most curious parcel being sent me, full of prOslamations explaining my claims to the confidence of the Greeks. I dou't know who sent them me; but I shall burn them. 1 1 the meanwhile, I have put them in that cupboard.' ' Iv that one?' 'Yes.' The deputation rush to the cupboard. 'Good gracious! What are you about?' *We are get. ting the proclamations to distribute all over Greece.' 'Gentlemen —l —l be£ of you —Gentlemen —lt is impossible to stop them. Well, at least I did all in my power.' EprLOGUE. We continue to read the English papers : —' We are authorised to declare that Prince Alfred most decidedly refuses,' &c.