Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Railways, Transport, Environmentalism

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Government, Economic Geology, Energy, Commerce, Nationalism, Environmentalism, Futurism, Electricity, Architecture, Pollution

    Begins by noting how 'provident and philosophical alarmists' have urged 'the Legislature' to consider England's dwindling coal measures, but then concentrates on the future of the nation's 'superficies'. Argues that with the present growth of factories and population, the 'face' of the earth, as well as its 'bowels' will be 'used up'. Anticipates that the surface of England will become a 'hotbed studded with aggregations of bricks and mortar' and spoiled by factory smoke, and that the 'country may be completely spoiled long ere the coal that sustained its progress is nearly gone'. However, the author expresses his confidence in the discovery of solutions to these problems: he anticipates the discovery of a cheap way of storing atmospheric electricity and the adoption of a system of 'vertical elevation instead of lateral extension' in buildings. The higher these buildings rise, he concludes, 'the less will Posterity be troubled with any amount of smoke which it may be unable to consume'.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, War, Politics

    The article begins with an explanatory note: 'The declaration of war between Austria and Prussia was exchanged on the 18th of June [a reference to the Austro-Prussian war of 1866], the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo'. Describes the observations of a battle-weary 'England' in the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo. Represents the warring European nations as eagles that 'England' sees grappling 'stark, / For life and death, with beak and claw', then 'bind / The conquered Eagle [France], as he lay, / Baffled and bleeding, bruised and blind', and later, sitting 'grave and grim, / To rend [...] "freed" Europe, limb by limb'.

Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Crime, Disease, Health, Hospitals, Mental Illness, Quackery, Class

    A description, and implicit criticism of, the inhumane methods adopted in Britain for treating criminals. Describes how the criminal is confined in overcrowded sick wards where he is exposed to the diseases of 'the asthmatic and consumptive' and to the 'beds of paupers dying of infectious cholera or fever'. He is propped up with hard pillows taken from a death bed and given 'physic by hap-hazard, measured by the rule of tipsy', and in general allowed to 'slowly rot to death'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

D M, pseud.  [George L P B Du Maurier] Du Maurier, George Louis Palmella Busson (1834–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Zoological Gardens, Gender, Amusement

    Shows a young woman approaching her mother in a parlour. The mother disapproves of her daughter's plans to visit the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >> because she does not like 'people looking at beasts on Sunday!'. She finally gives her consent, however, when her daughter points out that people go there to 'look at each other'.

Genre:

Dialogue, Spoof

Subjects:

Disease, Medical Treatment, Gender

    Addressing an imaginary friend, the old smoker offers advice on how to cure such complaints as gout and rheumatism, arguing that 'a wife', a 'ministering angel in the time of trouble', is the solution to the problem.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

C H B, pseud.  [Charles H Bennett] Bennett, Charles Henry (1828–67) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, War, Politics

    A representation of the activity surrounding the launch of Coles's turret-ship from Portsmouth Dockyard Royal Navy—Portsmouth Dockyard
Close   View the register entry >>. Each image has a caption which is written in pseudo-Middle English. In the centre sits a smiling Cole on his 'Tvrret Shyppe'. Beneath his ships sit four lords of the Admiralty Admiralty
Close   View the register entry >> 'tvrning their backs' on Cole: they look worried by his activities—an allusion to the Admiralty's resistance to Coles's turret-ship. On the right hand side, several ships are seen carrying giant cannon balls and gunpowder, while on the left the passengers of a pleasure yacht are crushed by a cannon ball fired from one of the ships. Several people stand on a pier observing this activity through telescopes. At the bottom, several smaller vessels are seen carrying such dangerous substances as 'Gvn Cotton and Nitro-Glycerin', and 'Lvcifere Matches'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

D M, pseud.  [George L P B Du Maurier] Du Maurier, George Louis Palmella Busson (1834–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Human Species, Human Development, Religion

    Shows a young girl standing before her mother who sits on a chair in a drawing room. The mother asks her daughter to identify 'the first man' and 'the first woman'. Learning from her mother that the correct answer to the first question is 'Adam', the girl suggests 'Madam' as the answer to the second.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Mental Illness, Cultural Geography

    Discusses an article describing how the General Board of Commissioners in Lunacy for Scotland General Board of Commissioners in Lunacy for Scotland
Close   View the register entry >> reported a case of a man brought to a lunatic asylum on the grounds that he had 'a great desire to appear conspicuous as a musician'. Punch thinks this is why Scotland has 'never produced a great composer'.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof; Song, Spoof

Subjects:

Engineering, Transport, Steamships, Travel, Disease

    Begins by welcoming John Hawkshaw's Hawkshaw, Sir John (1811–91) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> proposal to construct a tunnel under the English Channel. Calls for advertisements to be 'got ready at once' bearing the message 'NO MORE SEA-SICKNESS!'. Suggests numerous features to be placed in the tunnel, including trees, a hotel, fresh water lakes and birds, and envisages that the tunnel could be made of glass so that passengers could see 'the wonders of the deep outside'. Concludes by hoping that Hawkshaw's '"boring" will be satisfactory' and as a postscript adds a song which further praises the advantages of the tunnel over Channel crossings by sea.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, Animal Husbandry, Disease, Crime

    Discusses a report in the 'Scotch papers' of a cow which, on attempting to open the doors of a Montrose jail, was 'ill-used' for infringing the Rinderpest laws. Believes this is 'touching proof of the progress of intelligence among the inferior creation' but thinks the cow should be treated kindly because it has more sense than the 'framers' of the Rinderpest regulations.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Disease, Class, Utilitarianism, Government, Politics

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

War, Telegraphy

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Animal Husbandry, Cultural Geography

    Discusses news of a banquet held in Paris 'in honour of the introduction of horse-flesh as an article of food'.

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

C H B, pseud.  [Charles H Bennett] Bennett, Charles Henry (1828–67) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Military Technology, Expertise

    The initial letter forms part of an illustration showing three breech-loading guns, two of which stand on small human legs and have military hats over their barrels, while the third gun hangs on a nail with its barrel open. The article describes Mr Punch's visit to a camp at Wimbledon where he inspected the skills of riflemen. Notes how Mr Punch held 'some conversation with himself on the subject of the needle-gun [a new type of rifle invented by Johann N von Dreyse Dreyse, Johann Nikolaus von (1787–1867) WBI
Close   View the register entry >> in Prussia] and breechloaders in general' and concluded that the 'ramrod' would be scarce in the following year's meeting at Wimbledon. Later notes Mr Punch's explanation of the greater efficiency of a breech-loader compared with a muzzle-loader.

Genre:

Song

Subjects:

Military Technology, War

    Sung to the tune of 'The Dog's Meat Man', this song begins by praising the formidable power of the new 'Prussian Rifle', a weapon that 'Has to be loaded at the breech; / Five times for each mouth-loader's one' and which can 'knock over men like fun'. Proceeds to explain how the gun gave Prussia a 'murderous advantage' in its recent war with the 'Danish states', and warns of the dangers posed by the weapon for a similar invasion of England by a 'tyrant-thief'. Notes how the weapon helped Prussia's 'execution [...] upon Austria' and concludes by questioning whether England can equal this weapon and by warning that the 'skill at Wimbledon' (see Anon, 'Mr. Punch at Wimbledon', Punch, 51 (1866), 31) is not enough to withstand the new gun.

Genre:

Dialogue, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism

People mentioned:

Daniel D Home Home, Daniel Dunglas (1833–86) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Miscellaneous, Drollery

Subjects:

Steamships, Steam-power

Institutions mentioned:

SS Great Eastern Great Eastern, ship
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Utilitarianism, Class, Politics, Government, Crime, Health, Disease, Nutrition, Animal Behaviour, Cultural Geography, Medical Treatment, Medical Practitioners

    Noting the fall from office of the 'champion of Reformers', William E Gladstone Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, argues that 'though nothing can be done now towards reforming of the House [of Commons] House of Commons
Close   View the register entry >>, surely something may be done towards reforming of the Workhouse'. Laments the fact that in England 'we really treat our paupers worse far worse than our criminals', comparing the 'half starved' paupers to the well-fed 'gaol-birds'. Condemns the governors of workhouses and the practice of killing the poor in 'foul rooms' as behaviour comparable to that found in 'savage nations'. Hopes the 'Tory besoms' that form the new government will 'sweep clean' the workhouses and ensure that the poor are given better food and medical treatment by competent and sober nurses.

Genre:

Song, Drollery

Subjects:

Physiognomy, Animal Behaviour

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, War

Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Government, Politics, Railways, Transport, Political Economy, Cultural Geography, Religious Authority, Religion, Education, Mathematics, Mechanics, Economic Geology, Geology

    Notes Benjamin Disraeli's Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> adoption of the previous (Liberal) government's proposal to 'lend public money to the Irish Railways' and John S Mill's Mill, John Stuart (1806–73) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> argument that, in its handling of Ireland, the government seemed to be violating the 'rules of common sense, of political economy, and of professional etiquette'. Proceeds to a further debate on Ireland which prompts Punch to criticise Irish Catholics for preventing their sons from being 'taught algebra and the Greek Chorus by people who do not believe in the Immaculate Conception, any more than ultra-Churchmen will allow their children to learn [...] hydraulics from Baptists'. Later notes the appointment of a Royal Commission on Coal Royal Commission on Coal
Close   View the register entry >> 'to inquire into the question whether the supply will last our time', and states that John Percy Percy, John (1817–89) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, Andrew C Ramsay Ramsay, Sir Andrew Crombie (1814–91) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Roderick I Murchison Murchison, Sir Roderick Impey, 1st Baronet (1792–1871) DSBODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, and Joseph Prestwich Prestwich, Sir Joseph (1812–96) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> have been appointed to serve on the commission.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Animal Behaviour

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Supernaturalism, Animal Behaviour

Reprinted:

Burnand 1868 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1868. Happy Thoughts, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, Zoology, Religious Authority

    Suggests that an 'enterprising showman' could dress monkeys in the 'cloths affected by the ritualists' and exhibit them in 'the various districts infested by parsons who ape Roman Catholic priests'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Utilitarianism, Class, Health, Government, Politics, Medical Treatment

    Discusses a report of a meeting of the St Pancras Poor Law Union St Pancras Poor Law Union
Close   View the register entry >> who considered a proposal to hire a paid nurse to help relieve the sick wards of its overcrowded workhouse. Believes that the 'benediction of Saint Pancras Pancras, Saint (d. 304) CBD
Close   View the register entry >>' will be conferred on the 'master, the committee, and the surgeon of the parish', but that the same saint will not be pleased to learn that the poor-law guardians narrowly voted that the subject of the proposal be postponed, and that this result owed much to the fact that the 'Bumbles' were attending a feast rather than considering this important business. (The reference is to the parish beadle Bumble in Charles Dickens's Dickens, Charles (1837–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Oliver Twist [Dickens, Charles John Huffam] 1838. Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress, 3 vols, London: Richard Bentley
Close   View the register entry >>.) Wishes St Pancras would 'strengthen' Prime Minister Edward G G S Stanley (14th Earl of Derby) Stanley, Edward George Geoffrey Smith, 14th Earl of Derby (1799–1869) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> in his 'determination to effect a Workhouse Reform', and urges the need to stop such evils as the 'ulcers and bed-sores' suffered by paupers and the 'barbarous procrastination' of the poor law guardians.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Disease, Health, Metaphysics, Feeling

    Considers the 'puzzling sympathy 'twixt souls and stomach' that is suggested by the link between pains of the body and depression of the soul.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Domestic Economy

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [14]

Subjects:

Steamships, Transport, Gender

    Represents the problems encountered by Mrs Trott on her voyage from London Bridge to Chelsea by steamboat. She is involved in numerous mishaps including being crushed by the funnel of the vessel.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Animal Husbandry, Disease, Homeopathy

    Suggests that 'an infinitesimal scraping of cheese-rind' would be 'found as effectual a homeopathic remedy as any other for rinderpest'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Steamships, Military Technology, Cultural Geography, Progress, Patronage, Technology, Government, Politics

    Reflects on news that the American ship, the USS Miantonomoh USS Miantonomoh
Close   View the register entry >>, has crossed the Atlantic. Believes that by the time England has built a similar vessel, the Americans will have invented a 'diving-boat' and 'huge steam-rams' to sink such vessels. Suggests that the Americans 'will doubtless be wiser than to throw away powder and shot on experiments on gunnery on vessels that show but six inches above the water', and adds that the Americans may 'buy the idea' of their new 'contrivances' from 'an Englishman who will have had the offer of it rejected' by his countrymen. Concludes by hoping that war does not break out between England and America in which the latter would have the advantage.

Genre:

Announcement, Spoof

Subjects:

Military Technology, Religion

    'It is said that an exhibition of the Converted Rifles [a reference to Jacob Snider's Snider, Jacob (1820–66) WBI
Close   View the register entry >> converted muzzle-loaders] will shortly take place at Exeter Hall Exeter Hall, Strand
Close   View the register entry >> [London's leading Evangelical venue, and consequently a site for religious conversions]'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Politics, Government, Museums, Telegraphy

    Notes a debate on the British Museum British Museum
Close   View the register entry >>, asking when 'the black-beetles, toads, and lobster shells' will be ejected from it, and later notes the announcement of the laying of the 'Atlantic Telegraph' to America (48).

Genre:

Miscellaneous, Drollery

Subjects:

Human Development, Crime, Sanitation

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Exploration, Discovery, Miracle, Religious Authority, Religion

    Discusses a Morning Post Morning Post and Daily Advertising Pamphlet (1772–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> report that the proposal of a 'French prelate' to have Christopher Columbus Columbus, Christopher (1451–1506) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> canonised may be blocked by the Congregation of Rites because the explorer does not meet the requirement of 'having performed three well authenticated miracles'. Considers Columbus's discovery of a 'new world' to be 'probably as great a miracle' as any performed by a saint, and the explorer's conversion of the new world to Christianity as well authenticated as any miracle. Having listed two 'miracles' performed by Columbus, the writer ironically claims that his third was 'making the egg stand upright'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Animal Husbandry, Language

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Technology, Time

Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Hospitals, Disease, War, Politics, Morality

    Begins by upholding the 'salutary' experience of walking through hospitals, an act that 'induces pity and compassion' and refinement of the mind. Wonders whether kings and emperors would have their minds refined by the sight of suffering, and urges that they should walk through hospitals where they might rethink their plans for war. Draws attention to the villages of Germany, where 'thousands of creatures' lie slain from sword and gun wounds, and wonders whether the hearts of kings and emperors would be softened by this harrowing sight. This is a response to the bloody 'Seven Weeks' War' in which the Prussian army attacked Austria and the German states who were hostile to the attempt of Otto E L von Bismarck (Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen) Bismarck, Prince Otto Edward Leopold von, Duke of Lauenburg (1815–98) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> to create a new German confederation.

Genre:

Extract, Reminiscences, Spoof

Subjects:

Politics, Government, Disease, Medical Treatment, Medical Practitioners, Homeopathy, Analogy

    Putatively extracted from 'Mrs. Politic's Random Recollections', this describes the great reforms to the British 'Constitution' as if they were treatments administered to the diseased Mr Constitution by various reformist statesmen. Explains how old Constitution was 'the son of a Carter [a reference to the Magna Carta]' and that, owing to his weakness of the 'chest [treasury]', 'two celebrated physicians, DR. GREY Grey, Charles, 1st Baron Grey, 1st Viscount Howick, and 2nd Earl Grey (1764–1845) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> and DR. RUSSELL Russell, Lord John, 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>', 'put him on poor man's plaster [a reference to the Reform Act of 1832]' and finally 'brought him round'. Explains that years later 'old Mr. Constitution' suffered greatly from weakness of the 'chest', and that this time Dr Russell and his 'assistant' Dr Gladstone Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> urged that the patient have a 'much stronger and bigger' poor man's plaster. However, Mr Constitution's 'rich relations' protested that he was not weak of the chest, which caused Russell and Gladstone to 'throw up the case'. Describes how Dr Derby Stanley, Edward George Geoffrey Smith, 14th Earl of Derby (1799–1869) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, who 'practises homeopathy' and gives 'very small doses' [i.e. gradual political measures], and Mr Benjamin Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, stood by the bedside of the sick old Mr Constitution. Mr Benjamin heard a 'skeleton in the House', groaning outside the sickroom, but Dr Derby observed: 'we had better keep our places [in government]' and merely 'cut' the 'knot in the curtains'.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Technology, Electricity, Politics, War, Internationalism, Commerce

Institutions mentioned:

Atlantic Telegraph Company

    Written from the perspective of an Irishman who offers a 'word to John Bull [...] from the little Glass-house' in Foïl-hummerum Bay'—a reference to the telegraph station of Richard A Glass Glass, Sir Richard Atwood (1820–73) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> on the West Coast of Ireland from which the Atlantic telegraph was laid. He describes how the 'Sthripes and the Stars [...] laughs at bould Neptune's broad back laid between' the Old World and the New, and 'sets the big battheries a blaze at long range, / that makes friends out of foes wid each shot they exchange'. Notes that Neptune's back has been made 'Mighty sore' after being 'probed by deep sounding lead', and his sleep has been 'spoilt wid wires laid the length of his bed'. Toasts the various ways in which the Atlantic telegraph has united Britain and the United States, noting how 'they pass rate of markets, and news o' the day, / As if Atlantic was out o' the way', and 'free to shake hands' like 'neighbours' across a street. Thinks that 'John Bull' has 'ould Ireland' to thank for this accomplishment and hopes that the latter will also cause greater harmony between Britain and Ireland. Points out that although Ireland was seen as the country that would bring the 'Yankees' and subversive Republican politics to Britain, it brought Yankees 'for Peace not for War' and that the telegraph cable 'fastens the anchor of Hope'. Concludes by praising the good-will that can be 'flashed' through the telegraph between Ireland, Britain, and the United States.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Military Technology, War, Politics

    Describes how the author related details of the 'Battle of Sad'war' [a reference to the battle of Sadowa, which was one of the decisive conflicts of the Austro-Prussian War] to his uncle who is an aged and conservative sergeant-major. His uncle mocks the alleged capabilities of the Prussian breech-loading needle-gun, which wreaked such havoc on the Austrians, and upholds the powers of the Brown Bess rifle.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Utilitarianism, Health, Sanitation

Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Government, Politics, Disease, Public Health, Supernaturalism, Religion, Meteorology, Patronage, Military Technology, War, Railways, Transport, Commerce, Environmentalism

    Reports on a discussion in the House of Lords House of Lords
Close   View the register entry >> concerning the recent outbreak of cholera, an epidemic that prompted the House of Commons House of Commons
Close   View the register entry >> to do what it could 'in the way of legislation for public health'. Punch adds that 'The Prayer has, unhappily become an anachronism' as a means of abating the epidemic. Later notes the remodelling of the Meteorological Office Meteorological Office
Close   View the register entry >> and hopes that the subscription for the family of the late Robert Fitzroy Fitzroy, Robert (1805–65) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> is 'still being increased'. Praises the government for abandoning its expensive plans for building new fortifications at Chatham and Tilbury. Following remarks by the president of the Board of Trade Board of Trade
Close   View the register entry >>, Stafford H Northcote Northcote, Sir Stafford Henry, 1st Baron Iddesleigh (1818–87) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company
Close   View the register entry >>, Punch insists that the public should have protection against creditors for this company that has 'enormous powers' and destroys 'whole suburbs'. (57)

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Engineering

People mentioned:

John Thwaites, Thwaites, Sir John (1815–1870) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> William Tite Tite, Sir William (1798–1873) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Disease, Government, Politics, Public Health, Sanitation

    Written from the perspective of King Cholera, who begins by calling for a clear path for his 'cold blue scythe of Death' and for the 'incense of wasted breath' on which he flourishes. Reveals that it is 'BUMBLE THE GREAT', not 'Filth, Stench, Hunger, or Cold', who is King Cholera's 'right hand'. His 'peals' for 'anti-centralisation' and 'penny-wisdom' arms Cholera's hand, he has caused the 'open water butt' to 'drink the breath / Of plague', and his 'flabby heart and leaden skull [...] keep the rates down and the dead-house full'. Concludes by hoping that Bumble and his 'Local Self-Government hobby' will continue to promote his evil enterprise. (The reference is to the parish beadle Bumble from Charles Dickens's Dickens, Charles (1837–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Oliver Twist [Dickens, Charles John Huffam] 1838. Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress, 3 vols, London: Richard Bentley
Close   View the register entry >>.)

Genre:

Introduction; Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Light, Instruments, Politics

    Introduces 'Conservative' and 'Liberal' accounts of the same 'Reform meeting at the Agricultural Hall Agricultural Hall, Islington
Close   View the register entry >>'. These reports are printed in parallel columns as if they were images to be viewed through a stereoscope.

Genre:

Editorial Reply, Spoof

Subjects:

Physical Geography, Electricity, Telegraphy, Language

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

C K, pseud.  [Charles S Keene] Keene, Charles Samuel (1823–91) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Technology, Comparative Philology, Internationalism

Institutions mentioned:

Atlantic Telegraph Company

    Shows Neptune wrapped in lengths of the recently laid Atlantic telegraph cable, rising out of the Atlantic. On the right, Britannia stands with her shield and bow lowered in an apparent gesture of peace. On the left, Brother Jonathan (the personification of the United States of America) kneels in respect on the distant shores of the United States. Britannia and Jonathan receive the blessing of the 'Heavy Father' [because laden in iron cable] of the sea for reconciling each other with the telegraph.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Military Technology, Utilitarianism, Disease, Government

People mentioned:

Edward J Reed, Reed, Sir Edward James (1830–1906) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Cowper P Coles Coles, Cowper Phipps (1819–70) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Light, Magic, Botany, Comparative Philology

    Denies the claim that the 'fern-seed' confers the 'gift of invisibility' but explains that by wearing a 'seedy suit' 'your acquaintance will pass you [in the street] without seeing you'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Crime, Physiognomy

    Discusses an apparently confusing report of a man accused of murder which stresses that the accused appeared to be 'dogged and indifferent' but that his appearance did not suggest 'an absence of a low order of intellectual faculty'. Insists that the appearance of somebody with a 'dogged' demeanour does not indicate low intellectual ability, but on the contrary suggests high intellectual ability. Argues that the report should have stated that despite having a 'dogged' demeanour, the appearance of the accused 'did not betoken an absolute idiot'. Concludes by suggesting that if the 'physiognomist' quoted meant to argue that such criminal features as 'thick neck' and 'peculiarly hanging beetle brows' were signs of intelligence then he should 're-edit LAVATER Lavater, Johann Kaspar (1741–1801) CBD
Close   View the register entry >>'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, Astronomy, Observation, Instruments

Reprinted:

Burnand 1868 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1868. Happy Thoughts, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drol