Genre:

Illustration, Drollery; Notes

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:

Scientific Practitioners, Telegraphy, Natural History, Botany, Astronomy, Electricity, Electrochemistry, Philosophy, Architecture, Mathematics, Chemistry, Statistics, Metaphysics, Light, Manufactories

    The illustration, which surrounds and appears in a window within the calendar, shows cartoons of signs of the zodiac through which the 1866 Atlantic telegraph cable is woven. In the window, Mr Punch holds both ends of the cable, at the extremes of which are small mouths with teeth. The calendar is marked by significant dates associated with several scientific practitioners: Carl Linnaeus Linnaeus (or von Linné), Carl (1707–78) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Benjamin Franklin Franklin, Benjamin (1706–90) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Luigi Galvani Galvani, Luigi (1737–98) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Nicholas Copernicus Copernicus, Nicholas (1473–1543) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, David Hume Hume, David (1711–76) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Christopher Wren Wren, Sir Christopher (1632–1723) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Joseph Priestley Priestley, Joseph (1733–1804) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Georges L Leclerc, comte de Buffon Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de (1707–88) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, John Graunt Graunt, John (1620–74) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Georges Cuvier Cuvier, Georges (1769–1832) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Roger Bacon Bacon, Roger (c. 1219–c. 1292) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Matthew Boulton Boulton, Matthew (1728–1809) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, August Comte Comte, Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier (Auguste) (1798–1857) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, Dominique F J Arago Arago, Dominique François Jean (1786–1853) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, and Gottfried W Leibniz Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm (1646–1716) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>. The calendar also commemorates the introduction of 'Gas' on 16 August.

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:

Gender, Health, Education

    Shows women engaged in various forms of physical exercise including swinging on parallel bars and climbing a ladder.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Entomology

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Homeopathy, Crime

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

War, Medical Practitioners, Mathematics, Light

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Astrology, Prognostication, Charlatanry

People mentioned:

Richard J Morrison, Morrison, Richard James ('Zadkiel') (1795–1874) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Francis Moore Moore, Francis (1657–1714?) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Vaccination

Genre:

Instructions, Drollery

Subjects:

Horticulture, Human Development

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:

Domestic Economy, Gender, Nutrition

    Shows a busy kitchen in which women, men, and children engage in various culinary activities.

Genre:

Catechism, Drollery

Subjects:

Alchemy, Medical Practitioners

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Homeopathy, Medical Treatment, Heat

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:

Meteorology, Instruments, Commerce

    Shows a barometer that is calibrated in terms of the bank rate percentage and the emotional state of a stockbroker digesting news of the fate of his investments. The lowest level, '10 per cent', corresponds to 'Despair' and shows the stockbroker furiously receiving news of a bankruptcy; the highest level, '6 per cent', corresponds to 'Joy', and shows the broker merrily tossing his earnings between his hands. Around the top and bottom of the thermometer are carved bulls and bears—references to the different types of stock market trader.

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, Evolution, Animal Development, Animal Behaviour, Human Development

    Shows the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >>, where the animals and humans have swapped places: the humans are kept in cages, and various animals (including elephants, hippopotamuses, and a gorilla) are clad in the fashion of the period, and are peering into the cages and enjoying walks around the parks.

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:

Medical Practitioners, Gender, Periodicals, Reading, Human Development

    Shows Dr Elisabeth Squills sitting at a dinner table where she looks at a copy of the Lancet Lancet (1823–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> and accepts a cup of tea poured by her husband. Near the table, children play on a harp and rocking-horse. The caption reveals that she is so busy that she 'has barely time to snatch a hurried meal and hasty peep at the periodicals of the day in her husband's boudoir'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [15]

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:

Industry, Commerce, Railways, Transport, Crime, Charlatanry

    Depicts the story of Sam, an 'idle boy', who makes money by 'bri-bing and cor-rup-ting ho-nest e-l-ec-tors' (a reference to bribery and corruption during elections in 1866) and who adds to his fortunes as 'contrac-tor for the A B C Rail-way' (a reference to Samuel M Peto Peto, Sir Samuel Morton (1809–89) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> who was contractor for the bankrupted London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company
Close   View the register entry >>). The illustrations then depict the story of Tom, the 'Industrious Apprentice' who plods his way through life but, despite making 'a fortune', in 'old age' invested his money in 'Sam's Railway' which, on going bankrupt, could not redeem Tom's debentures. This is a further allusion to the London, Chatham, and Dover company which failed to pay its debenture holders.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Animal Husbandry, Disease

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, War

    Noting the widespread interest in weapons of war in newspapers, discusses an extract from a report of a new aluminium cuirass, an invention that Punch thinks will make soldiers as 'shot proof' as 'floating turrets'.

Genre:

Essay, Spoof

Subjects:

Mathematics, Education

Institutions mentioned:

University of Cambridge University of Cambridge
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Disease, Gender

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, War

    Describes the gifts given to various European monarchs and statesmen. Notes that King Wilhelm I Wilhelm I, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia (1797–1888) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> of Prussia received his 'passport / To power—a needle-gun', Emperor Napoleon III Napoleon III, Emperor of France (originally Louis Napoléon (Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte)) (1808–73) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> of France a Chassepot rifle, and John Bull a 'breech-loading, rifled / Ship cannon'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Lecturing, Phrenology, Physiology, Temperance

    Discusses an article in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> on the Christmas celebrations held at William Lawson's Lawson, William (fl. 1867) PU1/52/2/3
Close   View the register entry >> farm. Ridicules the notion of a vegetarian Christmas dinner and the 'mental provender' supplied by Lawson, the latter being a reference to the 'lecturing on phrenology, co-operation, vegetarianism and physiology' presented at 'intervals' during Christmas day. Suggests that phrenology would show that 'the development of vegetarians coincided with that of teetotallers, and that both were also equal in quantity of brain'.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Animal Husbandry, Disease, Mining, Accidents

    A bleak assessment of the events of 1866, including laments for 'A murrain on our herds and flocks, / With watchful Cholera at its side' and that 'Death-dealing [...] Kindled the spark the mine that fired. / Its hundreds at a stroke to slay'.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Animal Husbandry, Disease, Sanitation, Health

    A companion and contrasting poem to Anon, 'Annus Plorabilis', Punch, 52 (1867), 17, this is written from the perspective of the year 1866. Focusing on some of the issues covered in the previous poem, 1866 defends the fact that it brought 'blessing' to 'Murrain and Plague [...] Guarding the dirt that breeds disease', and that it proved 'Pestilence another name / For duty shirked, and work ill-done' and 'where air, light, and water came, / How baffled Cholera must run'.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Utilitarianism, Class, Education, Industry, Mathematics

    Following the discussion in Anon, 'The Queen in the Black Country', Punch, 51 (1866), 238, , Anon, 'The Black Country. Is it as Black as Mr. Punch has Painted it?', Punch, 51 (1866), 240–41, and , Anon, 'The Black Country, Not all Black', Punch, 51 (1866), 262, this continues Mr Punch's defence of his claim that Wolverhampton is an industrialised 'Black Country'. It presents an extract from 'His correspondent' in Paris, who describes the surprisingly civilised lifestyles of inhabitants of a 'small "black country"' around an iron foundry in France (this is a reference to the firm established by Joseph E Schneider Schneider, Joseph Eugène (1805–75) WBI
Close   View the register entry >> at Le Creusot). The correspondent admires the fact that the factory workers built and owned the factory and praises the education of the children of miners and ironworkers, children who are able to sit 'historical and scientific examinations' and who were not 'allowed to leave the school for the workshop till they could read and write well, and do some arithmetic'. Punch deems this 'no community of hammer-men in Utopia' but an admirable community along the lines of 'Bilston, Tipton, or Dudley'. Admires the way that the 'proprietors' of the iron foundry have accomplished this and suggests that firms in 'our Black Country' should do the same.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Politics, Government, Machinery

    Debates some of the questions associated with parliamentary reform and in particular Bright's aggressive tactics. He tells Bright to 'fight through this coming campaign like gentleman' and that he will support a reform bill that will give suffrage 'to the intelligent, moral, self-respecting Artisan' who 'lives in a decent home' and who educates his children. He warns, however, that the 'Constitution of England is too solemn and serious a thing to be played with', pointing out that it 'contains its own machinery for its improvement, and that machinery shall be worked, and it will work admirably, as of old'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Heat, Instruments, Measurement

People mentioned:

Daniel G Fahrenheit, Fahrenheit, Daniel Gabriel (1686-1736) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> René A F de Réaumur Réaumur, René-Antoine Ferchault de (1683–1757) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Drama, Drollery

Subjects:

Economic Geology, Statistics, Physical Geography, Measurement, Electricity, Light

People mentioned:

Edwin Lankester Lankester, Edwin (1814–74) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Publications cited:

Statesman's Yearbook Statesman's Yearbook (1864–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Anatomy, Religious Authority

    Suggests that a recent lecture 'On the Skeletons of the Primates' was given by permission of the primates of Canterbury, York, and Dublin.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Hunting, Ornithology, Cruelty

    Condemns the gamekeeper who shot 'seven specimens of the Bohemian wax-wing'. Points out that there was no reason to slaughter these 'harmless, unoffending little birds' and that 'we ought to do our best to encourage' such 'rare and interesting' birds to 'live with us'

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Education, Human Development, Physiology

    Discusses an article describing Victor Hugo's establishment of a programme to feed 'forty children once or twice a week', a programme based on his belief that 'good meat and wine [...] are necessary to the proper nurture of young people'. Adds that Hugo 'well knows' the need to nourish the brain.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Disease, Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Accidents

    Describes the various ailments, diseases, and injuries from which people suffer due to 'that wind which blows hard frost and snow', and the benefits of this 'Medico-surgical weather' to the medical profession.

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:

Exhibitions, Architecture, Astronomy, Light, Instruments, Representation

    Includes a design based on the 'Telescopic Style' in which the classical columns are carved in the shape of telescopes. The caption urges Matthew D Wyatt Wyatt, Sir Matthew Digby (1820–77) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> that this is the way to 'get "top lights" for pictures'.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Exhibitions, Invention, Technology, Domestic Economy, Zoological Gardens

    The writer complains that he has not been allowed to display his patented inventions at the Exposition Universelle (1867), Paris Exposition Universelle (1867), Paris
Close   View the register entry >>. He proceeds to list his inventions which are all 'pocket' versions of everyday objects, including a 'Pocket Poker, with tongs and shovel to match', and a 'Portable Stove and General Kitchen Apparatus'. Concludes by announcing his plans to build a 'portable Zoological Gardens'.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, War, Nationalism

Institutions mentioned:

Royal Navy Royal Navy
Close   View the register entry >>

    Written from the perspective of a slightly illiterate and bluff seaman, this letter is addressed to 'Mr Punch, at the Head of the Fleet', whom the author urges to 'fight well no matter whether it Be with Frigates or with Fistes', and that they should 'hit hard' and 'stand Punishment'. He praises William Palliser's Palliser, Sir William (1830–82) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> 'Chil'd shot' and its ability to penetrate 'Oak and Iron like a Flash of virtuous indignation', remarking 'Ain't it Wonderful what Science can Do when stimulated By pluck and patted on the Back by the 1st Lords of the Admiralty Admiralty
Close   View the register entry >>'. Concludes that the Navy's use of copper shield and fast shots confirms that Britannia 'rules the Waves as heretofore', but in a postscript asks why none of the ships that 'mrs. england' is always buying is fit for action.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Meteorology, Gas Chemistry, Chemistry, Disease, Health, Language

    Begins by pondering the connotations of ozone and then notes that it is 'An essence rare', although 'Not much about it is known'. Describes how 'Each weather-sage' records 'in his log' the amount of ozone as well as 'Cloud, mist and fog' and suggests that since an excess or deficit of the substance are 'shown' to have effects on health, it could be the cause of the ailments—such as the 'shagreen' character of the skin—associated with cold weather. Concludes by considering the possibility that 'plague and pest' and people's low spirits might be due to the sepulchrally sounding ozone.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Observatories, Astronomy, Language

    'Air Street'.

Genre:

Announcement, Spoof

Subjects:

Heat, Measurement, Instruments, Meteorology, Language

    Presents a question and answer from 'PROFESSOR TINDIAL'—a reference to John Tyndall Tyndall, John (1820–93) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>—concerning the constancy of the amount of 'caloric possessed by two persons, one of whom is abusing the other', a question which took Tindial and his assistant a long time to solve owing to the low state of the thermometer.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Medical Practitioners, Anatomy

Genre:

Address, Spoof

Subjects:

Politics, Government, Animal Husbandry, Disease, Health, Medical Practitioners, Homeopathy, Commerce, Adulteration, Crime, Metrology, Measurement, Accidents, Mining, Industry, Manufactories

    Addressed to members of the Houses of Parliament Houses of Parliament
Close   View the register entry >>, the speaker rejoices in the 'disappearance of the Cattle Plague', discusses fears of the outbreak of a further 'Fenian plague', and notes the 'difficulties' that her 'Constitutional advisers—my State Doctors'—have regarding reform. She also lists a number of subjects on which she hopes parliament will pass legislation. These include 'the prevention of lawless disregard of life through the neglect of easy precautions against disease', the 'improvement of the condition of my poorer subjects, especially the old and the sick in parish and union workhouses', 'the adoption of stringent measures against delusive, extravagant, and fraudulent public companies', 'the summary punishment of dishonest tradesmen who cheat the poor with false weights and measures, and poison them with adulterated food', 'the prevention of fatal accidents' in 'neglected' streets and in mines and other 'scenes of dangerous labour', and the 'diminution of drunkenness and destruction of infant life'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Surgery, Medical Treatment

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Hunting

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Mathematics, Politics, Measurement

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Aeronautics, Exhibitions, Physiology

People mentioned:

Charles Green, Green, Charles (1785–1870) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> William Harvey Harvey, William (1578–1657) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Institutions mentioned:

Royal Polytechnic Institution Royal Polytechnic Institution
Close   View the register entry >>

Reprinted:

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

Genre:

Regular Feature—Poetry; Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Government, Politics, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Disease, Railways, Transport, Commerce, Charlatanry, Class, Hospitals, Mental Illness

    Begins with a poem based on Queen Victoria's Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Empress of India (1819–1901) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> recent speech on the state opening of the Houses of Parliament Houses of Parliament
Close   View the register entry >>. This notes Britain's successful campaigns against the Indian famine and the cattle plague, and points out that 'Insolvent Railways' and 'the London sick and other poor' look to Parliament 'for cure'. (63) Moving to its usual summary of parliamentary proceedings, notes Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy's Gathorne-Hardy, Gathorne, 1st Earl of Cranbrook (1814–1906) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> 'Sick Poor Bill' which proposes assistance to London 'pauper lunatics, very young children, and sick', by building new hospitals and asylums.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Music

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Adulteration, Nutrition, Analytical Chemistry

Publications cited:

Hassall 1857 Hassall, Arthur Hill 1857. Adulterations Detected, or, Plain Instructions for the Discovery of Frauds in Food and Medicine, London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, Representation, Architecture, Zoological Gardens

People mentioned:

Edwin H Landseer Landseer, Sir Edwin Henry (1802–73) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Politics, Government, Controversy, Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Race, Quackery, Magic, Ethnology

    A response to Benjamin Disraeli's Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> recent announcement in the House of Commons House of Commons
Close   View the register entry >> that the Tories intend to introduce a Reform Bill. Likening the cabinet of 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 >> to the chiefs of an American Indian tribe called the 'Tor-ì-has', describes the meeting of the chiefs at the 'secret Lodge of Dow-nin [Downing Street]' where 'LOR-DER-BEE [Derby]', 'Kau-ka-syun DEE-ZE [an allusion to Disraeli and his Jewish ancestry], foremost of the medicine-men, the Magicians' and other important figures ponder their mission to 'Weave the charm of the Re-for-mahs', despite protests from anti-Tory Reform agitators outside their lodge. Disraeli wonders whether his tribe can 'Fix the wonder-working Franch-ees, / That shall cure the people's ailments, / Give to all what they're in want of, / Wit, wisdom, work and wages'. Describes how 'WILL-YOU-IT, called the Glad Stone' and 'JON-à-WO-BUN [John Bull]' and 'wonder-working Fran-chees' were ambushed 'in Adullam' by several individuals including 'Bright the Big Tongue', who eventually drove them from 'the secret Lodge of Down-nin'. This is a reference to John Bright Bright, John (1811–89) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> and the 'Whig 'Adullamite' opposition to William E Gladstone's Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> 1866 parliamentary Reform Bill, an opposition that eventually led to the downfall of the Liberal administration. Goes on to describe Disraeli's lament at the divisions within his tribe and his resolution to 'deal with the Re-for-mahs', to 'make a mighty med-cine' from the 'med-cine bag of Mo-shun', to secure the 'glory [...] Of the fixing of the Franch-ees, / In the Wig-wam of West-min-stah', and to 'Keep the secret Lodge of Down-nin'. Continues by noting how 'the med'cine maker' led a procession of 'Tor-ì-has' braves to 'West-min-stah' where they stood against Bright, and 'WILL-YOU-IT, called the Glad Stone'. Turns to the controlled speech of the 'med'cine maker', who put forward his 'medicine bag of Mo-shuns' with one hand and a 'Peace-pipe' in the other, and then 'chaunted' 'his med'cine music', 'blew his cloud of vapour', announced that 'the war was ended, / 'Twixt Tor-ì-has and Re-for-mahs', and urged cooperation between the two sides for shaping Reform. Concludes by describing the amazement of the warriors who heard the 'med-cine-man', and their feeling that 'All is bosh and all is bunkum; / He is but a med'cine-maker, / And his medicine moonshine'.

Genre:

Announcement, Spoof

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Societies, Anatomy, Politics, Government

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Politics, Zoology, Botany, Taxonomy, Narcotics, Mental Illness, Medical Treatment, Crime

    The initial letter of the article forms part of an illustration showing several Fenians as bats, sporting large black wings and their usual hats. The text describes a lecture given in Chester by 'PROFESSOR VINEGAR', the geographical reference identifying this as a response to the recent (13 February) failed attempt by Fenians to seize Chester. The lecturer describes to his audience, who consist mainly of Fenians, the various species of a plant 'of the natural order Cannibinaceae'. He points out that this includes two genera, Cannabis and Humulus, and tells his audience that they are undoubtedly familiar with the latter genus, since its chief species is the hop plant. The lecturer then details the properties of Cannabis sativa or hemp, noting that it not only has narcotic properties when taken internally but, when 'twisted into rope' and applied externally, can be used to suppress 'those disorders in the body politic that come under the name of insurrection'. The application of a hemp ligature around the neck of the patient exercises 'a beneficial influence on others', he adds, and warns his audience that if they continue along their present 'road to rebellion', John Bull will hang some of them.

Genre:

Instructions, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, War

Genre:

Song, Drollery

Subjects:

Government, Military Technology, Steamships, War, Nationalism, Commerce

    Sung to the tune of 'Rule Britannia', the song laments the sorry condition of the Royal Navy's Royal Navy
Close   View the register entry >> fleet and criticises the fact that 'Old ships are tinkered up for new, / And then sent forth upon the main'. Wonders, 'When shall our ships be good and sound', and blames the present situation on 'Mismanagement and jobbery'. The chorus accuses Britons of being 'Routine's slaves'.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

G B
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Universities, Education, Mathematics

    The initial letter forms part of an illustration showing a student at his writing desk. Above him rises the smoke from his pipe and beneath him lie scraps of paper—evidently drafts of his love letter. In the text, the author tells his beloved that his second attempt at the 'Little-go' examination at the University of Cambridge University of Cambridge
Close   View the register entry >> is imminent and that she is a 'sad hindrance' to his 'studies for this dreadful examination'. The rest of the letter reveals the difficulty the author has in keeping his mind off his beloved and his interpretation of course texts in terms of his love affair. For example, he notes, 'In my Euclid Euclid (fl. 295 BC) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> your happiness is my "problem", your love my "Theorem", and that you should ever prove faithless to me my "reductio ad absurdam"'. Similarly, he tells her that she is 'no Vulgar Fraction', but the 'sum total' of his existence.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Measurement, Charlatanry, Crime, Government, Commerce

    Discusses a petition brought to the House of Commons House of Commons
Close   View the register entry >> from a representative of Southwark tradesmen who seek reformation of the 'arbitrary and unjust mode of inspecting weights and measures'. Suggests that it will only grant some of the wishes of the petitioners. Believes that it would be quite willing to meet the petitioners' request for a 'searching investigation' of the subject with a view to 'amending the law that the standard may be kept correctly thereto', and for magistrates to 'dismiss trivial complaints where no fraud or injustice is committed or intended'. Warns, however, that the petitioners will not be successful in their call for 'informers, and persons otherwise enforcing the law' to be given the power to penalise those who use fraudulent scales, weights, and measures.

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Government, Politics, Controversy, Railways, Transport

    Exploiting an analogy between the Reform Bill and a railway locomotive, the poet begins by lamenting the fact that the 'five-million-horse-power [a possible reference to the adult male population of England and Wales] Engine / Called "Reform" is off the rails' and describing the way this is hindering oncoming trains and sparking 'bad language' between those engineers [the statesmen] trying to rectify the situation. Proceeds to criticize these disputes and urges statesmen to pull together. Points out that it is better for the locomotive to 'blow off' large quantities of steam rather than 'blow up'. Urges the railway engineers who talk about 'schemes and skills' to 'work, or else your chalks be walking' and to stop wasting time 'in squabble sore'. Concludes by giving each of the engineers—identified as John Russell (1st Earl Russell) Russell, Lord John, 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878) ODNB