Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Astronomy, Politics, Commerce

    Reports on the crowds that flocked to London to see an eclipse of the sun. Regards the event as 'successful', but points out that it distracted attention from 'the total eclipse of another golden orb'—that of Queen Victoria—by the 'eccentric planet, Peel'. The latter eclipse is due to Peel's 'broad and expansive movement', which drove away 'several little satellites of small note that used to take their rise about the Bank of England'. The illustration shows Peel as the dark side of the moon eclipsing the sun, on whose face is seen Victoria's profile and name.