Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Steam-power, Machinery, Government, Politics

    Acknowledges that science has discovered how to stop large machines in motion, such as 'a railway engine speed', but has failed to elucidate a method for halting a Member of Parliament's tongue. Describes the motion of the tongue as if it were a railway engine, with the tongue, for example, 'running on, apparently forever, towards what seems to be a constantly receding terminus'.