Genre:

Introduction; Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Steamships, Engineering, Accidents, Engineers, Technology, Aeronautics, Electricity, Military Technology, Religious Authority, Government, Magic

People mentioned:

Tycho Brahe, Abraham Lincoln, Nicholas P S Wiseman, Alexander Haldane, Lord John Russell, Wiljalba Frikell

    Boasts that had Isambard K Brunel called on the services of Mr Punch, the SS Leviathan would have been launched 'without the slightest difficulty'. Appends a sample of spoof letters from the more than 1500 which Mr Punch claims to have received on the subject. Tom Tug accuses Brunel of knowing 'nothing about anything and suggests launching the iron ship using 'ten large magnets, to be prepared under Dr. Faraday's direction'. Bladdery Pop suggests attaching 500,000 children's balloons to the vessel, thus lifting it into the air. Salmo Ferrex suggests tying the ship to 'These scoundrel Sepoys' who could be whipped into dragging the ship into the water. Tycho Brahe recommends sending an electric current through the metal vessel and thus forcing it to jump into motion. Abraham Lincoln suggests using the power of recoil from fifty cannons fixed in the ship, whilst Nicholas Flam Wiseman recalls the historical example of an ancient Roman vessel which was moved when a 'Vestal Virgin tied her girdle' to it. 'The Editor of the Record' thinks that the only way to solve the problem is to remove the satanic name of the ship and to invite some 'really sincere and pious men' to hold services on the ship. Dunn Brown recommends consulting the shipowner and fraudulent director of the failed Royal British Bank, Humphrey Brown, since he contrived to have ships in 'two places at once'. John Russell thinks that the ship will move in obedience to a House of Commons resolution. Finally, Willjabber Frikel promises to put the ship in water by 'his little magics'.