Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, War, Commerce

    Discusses John Bright's criticism of the government's proposal to fortify English dockyards, criticism founded on Joseph Whitworth's guarantee that he can fire a shell six miles. Punch agrees that it would be pointless fortifying arsenals with 'defences that some shell may explode next year', but stresses that should a new shell not be invented, then the dockyards will be at risk by being unfortified. Likens Bright's argument to that of not washing your hands because they will be 'dirty again' tomorrow.