Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Surgery, Crime, Education, Manufactories

    Discusses a North British Mail report of the high fee (£21) charged by the executioner, William Calcraft. Points out that qualified surgeons would 'be very well paid' by this amount, which Calcraft earns for doing something so unskilled. Adds that while anybody 'of average ability' can 'compete for office of executioner', anticipates the day when competitors will have to answer questions in mathematics, geography, astronomy, and history, as well as deal with questions on 'the manufacture of hemp, the process of rope-making, the growth and preparation of timber'.