Punch,  44 (1863), 137–38.

Punch's Essence of Parliament

Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Commerce, Observatories, Railways, Environmentalism, Telegraphy, Government, Measurement, Accidents


    Describes the fierce debate over the British export of warships to the Confederate forces in the American Civil War. Also notes the attempt of Edward A Seymour (12th Duke of Somerset) to protect the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 'against the railway people' which Punch thinks 'may be as well' since 'the slightest joggling of a telescope' might produce errors in the Nautical Almanack and thus cause the Great Eastern to strike a rock (137). Later, notes the House of Lords rejection of a bill to turn Finsbury Circus into a terminus for the Great Eastern Railway Company, and discussion of the 'Telegraph Bill' giving companies the right to 'hang wires [...] wherever they like' (138).



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