Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Imposture, Display, Medical Practitioners

    Describes how John Scoffern 'exposed the whole concern' of William H H Davenport and Ira E Davenport. Explains that Scoffern visited the Davenports' 'exhibition' in London and became suspicious when the brothers prevaricated over the question of 'how they operate', and refused to allow him to tie them up or enter the 'wooden Cabinet' where they performed their allegedly spiritualistic feats. Scoffern instead treated the cabinet as a 'case / Of phthisicial affection' and listened to what was happening inside it. The Davenports, however, proceeded to annoy Scoffern while he addressed the audience, who subsequently 'hissed and hooted' the Davenports. Punch concludes that 'there's an end to public pay / Of impudent deceivers'.