Genre:

Introduction, Drollery; Extract, Instructions, Spoof

Subjects:

Mathematics, Measurement, Politics, Government

    Grieving the mathematical ineptitude of a number of statesmen in the 'reformed Parliament', Mr Punch, 'Minister of Public Instruction', has compiled a 'Handy-book of Arithmetic' and presents a few extracts from the work. He uses arithmetical operations on political quantities to produce some decidedly non-mathematical political conclusions. For example, under 'Division of Parties', Mr Punch advises: 'Divide 310 Liberals, 200 Conservatives, and 58 ultra-Liberals by 3 Bills, 6 Instructions, and 9 Amendments. What will a Ministerial measure come to. Ans. Grief'.