Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Government, Politics, Disease, Public Health, Supernaturalism, Religion, Meteorology, Patronage, Military Technology, War, Railways, Transport, Commerce, Environmentalism

    Reports on a discussion in the House of Lords concerning the recent outbreak of cholera, an epidemic that prompted the House of Commons to do what it could 'in the way of legislation for public health'. Punch adds that 'The Prayer has, unhappily become an anachronism' as a means of abating the epidemic. Later notes the remodelling of the Meteorological Office and hopes that the subscription for the family of the late Robert Fitzroy is 'still being increased'. Praises the government for abandoning its expensive plans for building new fortifications at Chatham and Tilbury. Following remarks by the president of the Board of Trade, Stafford H Northcote, on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company, Punch insists that the public should have protection against creditors for this company that has 'enormous powers' and destroys 'whole suburbs'. (57)