Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Government, Politics, Public Health, Sanitation, Military Technology, War, Disease, Supernaturalism, Religion

    Discusses the progress of a public health bill, which Mr Punch hopes will thwart 'any vestryman, Blackguardian, municipal councillor, beadle or other obstructive'. Notes Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy's reassurances that the 'new Health Act would do good' and that local authorities would have their powers 'transferred' if they failed to deal with problems of public health. Notes Gathorne-Hardy's proposed bill for dealing with those local authorities that neglect sanitation problems and urges that the bill should be framed in the expectation that authorities will have failed do their duty in the interim. Later notes remarks made by John S Pakington (the first lord of the Admiralty) on the 'unsatisfactory condition' of the Royal Navy, including the small number of ships ready for emergencies. Also reports the communication (by Frederick Thesiger (1st Baron Chelmsford)) of messages from Queen Victoria, who 'Deplored the Visitation of the Cholera', gave 'directions for Prayer', and 'cordially approved Legislative remedies that had been provided'.