Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Instrument-makers, Light, Instruments, Physiology, Mining, Commerce, Class, Astronomy, Microscopy

    The initial letter forms part of an illustration showing the subject of the poem (the spectacle maker) holding a large sheet on which is printed 'Pity / Poor Directors'. Written from the perspective of the spectacle maker, this poem recounts the author's attempts to sell his spectacles of 'rare' quality. Reveals that his spectacles are of different colours; the yellow-hued ones makes everything appear golden, causing the wearer to mistake coal for gold and thus embark on fruitless boring in coal mines. Describes a pair of spectacles 'set in lacquer', which allow one to see the world as black, including John Bright, and another pair 'made on a telescopic plan', which 'dwarf' everything, making 'Heaven itself just a bit of a place, / Where there's room for the one or chosen few': these are worn by learned men. He concludes with his 'specs of introspection', which he is having difficulty selling and which are put on 'at our final hour'.