Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Government, Politics, Sanitation, Pollution, Engineering, Disease, Utilitarianism, Charlatanry, Scientific Practitioners, Expertise, Morality

    Begins by asking the chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, John Thwaites, to 'Cease paeans to raise in Self-Government's praise' (a reference to a recent speech given by Thwaites) until he has 'lowered our rates, / Settled sewers, embankments, and thoroughfares'. Points out that the public thinks that rogues sit on the board and criticises Thwaites for the fact that the Thames Embankment is 'still blocked', 'Father Thames is still poisoned with your sewage' and that vestrymen 'leave fever to stalk / Through pestilent court and foul alley'. Attacks the board for allowing paupers at the St Pancras Poor Law Union to die 'In foul wards where fever-germs fester', and laments the fact that humanity is 'sneered at', science is 'snubbed', and 'they that expose workhouse horrors are dubbed / Lying rogues'. Urges Thwaites not to praise self-government, which Punch considers 'A nuisance'.