Genre:

Proceedings, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [2]

Illustrators:

J L, pseud.  [John Leech] *

Subjects:

Societies, Comparative Philology, Human Species, Archaeology

    Detailed description of the 'unrolling of a mummy' by 'Adam Rummedge, M.D., F.R.S., F.S.A., &c', at the 'Western Literary and Scientific Institution'. The figure beneath the thick layers of clothing turns out to be an ancient Hackney Coachman. The corpse is described as if it were an ancient relic. For example, the article notes that while embalming was practised by the ancient Egyptians and the royal family of England, 'it was not customary to embalm Jarvies [the family name of the Coachman] or Hackney Coachmen', and concludes that the coachman probably wanted to be 'buried in his ordinary attire' and that 'the saturation of his whole frame by alcohol, consequent on continual dram-drinking, had enabled it to resist decomposition'. The illustration shows the heavily dressed coachman.

See also:

Altick 1997