Punch (7.1844)

iv

PREFACE.

He might — also to please his vanity —avow that the Emperor of Russia has Seven times inquired whether Punch would
come to St. Petersburgh; in which case, it was the imperial intention to bestow upon him at least Seven knouts, and all going at more
than Seven knots an hour !

Were Punch vain-glorious, he could relate how Louis Philippe, with Seven of his best smiles, congratulated our Sovereign
Lady Victoria on the possession of such a subject as Punch, whilst the Queen, Prince Albert, and all the Royal Infants (the
j Prince Alfred shaking his coral bells the while), with Seven times Seven phrases of delight, cried 11 Io Punch ! "

Punch might also—if he would—display very fine engravings of the Seven Gold-branched Candelabra which he has received
from the King of Prussia—the Seven Superfine Waistcoats from the King of Saxony—the Seven False Collars from the Duke
of Saxe-Coburg—the Seven Watch Ribands from the King of the Belgians—to say nothing of the Seven Penny Pocket-
handkerchiefs from the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz ! Punch could do this; but then to do so, would be
vanity—gross vanity, and therefore, Punch forbears it.

And thus what secrets might he divulge, and all turning on the cabalistic Number Seven ! But is Punch the person to
divulge a secret ? Oh, no : therefore his lips are close—" close as oak ; " otherwise he would with vain-gloriousness relate unto the
reader how Brougham is wont, in Parliamentary sittings, to come to him Seven times a day for good counsel—and how Brougham
Seven times a day at least forgets it.

Punch might print the Seven Invitation Cards per week he has from Peel to take a quiet chop with him, and advise him
for the best.

Punch might also enumerate the Seven Letters he has per post—and remember it is now hourly—from the Lauries, and the
Lennoxes, and the Gibbses, and the Buckinghams—and the Moons—and (poor little fellows !) the George Joneses—and such very
twinkling obscurities—all such letters prayers for mercy, promising amendment, reformation, conscience-money to an injured world,
and all that; but-

Punch disdains to do it!

No : although this be Punch's Seventh Volume, he will say nothing of Number Seven ; he knows enough of the world to
keep unflinchingly to Number One !

The foolish folks of the earth have thrown it in his teeth, that Punch is made of wood. Punch accepts the odium, and will
glorify himself by it.

He is made of wood : of the like wood that composed the Cremona and Amati fiddles. A wood that with every year receives
a strengthening power of melody : a wood that, with use, gives forth increasing harmonies, as though strung with the heart-strings
of angels !

Hark! the strings are now vibrating. And what think ye—gentle readers, do they play ? Why, Punch putting his soul
into the strain, plays to the tens and hundreds of thousands who listen to his hebdomadal crotchets and quavers; he plays to a tune
of his own—

" & iHmg artjttstmas, ant! a #?appg i&eto £ear!M