Punch (10.1846)

THE CITY CIVIL WAR.

egretfully we announce that after thirty
years of peace, War has broken out
—in the City. Blackfriars pier has
been turned into a field of battle,
where scenes not yet of bloodshed,
but of hat-shed, have been acted
every day; and though there has been
hitherto no positive carnage, there
has been scrimmage in its maddest
sense, and a to-do of the fiercest cha-
racter. Like all wars, the Battle of
Blackfriars did not break out until
after the contending parties had been
long engaged in correspondence.
The first indication of hostility came
in the shape of a Guildhall protocol,
addressed to the Watermen's Com-
pany, with the view of limiting the
right of visit claimed by that frater-
nity. A considerable quantity of diplo-
macy was the result, and the parties
were at length brought to an issue.

The Thames Navigation Committee
declared the Watermen should not
visit the Blackfriars pier, except at
certain times, while the Watermen,
recollecting what had been the privi-
lege of their forefathers, resolved on
resisting the oppressive restriction.
War was now declared ! and every
preparation was made by the civic
powers for resisting the enemy.

The makers of policemen's staves
were for some time in a state of
activity; and an order of a hundred
bull's-eyes warranted the supposition
that the coatest was expected to be
carried on with such inveteracy that
not even the umbrella of night would
throw its protecting shadow over the
peace of the district.

Orders were given to put the pier
in a state of siege : Martial Law
was declared upon the dummy, and
Pier-keeper Hollingswortii was di-
rected to march himself and assistant
down in a double column to the brink
of the water, so as to allow of his
commanding a view of the coast as
far as Southwark. A body of twenty
policemen formed the rear, which
with twenty more brought down in
the van, and a reserve of ten under
the covered passage, gave an effective
force of fifty on the side of the City.

In the mean time the enemy was
not inactive, and the Watermen's
Company had already selected Cap-
tain Phillips, of No. 6, to lead the
important enterprise. Phillips was
a-sailor of some experience in the Thames Navy: he had been present at the blockade of Gravesend
Pier, and had moreover distinguished himself by cutting the Ttahy out of Hungerford. He had
also, on one occasion, quelled a mutiny on board the Bachelor by leaping on to the paddle-box,
and singing. " Rule, Britannia," in the midst of the crew, melting the insurgents to tears, and causing
the stoker, in a moment of remorse, to quit the service—for ever.

It will be seen, therefore, that Phillips was likely to prove a formidable foe to the citizens.
He left Woolwich with a gay heart ; his flag flying in the air, his smoke mounting playfully
towards the clouds, and his funnel roaring defiance to the enemy. On his way up the river, he
several times addressed the crew under his command, urging them to strain every nerve in defence
of their rights and liberties. " Gentlemen," said he, " we go to beard the tyrant in his lair.
Remember the words of Nelson : ' Woolwich expects every man to do his duty.' Yes. Gentlemen,
disgrace lies that way, and glory lies the other. Take the first on your right for glory, and there you
are; but take the first on your left, and then—where are you?" Three iruly British cheers re-

sponded to these noble sentiments; and every
one of the little force was eager to give battle
to the enemy.

In the ranks of the City the scene was not less
invigorating. The Pier-keeper reviewed the
troops at eleven o'clock ; and, as he passed up
and down the lines of the police, he addressed
cheering observations to each of them. "Ha,
41," said he, to a veteran of the Civic Blues,
" you and I have fought side-by-side ere this."
The gallant fellow, who had been through the
whole of the tee-total campaign on Kennington
Common, replied with a respectful wink. " What,
my old comrade, 46," cried the Pier-keeper,
addressing a stalwart fellow who had been
broiled beneath some five thousand suns, " how
comes it you are still in the ranks ? We must
have some promotions, I see, after the battle.
We shall want Serjeants, and where shall we
find them if not among our own companions
in arms ?"

Thus did the skilful leader infuse courage into
his cohorts, through the medium of their hopes,
paving a way to triumph for himself over the
vanity of his soldiers.

At length the ship of the formidable Phil-
lips hove in sight, and a shout of derision was
the first symptom of hostility. The Pier-keeper
rushed about with frantic energy among{the
force under his command ; and, with a loud
exclamation of " Men, to your truncheons !"
he prepared to watch from the upper end of the
pier-^through a large telescope—the result of
the encounter. Phillips struck the first blow,
by banging his vessel against the side of the
pier, by which movement the civic forces were
a little shaken ; but they presently rallied, and
though the line had been broken for an instant,
it was soon formed again.

Phillips now summoned the pier garrison to
surrender ; but the Pier-keeper, from his secure
position at the upper end, hurled defiance
through a speaking-trumpet, and, roaring out
" Victory or Death," retired as fast as he cculd
from the field of battle. The engagement now
became general ; and one of the volunteers
under Phillips, belonging to a corps of gentle-
men-passengers, succeeded in effecting a land-
ing. They were, however, instantly taken
prisoners; and Phillips, giving the word to luff,
retreated iu the direction of Hungerford.

Thus ended one of the most formidable con,
tests that ever shook the peace of the City.
The loss on both sides was severe ; the invaders
having lost several passengers, a steam-boat
fender, and a quarter of an hour. On the side of

the police there was also a frightful loss_of

temper.

A BIT OF LUCK.

Monsieur Thiers and all the French mem-
bers belonging to the War party, illuminated
their houses the very evening they heard that
Lord Palmerston had been appointed Minister
of Foreign Affairs.

DELICATE ATTENTION. .

Sir Robert Peel called in Downing Street
last Thursday, and left his card with the house-
keeper: it was marked, " Pour prendre conge"

Vol. 10.

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