Punch (10.1846)

9G

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

PUNCH'S POLITICAL DICTIONARY.

Enlistment. The process by •which fine active young men
engage themselves as private soldiers, under the impression that they
•will have nothing to do but talk to the nursery-maids in the park, or
ride upon race horses at full gallop in splendid hussar uniforms.
A recruit is not liable to be proceeded against for leaving his wife
and children chargeable to the parish ; so that enlistment is the only
cheap method of obtaining a divorce in the lower grades of society.

Equality. A general levelling, which, when the world is full of
flats, may be perfectly practicable.

Equerry. From the French ecurie, a stable, an officer of the
royal household ; because, according to Miller, the household
derives from it a stable character.

Equity is, according to Blackstone, synonymous with true
justice, and is the soul and spirit of law. As spirits do not dwell on
this earth, we can understand the visits of real equity being few and
far between, in accordance with its angelic character. The humorous
Mr. Selden—by-the-bye, what a melancholy age it must have been
when the lawyers were the best humourists—calls equity " a roguish

A PROPHECY FEOM THE POTATO.

We remember a nursery fragment—as, doubtless, does the reader
—running thus :—

"Thebutcher, the baker,
The candlestick maker,
All jumped out of a rotten potato ! "

We know not whether the good Father Mathew had this dog-
grel in his thoughts, but he has hopefully suggested that future
plenty may be made to germinate from the present potato blight.
The noble meek-hearted man has written a letter to the Cork
Examiner, in which he dilates on the use and importance of Indian
corn as an article of food. He says, " I hope for many ulterior
advantages from what at present is a calamity : our people will be
deterred from depending solely upon potatoes for food;" and he
concludes as follows :—

" With the gratifying prospecIS now before us of sufficient remunerative labour for
the whole unemployed population of Ireland, I indulge in the expectation of soon seeing
the potato reduced to its proper position of a vegetable, to be used with flesh meat, fyc ,
as an accompaniment, and no longer to be esteemed as an exclusive article of food,

except for hogs."

We fervently hope so too. And when Paddy shall enjoy his own
pork, with a bit of Sunday mutton or beef; shall break his daily
bread of good wholesome corn ; when he shall be enabled to secure
to his family these small comforts, originating in the present dire
distress-—made ultimately attainable by him in consequence of the
attention of the legislature to his present misery—then let the little
children of Ireland be taught the above-named doggrel as a house-
hold song of comfort and thanksgiving, and let them (generously
assuming the advent of the maker of candlesticks) pipe from con-
tented, full bellies, the realised prophecy :—

"The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick maker,
DID jump out of a rotten potato."

We think that Victoria herself would hear as sweet music in
this as ever she listened to in " God save the Queen."

ECCLESIASTICAL EXHIBITIONS.

As it appears that the taking money
at the doors of the Cathedrals, in the Ca V H F R F

same way as payment is received at the
entrances of a theatre, will continue
thing,' because it varies with the conscience of the Chancellor; and a permanent practice, we recommend
as that is larger or narrower, so is equity. Had he lived in these j the erection of regular money-takers'
days, he would have compared it to a pair of Indian-rubber trowsers,; boxes, where a Bishop or a Dean migut
which, when the straps are cut, fly half-way up the leg, and leave it | occasionally attend in person, and ttius
bare, which he would probably have declared to be typical of the by gaining a knowledge of the actual
fate of the client. Equity gives relief when law has failed, the ' receipts, be able to judge of the honesty
relief often consisting of the process of relieving the suitor of his j of inferior officers. A comfortable ar-
money rangement with " pay here" written in

Esquire, (literally, a shield-bearer.) is the next title or dignity \ conspicuous letters over_ tib» wfcke^
. . c l • i.i a j • • r 6 '• would give greater respectability to the

to that of knight. Some derive the word esquire from equus a exhibi*on tfmn lhe verger keeping the

horse ; _ and m Germany the untitled nobility are still called the t duor half and parleying about

equestrian order ; and it would seem that the company at Astley's, 1 ttie pIlce 0f admission with any one who
being all of the equestrian order, would rank with the Barons of | may happen to present himself at the
Germany. The sons of the nobility, and the members themselves ! entrance without being aware of the
of certain professions, are rightful esquires ; and writers on prece- nature of the arrangements, lc is a
dence talk of esquires having been created by investiture with j common practice with Toll Contractors
silver spurs, which has given way to the custom of investiture with [ to attend in person occasionally at the
a steel pen, for esquires are now created every day by having letters ! various gates, so that by the receipts of
addressed to them. It has been said that such esquires have quite the day they may check the correct-
as good a title as the rest, for they can prove their title to the letter. ; uess of the returns made 1by the ordinary

' ' r turnpike men. The Cathedrals ana

Abbeys of the metropolis haviog become
recognised sources of profit, there need
be no delicacy whatever on the part of
the ecclesiastical digaitaries, who, hav-
Ms. Bright, in allusion to the benefits and beauties of the game laws, ing an interest in the receipts, cannot

A DUCAL POULTERER.

said that "in the year 1844 the Duke of Rutland 4< paid 1)15/. for
game damages on 389 acres of land." Well ! His Grace knows what
he is about; for as he is the largest wholesale poulterer in England—
duly carting his hares and pheasants to Newgate Market—he can show
a very pretty profit on the transaction. Besides, his Grace also turns a
decent penny with hare-skins ; nearly all the buyers of the article being,
as we understand, nothing more than middle-men, or middle-women, (as
the case may be,) to the Dcke of Rutland. For if a noble deals in the
flesh of hares, we don't see why he shouldn't trade in the thins.

hink it a compromise of dignity to look after their own business.

"THE LITTLE STRANGER" FOR WESTMINSTER.
During the election of Colonel Evans there was a constant inquiry
made by the electors, " Where can be Mr. Leader ?" And the shades

of Putney answered—" Where I "