Punch: Punch (17.1849)

56

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

REAL ENJOYMENT.

Annie. "Good bye, dear. You must come again soon, and spend a good long day, and

then I can show you all my new things."

Clara. "Oh! that will be nice! Good bye, dear." {Kiss, and exit.)

THE CASE OE THE STATION CLERKS.

Since our appeal on behalf of the Station
Clerks, we have been inundated with letters of
thanks from these solitaries, several of whom
are getting quite like the prisoner of Chillon—
only with the Chill-off—for they don't take it
half so cool, but protest warmly against their
treatment. Many of them live in such seclusion,
that if they were released from their solitudes,
they would almost have forgotten how to hold
a conversation, or say anything beyond " Right;"
and indeed there is one of our Correspondents,
who, describing himself as an Odd Fellow, com-
plains that he has so long pursued " the even
tenour of his way "—the Railway—that there
is nothing odd about him any longer, since he
lias been debarred from attending the social meet-
ings of his fraternity.

Another unfortunate individual laments bitterly
the hardship of being unable to combine with
his fellow sufferers in expressing their sentiments,
but the only thing they are suffered to express
is an express train once or twice a day, while
they long in vain for the aid of the only engine
that would be of any use to them—that great
moral engine, the Press, which has a boiler
always boiling over with virtuous indignation at
wrong and oppression. Now that we have got
our steam up on this subject, we shall continue
from time to time on the line we have taken,
and we have no doubt that we shall rapidly bring
the grievances of the Station Clerks to a terminus.

Shortly will be Out. — Smith O'Brien,
Meaghek, and Co.

THE QUEEN IN IRELAND.

\_From our own Correspondent.^

ullin, August 4.—The excife-
ment of the city continues,
like the beds at the taverns,
on the rise. Already, two or
three far-seeing members of
the Corporation have been
on the look out, with tele-
scopes of forty-eagle power,
for ihe smoke of the Victoria
/md Albert. This very simple
fact will give you some notion
of the enthusiasm of this ro-
mantic and generous people.

And here, Mr. Punch, you
must, whether you will or
no, permit nie to congratu-
late you on the choice of your
own Correspondent at such a
juncture, and to perform so nice a duty as that of detailing to you the
events, opinions, and secret thoughts of the population of Dublin. How
rarely do you find united in the same person the elegance, the quietude,
the serene energy and the accomplishments of the high-bred gentleman
with the watchfulness' and confidence of the Reporter. One fact—a
native modesty does not allow me to make the one fact two—-will
illustrate my meaning and position. On my arrival, I lost no time
in consulting my portmanteau and looking-glass. Shaved and kidded,
I drove to the Viceregal Lodge, Phcenix Park. I sent in my card,—
" P. O'Noman, of Punch." In three minutes a gentleman of the most
aristocratic bearing—there is no mistaking blood, Mr. Punch; it is
nature's own mark, in her brightest red—stood beside my car. He
was arrayed in a gorgeous silk dressing-gown, sprinkled with sham-
rocks, and having at the back the royal arms, worked in damask. I at
once recognised my man. It was, of course, the Loud Lieutenant.
" My_ dear Sir," said he, shaking me cordially by the hand, and
assisting me to jump from tlm car ; "my dear Sir, as we say in Gaelic
mille ceadfeath—a hundred million welcomes. Come in, Sir; come
in. You'll make me the most miserable man on earth if you have
bi eakfasted." I had not—at least I said so ; for I would not disappoint

the Lord Lieutenant. Good fellow, Clarendon : and the Dublin
Bay haddock beyond expression. During breakfast we talked of the
state of the country; and Clarendon was pleased to express his
opinion—even on so short an acquaintance—that I appeared to be the
only man capable of going to the root of the evil of Ireland. His Excel-
lency may be partial; nevertheless, he is a man of prodigious penetration.
Leaving the breakfast-room, what was my surprise to see my port-
manteau on the shoulder of a servant, in the viceregal livery, ascending
the stairs. " I ordered your luggage to be brought from the inn. You
must make the Lodge your home while in Dublin. Indeed you must:
it's a way we have in Ireland. Meanwhile, my dear O'Noman, one
of my equerries shall show you the lions. I am, as you may suppose, a
good deal occupied; and must now leave you, as I have to choose a
thousand yards of tabinet for the housemaids. By the way, do you
smoke,—or is it too early ? " And his lordship placed his cigar-case in
my hands. " We dine at eight: be punctual; auplaisir." Saying this,
with another cordial squeeze of the hand, his lordship proceeded upon
his duties, leaving me to mine. You will at once perceive that it i.»
impossible for your own Correspondent to write under more auspicious
circumstances. I shall now proceed to put you in possession of the
feelings and doings of this most excellent, and most impulsive people.

The Lord Mayor of London is hourly expected. He will, it is said,
arrive in his own barge, pulled by Common Councilmen, and steered by
Sir Peter Laurie. It is not generally known, but in order to evince
a lull appreciation of the Dublin hospitality, the Lord Mayor will be
accompanied (they will arrive per steamer) by Gog and Magog. They
have been newly painted in bran new suits of emerald green : and will
wear potato blossoms in their button-holes, cut expressly for the occasion.
It is supposed, however, that the Giants will not appear in public ; but
during their stay, wilt remain strictly incog. To make the thing as
picturesque as possible, the Lord Mayor will appear in the dress of
the time of Sir William Walworth, and will wear in his girdle the
dagger from the City Arms. Of course in all places, and in the most
joyous seasons, there will be found poor timorous quidnuncs with doubts
that would blight, amaranths. Hence, I have heard certain alarmists
declare that the Saxon Mayor and Corporation of London have no other
view m coming here than to absorb the Mayor and Corporation of
Dublin. It has been openly prophesied that, long before November