Punch: Punch (21.1851)

54

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

PUNCH'S ANNIVERSARIES.-No. 1. GIBRALTAR TAKEN BY THE ENGLISH, JULY 24th, 1704.

A Most Difficult Question
to Decide.

Of all Diplomatic ques-
tions, the following, we think,
is the most difficult to de-
cide :—

" Mb. Uequhabt said (on July
17th) the noble Lord (Palmebston)
tLought he knew better than he did,
but he thought he knew better than
the noble Lord."

"We cannot help agreeing (for
once) with Mb. Urquhart—
he decidedly ought " to know
better."

friendly advice to the
koh-i-noor.

" If you 're a Diamond,
why don't you behave as
sich?"

KEY TO THE ABOVE.

1. Sir George Rooke.

2. The Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt.

3. Sir John Leake.

4. Admiral Byng.

5. The Marquis de Salines, Governor ot
Gibraltar, with the great Keys of the
Town.

. 6, and 7. Two Spanish Nobles.

Conscience Money.

THE CHANCELLOR OF
THE EXCHEQUER is happy
to acknowledge the sum of £250,000
from three Bishops, whose names,
from obvious feelings of delicacy, he
refrains from mentioning. The mu-
nificent donation was sent under the
head of "Conscience Money," and
was said to consist principally of
" Monies overpaid." It was accom-
panied with the request that the sum
might be handed over to the Eccle-
siastical Commissioners, with the
view of its being applied to the in-
crease of incomes of poor curates.
These generous instructions have
been complied with.

the clerk of the eccle-
siastical weather.

Mr. Horsman has been
described " as a Weathercock,
to point out to Bishops which
way the wind was blowing
over the Established Church."

THE GREAT EGG MYTH.

The Reverend Mr. Alban Pipeclay—Chaplain to the 209th
Greens—presents his regardful compliments to Mr. Punch, and begs
to direct his instant attention to a recent overwhelming letter of the
Colonel of the 8th Hussars, who—curtly as becomes an officer—denies
the popular conviction (though supported on oath) that any of his corps
was engaged in the Battle of the Eggs, on the day of the Oaks.

Since then—Mr. A. P. observes, that—one Miles, who " encloses his
card," assures the Morning Herald that, "with one exception, no officer
of the 16th Lancers " was present in the apocryphal affray.

The Reverend Mr. A. P. submits to the consideration of Mr. Punch
this question—" Is not the whole matter a myth ? Do the 8th Hussars
exist ? Are there any 16th Lancers ?" At a time like the present,
public opinion cannot be too captious.

The wise Plutarch has propounded this question (not yet resolved),
" Which was the first, the bird or the egg ? "

Mr. Alban Pipeclay, in consideration of the high claims of the
army upon the gratitude of Englishmen, suggests that they had better
first determine the above question, ere they accuse of ungentlemanly
conduct the mythical officers of mythical forces. When it is determined
which—from the beginning of things—was the first, the bird or the
egg; then—Mr. A. P. respectfully submits—then will be the proper
time to investigate the causes of an assault which, in the opinion of
every military mind? is purely mythic and fabulous. But there will be
a wholesome re-action. Yes; another fortnight, and the eggs of the
8th and 16th will take their place with the roc's egg of Sinbad the
Sailor. " Such "—as Mr. Alban Pipeclay, after much thought upon
the matter, conceives—" such is life !"