Punch: Punch (38.1860)

242 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [June 16, i860.

A SHOCKING YOUNG LADY INDEED!

'Emily [betrothed to Charles). “On, Charles, Isn’t it tun ? I’ve beaten Arthur and Julia, and I’ve broke Aunt Sally’s

Nose seven times ! ”

THE LIVERPOOL BOMBAS.

•

Distuting witli a cabman is not a very pleasant or ennobling occu-
pation, and when, by any chance, the cabman happens to be right, the
dispute somewhat partakes of a humiliating tendency. Now a squabble,
we are told, has been going on in Liverpool between the cabmen
and the Town Council of that important port: and we incline rather
to think that the latter have not raised themselves in public estima-
tion by their acts, either in starting or conducting the dispute. A
letter we last week inserted on the subject will have informed our
readers of the matter in contention; which is, whether cabmen, while
waiting for a fare, are to be permitted to seek solace in a pipe. This
momentous question has been argued by the Council with (no doubt)
some strength of argument, while the cabmen have discussed it in
language doubtless stronger. It seems an old bye-law exists prohi-
biting the practice; and although it has been long considered a dead
letter, the Council have determined to bring it into life again. Were
our -opinion asked, we should say that such a bye-law is clearly a
gone-bye law, being quite at variance with the spirit of the age. So
long as he abstains from making it a nuisance, a cabman, being a free
subject, surely has a right to smoke. If he makes himself offensive,
of course he will be told of it, and the public, by not hiring him, will
soon put out his pipe. The remedy may surely, then, be trusted to
their hands; and there is really no occasion to make Liverpool like
Naples, by taking a tobacco leaf from Bomba’s book, and issuing
proclamations against smoking in the streets.

But this is not the only point of likeness which is traceable; for we
learn that the Town Council have taken yet another leaf from the same
book, and are subjecting a number of her Majesty’s free subjects to a
treatment as tyrannical as that which has been practised by King
Bomba’s own police. The Liverpool Mercury informs us that—

“ The promoters of the Cardrivers’ Memorial to the Town Council for the repeal
of the bye-law which prohibits them from smoking-, wished to place sheets for
signature in the streets, so as to elicit a demonstration of the feeling of the public ;
but wo learn, to our astonishment, that the police interfered to prevent this not

unusual course of procedure. We always thought that the right of petition was one
of the peculiar and inalienable privileges of Englishmen ; but in municipal matters,
at all events, the police seem determined to extinguish the right. Not only do they
prohibit smoking in the streets, but writing .n the streets. Not only do they refuse
to let a Cabdriver indulge in the luxury ot a pipe, but they will not allow him to
petition the Town Council for permission to indulge in it.’’

Whether a Town Council is invested with a right to put a cabman’s
pipe out, is a point which we may leave to lawyers to determine; for
sometimes common law is one thing and common sense another. But
we cannot well believe that there exists an Act of Parliament which
prohibits one from signing a petition in a street. If there be, the
sooner it is blotted out the better; for England will soon cease to be
viewed as a free country, if men are not at liberty to write their names
down publicly, without having their shoulders tapped by the police.

FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.

A Young widower, endowed with a handsome face, a graceful and
elegant figure, an amiable disposition, immense property, first-rate
education, brilliant abilities, refined taste, especially in dress, peculiarly
fascinating manners, and a great many other advantages too numerous
to mention, would be happy to enter into a matrimonial engagement
with any young lady of sound principles, good sense, good temper, fair
education, and moderate personal beauty, whose face may constitute
her sole fortune. To these recommendations there must be added one
condition, which is indispensable. Having already had an experience
of that state which, when not embittered by discord and dissension, is
truly described as domestic happiness, he has come to the conclusion
that the partner of his lot, if it is to be an agreeable one, must have
no relatives whose interference and importunities will be likely to
create variance between himself and bis wife. Immediate atten
tion will be paid, with the strictest secresy, to any communication,
addressed to Punch's Office, by any fatherless and motherless young
lady, and a deeided preference would be given to a Friendless
Orphan. Direct to Adonis Crcesus Crichton.