Punch or The London charivari (4.1843)

152 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

GRAND I NVENTION!
INDIA IN TWrO HOURS !! — PUNCH'S AERIAL COURIER THE GULL!!!
It is this week a task of the deepest
and most gratifying pride to lay before
our readers the present representation and
account of our extraordinary invention.
Time and space are now annihilated—an
era has arrived in which all ordinary
methods of locomotion are for ever sub-
verted—and Punch's Aerial Courier—The
Gull—will henceforth be the sole means
of communication from one country to
another, however distant.
The annexed engraving represents the
vessel as she will appear, cleaving her
way through the air with the velocity of
a shooting star, and carrying upwards of
an hundred passengers. The suspensory
and propelling power is obtained by the
union of Steam with Punch ; and the fol-
lowing account of the manner in which
these gigantic forces are brought to act,
will assist the reader in comprehending
the construction. Tlie letters have refer-
ence to the illustration.
A. The main suspenders, of a peculiarlv light
nature, being entirely formed of numbers
of Punch, coupling power with volatility,
and acting as shown above.
B. The engine-room, in which are contained
the principal steam-works, by the action
of which are turned
C. The propellers, or fantail revolvers, making
10,000 revolutions per minute, and
fashioned like the sails of the windmill
in common use.
D. The chimney, for making a current of air in the fire-place, and carrying
away the smoke.
E. The saloon, provided with every comfort and luxury, from piano-fortes to
bottled porter, fitted up to represent a castle in the air, with gossamer
couches and cobweb tapestries.
F. The promenade in fine weather, filled with company, and enlivened by a band
of instrumental performers, who will, on the day of starting, perform the
Scarus Quadrilles, composed expressly for the occasion by Juliien.
G. The ballast-box and wine-cellar. Arrangements have been made with
the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge to buy all their
heavy back stock, for ballast.
II. The figure-head, being a colossal likeness of Mr. Punch, with apartments
in the head for select passengers.
l< Three gigantic peacocks' feathers of sheet brass, to act as a rudder, with
immense power, and realize the " sturdy steer" of Spenser.
K. Two grapnels, for the double purpose of assisting the descent of the


Centrifugal Railways and Inclined Planes will be erected for the coi
vtfyan.ee of travellers from all the stations, who will be so completely
flabbergastered with wonder, that it will be a perfect matter of in
difference to them whether they are upon their head or their heels.
The branch lines will run as follows :
From the Nelson Column to the various hotels in the neighbourhood.
From the Column Vend&me to Meurice's, Rue di Rivoli.
From Mont Blanc to the HOtel de Londres, Chamouny.
From Venice to the Albergo dell' Europa, Grand Canal.
From St. Sophia to the Great Bazaar, Gate of Adrianople.
From Bagdad to the Grand dravanserai.
From Bombay to the Cabool Hotel.
There is no regular station on the Himalayas from Nankin to the
Confucius Arms, Wang Square.
All persons flying kites, letting off rockets, or sending up balloons
courier, (should such auxiliaries be found necessary which some , l •.,*, , j j -.L . r. '
i k.\ a i » t .ill. - , uw*Hw*ijr, ",UL" SU"1C : on the line, will be dropped down upon with the greatest severitv
doubt), and also to clutch hold of anvthing on the journev worth tak- 1 5 11

ing. It is calculated a few statues, ships, and objects of art and value
may be grabbed every voyage by these means, sufficient to pay for the
fuel, which will be entirely formed of former inhabitants of Memphis,
who burn beautifully.
L. The smoke.
M. Barracks for troops, and stores for the ammunition, removed to this part
for the accommodation of those who dislike the smell of powder.
The fares will be regulated by the weight, and not by the age of
the passengers. The line of road has been already determined upon,
from London to Bombay, nearly as the crow flies ; and the Courier
will stop at intermediate stations for passengers. The whole voyage

PUNCH'S NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
diagram illustrative of
"in at onk ear and out at the other."

A luminous ray,pass- A brilliant sally fron.
ing from a rarer to a As the encephalon of a rare
denser medium,becomes ^^.^^^^^r^Sf t'K' "' wit' str'^in? l,Pon tne
refracted; the angle of ' ^ tj> denser medium of the
refraction being equal to ^^J*^ t/f thick skull of a block-
will be performed in two hours, includingstoppaees For the use of tte an8le of incidence. T^^>7 l.ead,becomes refracted;

commercial gentlemen we have added the following
TIME TABLE

name of station.

a.
m
London Tf.rminus.—Top of Nelson Column

10
0
Paris.—Column of Place Yenddme

10
15
Summit of Mont Blanc .....

10
30
Venice.—Campanile of St. Mark

10
45
Constantinople.—Minarets of St. Sophia.

11
7
Bagdad.—Summit of Mosque ....

11
30
Bombay.—Wherever they cau

12
0
grand junction br..nch to china.

p.
m.
Bombay ........

1
0
Himalaya Mountains .....

1
10
Nankin.—Porcelain Tower .

2
0

HOUR 07 arrival.

the angle of refraction
being equal, Sec.

In consequence of numerout complaints received from all parts of the country a, to
the difficult)/ in procuring the Weekly Numbers of PUNCH, the Proprietors have
determined to print a STAMPED EDITION, (price id.) which may be sent free b)
Post, commencing with Number IXXX. It will be Published every Thursday
Morning, and may be procured through any Newsman, or by direct application to the
Office, No. 13, Wellington Street, Strand. In the latter case, a Post Office Order for
payment must be enclosed. As only a sufficient number of copies to supply the demand
will be stamped, early application is particularly requested. The Publication of'.he
Unstamped Edition,and of the Monthly Parts, will be continued precisely as heretofsrc
Printed bv Messrs. Bradbury and Evans. Lombard Street, in the precinct of Whitefriars. in the
citv ol London, and published by Joseph Smith, of No. 53, St. John". Wood Terrace, Recent ■
Park, in the Parish of Marylebone, in the County of Middlesex, at the Orfice, No. IS. » ■UtqjrWa
Street, Strand, in the precinct of the Sai oy, in the county ot Middlesex.—Sitvksat, Ap>' 4. 184*