Punch: Punch (6.1844)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

103

Young Gentleman. He's looking at a map of Ireland, and scratching
his head.

Mr. Hughes. "Where is Alderman Gibbs—and what is he about ?
Young Gentleman. He's in his study, with Cocker before him, making
two and two five.
Mr. Hughes. Where is Lord Stanley ?
Young Gentleman. In the sulks.

Mr. Hughes. Where is Lord Brougham—and what is he doing ?

Young Gentleman. He's in the House of Lords ; now he's on the
woolsack—and now he's in Lord Lyndhurst's lap.

Fifty other questions were put to the young gentleman, all of
them involving much political and social importance, yet all answered
with equal fidelity, and all giving equal pleasure to a numerous
and respectable audience.

Thus, it will be seen that if Mesmerism have its perils, it also has
its profits. It may, to be sure, send one person to prison, but it
may make another a faithful narrator to the people of all the other-
wise hidden doings of their magistrates and rulers.

ANTI-SLAVERY IN CHINA

rom our own Correspondent at Pekin. We
have received advice, through the medium
of our Flying Post, of a public meeting
which was last week held in that city, for
the purpose of promoting the abolition of
British slavery.

The meeting took place in the factory of
an eminent philanthropist and merchant,
named Twan-Kay, who was voted unani-
mously into the chair.
The proceedings were opened by the Chairman ; who, after a brief
summary of the events of the late war with England, and the loss and
bloodshed which it had entailed upon China, proceeded to observe, that
his countrymen had a fine opportunity of returning good for evil, which
he hoped they would take. The Celestial Court was now on amicable
terms with that of Great Britain ; with which international treaties would
now, from time to time, be contracted. In the next treaty, he trusted,
a clause would be introduced, which would have the effect of putting
down British slavery. He then proceeded to give a graphic and vivid
description of the sufferings of British slaves in mines and factories, and
the agricultural districts ; and dwelt at great length on the horrors of
the workhouse. During this part of his speech, many of the ladies
(who formed a large portion of the audience) fainted. He concluded by
an assertion of the principle, that all mankind were members of one family ;
and said that the eyes of the world were upon China, who expected that
every Chinaman would do his duty ; and that one duty of the Chinaman
was the protection of the slave whether in England or elsewhere. He
then sat down amid much applause.

The attention of the assembly was next claimed by Chou-Shong, an
influential mandarin, who had lately arrived from a visit to England,
which he had spent principally in the metropolis. After stating that lie
fully concurred in all that had fallen from the worthy chairman, he
begged leave to direct the attention of his auditors to a subject, which he
(the chairman) had omitted to mention. He alluded to the condition of
a peculiar description of British slaves, termed linendrapers' assistants.
Immeasurably inferior as were the barbarian English in point of intellect
and civilisation to his countrymen, the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire;
still they were men, and, as such, entitled to sympathy. The linendrapers'
assistant, though an Englishman, was still a man. The sufferings of this
description of British slaves would melt the heart of a stone, and make
the pig-tail of an executioner stand on end.

The linen-draper's assistant or slave, was a young man from sixteen to
twenty-five years of age. His occupation consisted in serving in the
drapers shop : and his daily labour lasted about fifteen hours ; with an
interval of about half-an-hour for meals. During the whole of this time
he was obliged to remain standing ; which was a punishment equivalent
to that of the pillory. Indeed, the only difference between his case and
that of a convicted rogue in China, consisted in the latter having to wear
a wooden collar ; whereas, the former wore a white neckcloth. The
atmosphere of the shop in which he worked was so vitiated by the respi-
ration of the number of his fellow-slaves crowded into it, and in consequence
of being ill ventilated, as to be intolerable for any length of time; and at
night, the quantity of gas consumed in it rendered it almost pestiferous.
To these sufferings he was exposed six days in every week, from six or
seven in the morning to eleven, or twelve, or later at night. So short a
time was he allowed for meals, that he was obliged to swallow his food
like a Vulture or a Cormorant. Linendraper's slaves generally slept, to
the number of twenty or thirty, in one room ; where, in consequence,
the air was positively poisoned. During their six days of work they
were never permitted to take a walk ; and on the seventh, on which they
vere allowed a day's liberty by law, they never thought of attending

the temples or churches ; on the contrary, they usually spent that day
in idle and dissolute company, not knowing, from the uncultivated state
of their intellects, what better to do. The combined effect of their
compulsory mode of life and their personal habits, was such as to
plunge them in a very low state of mind and physical degradation
The English, although barbarians, were naturally a fine race of men. Hj
would exhibit to them a picture (holding it up) of an Englishman That
was the average standard of the English form and proportions. Such was
the picture of John Bull—the individual representative of the national
character. They would mark the strength and muscularity of the limbs,
the breadth of the shoulders, the depth of the chest ; and the fresh, ruddy
colour of the cheeks. (Sensation amongst the ladies.) He would now
show them the portrait of a linendraper's slave (producing it). They
would observe the wasted limbs ; the inward bend of the knees ; the
attenuated frame; and the sallow, emaciated cheeks. (Exclamations.)
Such were the effects produced by slavery. Its consequences often
proved fatal in two or three months ; and, even if they did not, reduced a
brawny Englishman to the state which they beheld. Consumption, fever,
liver complaints, and a thousand other maladies, resulted from this hor-
rible system. He called on all present to do their utmost, little though
that might be, to put a stop to it; and diffuse the blessings of Chinese
liberty over the unhappy land of Albion. (Vociferous cheering.) He
should say no more ; and begged pardon for having detained the meeting
so long. He then resumed his seat, amid protracted cheering.

An individual, whose name did not transpire, inquired whether it was
not true, that it was a common saying in England, that Britons never
would be slaves ?

Chou-shong replied that that was quite true ; but, like many other sav-
ings, it was all nonsense. The linendraper's slave, unless he did all that
was required of him, and that without a murmur, was discharged from
his employment. He had then the option of starving or going into the
workhouse ; and if that was not slavery, he should like to know what
was ? (Applause.)

The Chairman then proposed a resolution, to the effect that his Celes-
tial Majesty the Emperor be forthwith humbly solicited to command the
British Legislature to abolish ail slavery within the English dominions ;
or, at least, to compel masters, and especially linendrapers, to treat theii
slaves with humanity.

The resolution having been carried by acclamation, the meeting
separated.

JEMIMA SPRIGGS AT---!!!

ov btless our readers are familiar with the
celebrated danseuse, Jemima Spriggs, whose
Highland Fling and Rowing Hornpipe have
been the admiration of every saloon in the
suburbs. The following letter, which we have
obtained at an enormous outlay, shows that
the fair writer is as remarkable for intel i-
gence and truly feminine vivacity, as she
is for the brilliancy of her Terpsichorean
achievements. We have suppressed the
name of the locality to which she alludes,
and leave our readers to pick about Penton
ville, Islington, and Hoxton.

" Dear Letty,

" Here I am at last, and the awful period of probation is passed.

Veni, vidi, vici. My ' Fling ' has been seen at the---Saloon ;

admired, applauded—drawn money ! Having just got over the fluster of
success, I sit down to give you a plain narrative of my progress.

" Our parting as I entered the Paddington omnibus you, of course,
recollect. Never shall I forget the kindness with which you ran back to
our lodging for my gingham umbrella, and the pertinacity with which you
required the driver to stop till you returned with it. Well ; what with
nibbling my Abernethys, and munching the nice large apple you gave
me, my journey in the omnibus proceeded pleasantly enough. It is a
curious reflection when in one of these vehicles, that one sits so quiet
one's self, and yet the wheels are twirling round beneath one. We
thus see, that in this great world two things may be going on at the same
time. But a truce to philosophy !

" At the corner of--Street I alighted, and asked of an old apple-
woman my road to the--Saloon. The dear old soul informed me, and

out of gratitude I purchased two apples, which I pleasantly told her
ought to be called a, pear (pair). She did not laugh, and I at once per-
ceived that a constant adherence to commercial pursuits deadens the fine
perception of wit.

" Following my nose—as our dear Herbert used to say—I soon came

to the--Saloon. I sent in my card, and asked to see the manager.

He was a stout corpulent man, dressed in a suit of rusty black. Time
had been unable to quench that cunning which sparkled in his eye. But
I was as cunning as he. I was resolved to have fifteen shillings per
week, not a farthing less ; and all remonstrance on his part would be
absolutely useless. I mentioned these terms in a firm voice. The manager