Punch (7.1844)

Notice.

St. Martin's-lc-Grand, July 19th.
Emterors, Kings, Princes, Grand Dukes, Viceroys, Popes, Poten-
tates, Infants, Regents, Barons, and Foreign Noblemen in general,
are respectfully announced that, on and after the present month, the
following alterations will take place in the opening of letters :—

Letters
posted at

Opened at

9 a.m.

10 a.m.

10 a.m.

1 1 a.m.

12

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p

6 p.m.

Copies of letters opened will be despatched the same evening, and j
every information afforded as to the address of suspected parties.

A Polish and Italian translator is now permanently engaged, and
a choice assortment of foreign seals has lately been added to the
extensive collection.

Greater dexterity practised since the recent disclosures.

*%* No increase in the prices.

-

Extensive Imperial Failure.

Considerable sensation has been created in Imperial and Royal circles
by the alleged insolvency of Prince Jerome Bonaparte. The Prince
has, it appears, made a target of a certain luminary, or in other words,
" shot the moon," by precipitately leaving Florence. The Ex-king of
Westphalia was never confined to Ham—or its fortress.

THE GENERAL ADVERTISER.

Lord Brougham has been appointed in the House of Lords one of the
Committee for inquiring into the opening of letters. Since the Committee
is a 6ecret one, his loquacious Lordship has of course been appointed to
officiate on all divisions in the capacity of a Teller.

REVIEWERS REVIEWED.

The Quarterly Revtew.—Murray.

One of the most elaborate articles in the present number of this pleasant
little miscellany is on the subject of illustrated books, in which an im-
mense fund of information is exhibited. In speaking of Punch, the writer
learnedly remarks, that it owes at least half its popularity to the pencil oi
George Cruikshank — whose power of imparting popularity to any work
we do not for a moment doubt—though we hardly see how he has increased
the reputation of Punch, to which, as it so happens, he has never contri-
buted a single effort of his genius. We might as well say that our con-
temporary, the Quarterly, owes more than half its popularity to Boghos
Bey, or Dr. Prtetorius.

Considering the variety of subjects the Quarterly touches upon, from
Toys to Timbuctoo, and from Punch to the Punjaub. it must be difficult
to collect the necessary facts, so that much must be left to the imagination
of the writer. The Quarterly reviewer has written about Punch without
knowing anything of the matter, as the gross blunder he has made will
testify. To show that we are not ill-natured, we promise that when we
again criticise the Quarterly, we will actually read it first ; and this would
be indeed making a sacrifice at the shrine of impartiality.

THE POST-OFFICE BALL.

The Waverley Ball in aid of the funds for the completion of Scott's
Monument having succeeded so well, it has been resolved to get up a
grand Post-office Dress Ball for the purpose of erecting a Statue to Sir
James Graham, in commemoration of his "opening" virtues, so recently
discovered. We are enabled to give a few of the character-quadrilles,
with the distinguished names of the parties who have kindly consented to
preside over them.

The Jack Sheppard Quadrille . . Lord Brougham.

The Paul Pry Quadrille . . Lord Stanley.

The Peeping Tom Quadrille . . Sir Robert Peel.

The Devil to Pay Q.uadrille . . Thomas Buncombe, Esq.

The Hypocrite Quadrille . . . The Editor of the Standard.

Other Quadrilles are in agitation ; and there is no doubt that sufficient
money will be returned to pay the expense of the Graham Statue, the
more especially as it is intended to cast it of the very finest bla>jk sealing-
wax. It will be erected somewhere inside the Post-office.