Punch (12.1847)

78

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

THE RISING GENERATION-

IMPERTINENT INTRUSION.

Old Winter has been lately playing the part of Don Basilio
in the Barber of Seville. No sooner did we imagine that we had
got fairly rid of him, than he comes back with his horrible
agitato movement and disagreeable tremolo. We had hoped
that he had gone to sleep for the next ten months at least,
and had wished him buona sera, when he suddenly returns,
making us 3hake hands whether we will or no, and rendering
himself eminently disagreeable. He seems to serenade us
somewhat after the following fashion :—

Oh leave the gay, the social room,

The fire so warm and bright,
And rove with me, 'mid cold and gloom,

In February's night.
And as you take your chilling way,

From home and comfort far,
'Tis not improbable you may

Incur a slight catarrh.

I'll tell thee how the lady sneezed,

When out in cold and rain ;
And how the podgy vet'ran wheezed,

And ne'er breath'd free again.
I'll tell thee how the feet kept dry,

The best preservers are ;
But if your boots or shoes are shy,

You '11 catch a slight catarrh.

A. Stranger in the Gallery.

The other night, at the close of business in the House of
Commons, the Sergeant-at-Arms made the awful announce-
ment that he had caught a stranger in the Members' Gallery.
The wretched intruder was at once seized, but it having been
explained that he had lost his way, he was discharged from
custody. It is natural enough that a stranger should lose
himself in such a labyrinth as the ways of the House of
Commons. Their narrowness, intricacy, and tortuosity are
certainly enough to bewilder any unfortunate stranger who
accidentally gets into them.

Juvenile. "I say, Harriet—do us a favour ? " | -gEW Appointment.—Mr. J. A Roebuck, to be Taxing

Pretty Cousin. " Well, what is it ?" j Master Extraordinary of the Parliamentary Bills, vice Ms,

Juvenile. "Give us a lock of your hair to take back to school." | Joseph Hume, resigned.

HUGH IVP.NEILE AND A GENERAL FAST.

This gentleman has already obtained an unfortunate celebrity by
his sermon on the visit of Prince Albert to Liverpool—a sefmon dis-
figured and debased by the most irreverent comparison of a mere man
with the Divine Nature. He has now penned a petition to the Queen
—a petition lying for signature at Liverpool—for a general fast.
Mr. M'Neile has, we understand, most laudably exerted himself in
behalf of the suffering Irish ; but such exertions do not justify the
absurdity and audacity of the man who attributes the present famine
to the wickedness of the people, who have drawn upon themselves the
wrath of Heaven. "Your petitioners," says the document—■

'"'—cannot, therefore, hear the tidings daily arriving from Ireland, of inquest after
inquest returning verdicts of 'death by starvation,' without recognising the outstretched
hand of Almighty God.

•' Your petitioners believe also, on the same sacred authority, and without presuming
to be wise above what is written, that famine and pestilence are two of the sore inflictions
of an offended God for the transgressions of a guilty people ; and that when theyappear,
wise men should hear in them a voice calling aloud to national repentance.

" Your petitioners are grieved to perceive that, by persons of station and influence,
sentiments have been uttered wholly subversive of tills fundamental principle of the
religion which your Majesty has solemnly sworn to defend, and calculated, as far as their
evil example can extend, to propagate praelical infidelity amongst your Majesty's
subjects."

What—we ask it—have been the transgressions of the wronged and
wretched peasantry ? They have been ground to the dust by oppres-
sion, and they have never murmured. But—we think we discover the
meaning of the preacher—they have been smitten for the patience
with which they have endured long-suffering. Doubtless, thinks Mr.
M'Neile, there is ;i point at which resignation becomes pusillanimity.
If he do not mea»i this, we can see nothing in the words of the petition-
monger—nothing save religion turned inside out.

Diplomacy.—The old proverb of "He lies like truth," has been
altered for the use of rising diplomatists into "He lies like'Guizoi."

" now, you boys had 2bttes. be quiet, or i shall call the police, a3 surj

a3 yod 're born."