Punch: Punch (17.1849)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

41

of this kind, comeoff naturally enougn with more kicks than halfpence.
Unfortunately a jealousy arose in consequence of dog Toby having
unconsciously given offence to the dogs of war, and having in fact been
suspected of acting in the dishonourable character of a tale-bearer in

the interest of the enemy. This unpleasant circumstance having come
to the ears of Mr. Punch, he was unwilling that the queue of Toby should
be converted into a " queue to fight," and he accordingly made at once
for the frontier.

SEASIDE INTELLIGENCE.

We have lately received papers from the Coast, and from our stores
of information—which we are justified in regarding as marine stores, in
everything but the waste paper sense of the term—we select the
following.

Gravesend.—This milk and watery sea-port, which stands suspended,
like Mahomet's Tomb, between the arms of Father Thames and
Neptune, is in the full height of its brief season. The last of the
Barons—the laird of Nathan—remains at his Hall of Banners, sup-
ported by his trusty retainer, in virtue of which, he is retained for the
whole of the summer at a liberal salary. In commercial matters there
is little doing, but we heard of a sale being effected of yesterday's
shrimps at to-day's prices ; perrivvinkles being sixpence a mille—id eat,
a thousand—dearer at Gravesend than at Billingsgate, it follows that
the exchange is a few pints in favour of the latter.

Herne Bay.—Our latest dates from this locality go back as far as
the end of June, which may be accounted for by the blockade of high
steamboat fares being still continued. The pier proprietors co-operate
cordially in the blockade, and aid, by prohibition pier dues, the pro-
hibition prices of the steamboats, while the prohibition fares of tne
South Eastern Railway do their part in the establishment of the some-
what contradictory policy of keeping the public literally at Bay, by
keeping everybody away from it.

Margate.—Our last advices from this place represent the proprietors
of the bathing-rooms to be moved by the same courteous mclinations—
the constant inclination of the head to every passer-by which has always
distinguished them. The promenading along the Boulevard des Juives
is now at its height, and at the Bazaars of both Levy and Jolly there
is a characteristic mixture of Levity'and Jollity among the cockney
visitors. The town " crier" has been in full cry lately after the lost
purses and missing poodles of the people, and Margate slippers, though
up at haif-a-crown, are down at heel in most cases.

Ramsgate.—This place was a few days ago enlivened by the presence
of royalty, ir. having bt-en fixed upon by the Queen oe the Belgians
as the point of her embarkation for Ostend in a most unostentatious
manner. The inhabitants, however, would not lose the chance of an
excitement, and a procession was arranged to accompany Her Belgian
Majesty down the pier to the steamer. The first thing to be done
was the collection of a crowd, of which a nucleus was soon formed by
a few boys, who were attracted by the turning out of the coast-guard—
a compact cohort of eight—in full uniform. This force was marched
down to the landing-place at an early hour, and at a little after 12 the
royal procession entered the pier gates in the following order:—

A Man on a Horse—supposed to be the Mare of Ramsgate.

an open one-horse ely,

which had been ordered to stand at ease on the nearest stand till it
was wanted, and now occupied by two gentlemen in cocked hats, and
blue coats with embroidered collars, who were supposed to form part
of the suite of Her Majesty.

A Shut up Fly, drawn by a pair of poorly caparisoned Horses,

who seemed tc feel that their caparisons were odious, and carrying

four ladies, who passed along amid exclamations of " Is one of them
the Queen oe the Belgians?"

a yellow post-chaise with a pink. post-boy

driving " four insides," who bowed courteously to the bystanders in
reply to their doubtless inaudible greeting of " Well, it ain't much of
a procession, is it ? "

The procession was preceded a few yards by a vehicle, drawn by one
apparently rather clever cob, half filled with carpet bags, and inscribed
with the words,

" south-eastern luggage van."

A pier policeman led the van on this occasion.

On the alighting of the occupants of the flies, it became clear, oy tne
respect shown to her, that "the One inBlue," as the bystanders termed
an exceedingly ladylike and amiable-looking person thus attired, was the

QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS.

A yard and a half of red serge, to prevent the Royal feet from being
moistened by the surge of the ocean, had been provided by the liberality
of the authorities, and the sergeical operation of laying it down having
been performed, the Queen of the Belgians stepped on board, preceded
by a local Authority in a blue coat and red collar and cuffs, whoste ordi-
nary duty is to attend the arrival and departure of the regular steamers.

After the leave-taking ceremonies had been performed, this indivi
dual exclaimed, " Let go the stern rope," in a stern voice, and Captain
Smithett having given the order to ''Move her ahead," the Queen oe
the Belgians left the harbour in the Vivid, amid cheers from the
lanthorn of the lighthouse, which was occupied by a party of ladies, each
with " a light in her laughing eye," and three cheers from the iron
crane, which was crowded with youth, after the usual fashion.

The procession of flys was about to return to the regular stand, when
a pier policeman striking up a cry of " Ely not yet! " the driver paused
for the firing of the four guns, which, with an ounce of powder in each,
proceeded to an-ounce the departure of the Royal visitor.

On the first discharge, the horse attempted to go off, and was com-
mencing a series of capers, when, by a prompt stoppage up of the
animal's ears with gloves, pocket handkerchiefs, and old newspapers
collected on the spot, the impatient steed was restored to his usual
tranquillity.

It says little for the resources or for the courtesy of the inhabitants
and visitors of the town of Ramsgate, that not one private carriage
could be found to be placed at the service of the Queen oe the
Belgians, but that Her Majesty was compelled to put herself under
the wing of an ordinary fly in her transit from the railway station to
the steamboat.

With the exception of this brief excitement, Ramsgate goes on,
according to our latest files—including one old file—much as usual.
The lodging-house keepers are always on the active tout, as if tout ou
rien would be the result of their activity, and the bathing is in the hands
of six opposition Ratcliepes, whose efforts to secure customers turn
the sands into a sort of Batcliffe Highway during the whole of the
morning, while the screams of infants calling for mercy in the process
of immersion increase the turmoil of the locality. The German Band
from Baden Bad-en is a very good 'un; and at the Marine Library, on the
cliff, there is a general invitation to—

" Dance with me, dance with me,
Under the walnut tree,"

from a young lady, who, if not " a perfect substitute for Sontag," is
better than nothing for those who are debarred from the treat of hearing
the illustrious and legitimate successor to the lyric throne, rendered for
a time vacant by the LiND-ish abdication.

The Value of Life.

According to the Morning Post, " the recent hanging of John
Kellocher cost the Town Council of Perth £117 17s. 6d." Jack
Ketches must be scarce in Scotland. If every hanging is to be as
expensive as John Kellocher's, there will soon be a call for the
abolition of capital punishment in that portion of Her Majesty's
dominions. The Town Council of Perth will be ruined if they continue
to hang at such a price. They will find it better to adopt the principle
of "Live and let live."

the state oe the nation.

In answer to public inquiries, we beg to publish the following
bulletin:

" The Nation continues pretty much in the same state. It has passed a quiet Session,
and is as well as can be expected—with the Whigs as Ministers."

{Signed) Punch. M.D.

Doubtful !—Has Prance, in her triumph at Rome, most completely
disgraced the triumvirs or the triumphers P

Vol. 17.

•2,— &