Punch: Punch (21.1851)

66 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

PUNCH'S ANNIVERSARIES.-No. 2. FIRST CONTEST FOR DQGG-ETT'S COAT AND BADGE, AUGUST 1st, 1715.

OUR OWN VIEW OF THE ECLIPSE.

_ We regret to say that—with reference to the late eclipse—we par-
ticipate in the views—amounting to no view at all—of the public in
general. We had made extensive preparations for the ceremony, and
had smoked a large piece of glass, though, had we seen through ihe
affair before-hand, we should have paused ere we threw a stain on that
which had hitherto been perfecly spotless At exhibitions in general,
it is a matter of complaint that there is nothing to be seen; but the
caus of our di-satisfaction with the solar exhibition extraordinary was
ihe fact, that we could see everything. The whole affair reminded us
of the intended feat of the man who was to get into a pint bottle. The
sun was to have been, on this occasion, the performer, and his attrac-
tion was to consist in his disappearance; but as he never appeared a'
all, his powers—like those of ihe bottle conjuror—were not tested.
Extreme disappointment was occasioned to the public; for the per-
formance which was to have taken place before the eyes of Europe,
which were glazed expressly for the si-ht, ended in a sort of hole-
and-corner meeting between the sun and moon, behind a screen of
vapour.

The Safest of Railways.

The Midland Railway Company has had the misfortune to be
mulcted in £4000 damages on account of the death of a lady's husband,
which occurred through mismanagement on their line. No doubt this
sum will be soon made up to them again by increase of excursion-
traffic ; as a railway whose proprietors have just had to pay so much
for their servants' carelessness, is just that which one would prefer to
travel on.

Fashionable Movements in Rome.

The Seventh Battalion of French Chasseurs, newly arrived from
France, to quarter in the offices of the Holy Inquisition ; turning out
the Tribunal.

The Tribunal of the Holy Inquisition—willy-nilly—to the Palace of
the Vatican.

A few more such movements on the part of the French army, and it
may recover somewhat of the ground lost since its occupation of Rome.

HIBERNIAN REPRESENTATIVES,

In the Committee on the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Bill, Mb. Scully
is reported by the Times to have

" Protested against proceeding further with it at so late a period of the session, when
there were but very few Irish Members in town."

But what is to be done, if the majority of the gentlemen alluded to
will run away the moment they suppose that Popish affairs are disposed
of for the Session? If they choose to devote themselves exclusively to
the Pope's concerns, instead of minding the business of their consti-
tuents, whose fault is that ? Mb. Scully ought to be glad that there
are those to be found who will attend to poor old neglected Ireland.
But if English Members are to manage Irish matters and their own too,
the representation of England ought to be considerably extended; the
rather that the result of the next election will probably be the return of
|an additional number of so-called Irish Members, who will in reality
represent nothing but the See of Rome.

A Stand for the Crystal Palace.

It was some time ago debated whether the Crystal Palace would
stand. Tiiere is no doubt that it will, if the nation will agree to
keep it up. The question, therefore, now is simply as to the probability
of the people standing—and surely they will stand—a trifle for the
preservation of one of the chief wonders of the modern world.

Corporation Catch.

Crown ye your brows with myrtle,
But fill me my plate with turtle •

Pour out my punch,

And I'll swill and I '11 munch,
Till I've filled out my jolly red kirtle.

sanguine expectations.

The Medical Faculty have certaiuly very Sanguine Expectations, if
they fancy the " Mechanical Leech " is ever likely to supersede oub
living one!