Punch (30.1856)

/Til. PUNCH presents this, his Thirtieth Volume, as a Peace-offering to the Nations. The Book is
to be received as printed upon palm-leaves; carrying words of wisdom smooth as oil, wholesome as
corn, and strong as wine.
Mr. Punch has to acknowledge the courtesy of the Earl of Clarendon. That urbane and sagacious
nobleman, with an alacrity charming to contemplate in the statesman nature, has charged himself with the
pleasant (and henceforth historical) duty of forwarding to all English Ambassadors a special copy of this,
Mr. Punches, Thirtieth Volume; to be by them duly presented to the Emperors, Kings, and Potentates
upon whose Courts they cast the radiance of their delegated wisdom. The Ambassadors aforesaid are, more-
over, charged to read the whole of the contents of the offered Book, from the first page to the last, to
the imperial, royal, or otherwise governing individual; and further, to dwell upon the manifold beauties and
significances dwelling in the abounding illustrations, like tints and odours in flowers, and pearls in shells,—
to the end and purpose that the governing mind, haply to its own astonishment, may become uplifted and
harmonised to the highest labours and the noblest utterances. Mr. Punch has calculated that, two hours
a day will, in a month, suffice to pour out the contents of the Volume into even the smallest and densest
crowned head hitherto visible to the naked eye of the subject. In one month, if the Hon. W. Temple
does true reader's duty, the King of Naples will be so improved, that the dearest of his lazzaroni will not
i know him. Incontinently, a bomb-shell will have been mollified into a melon !
The Emperor Alexander, seated under his own fir-tree, will give attentive ear to the written sayings
of Punch ; and bending his contemplative eye-balls on the sermons, graphic in wood, will become pacific as
a stock-dove ; to the end that he may ever after live well and die happy.

sends a choice copy. If the good and beautiful Emnress and Mother will onlv teach baby his letters from


To the Empress Eugenie, for the earliest reading of her son and France's present heir, Mr. Punch