Punch: Punch (33.1857)

1/44

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[December 12, 1857.

nothing, and he would prefer legislation. He said that the currency question had driven and by being the children of those who have lived
more people mad than love. [Want, of currency has, Mr. Punch believes, especially as a man i in doing nothing for some generations. Curates
must be mad who makes love without it]. Mr. Spooner attributed the crisis to the Bank as well as other poor people, will be invited to
Act itself, and not at all to Popery. Mr. Glyn did not, and being a banker, thought the Bank
itself should have the relaxing power. Ma. Henley charged the Act with having created
a false system, founded on re-discounts, and inflated credit. Lord John Russell was so

pleased with everything and everybody [being all cock-a-whooD at having the Jews handed I of spiritualizing that amusement. To carry out
over to him this year] that Mr. Disraeli had to rebuke him for "vague declamation," which j these arrangements nothing more will be neces
greatly shocked Benjamin. He came out with one of his Bangs. This crisis arose, not from '
the mismanagement of the currency of England, but that of the capital of Europe. As
Europe contains several capitals, it would have been better had he been more precise. But

he soon stooped, and objected to the Ministers retaining so mighty a power as that of guests may not tear up the carpets or scratch
suspending the Act, because they might use it to oblige a rich supporter. This brought up • the floors.
Sir G. Lewis again, and he explained that his Government had never promised support to
some firm lie mentioned—(Overalls and Journey or some such name—we never heard |
of them) whatever brag their manager might have uttered. He then said, that to pass this '
Indemnity Bill was the chief object of the early Session, and Mr. Disraeli courteously
promised all the opposition in Lis power. So began the Little Session of 1857-

these entertainments ; and if they do not dance
at the Twelfth-Night County Balls, they can look
oq : and they may play at snap-dragon, and think

sary than, in the rooms where they are to be
given, to lay down cocoa-nut matting, so that
the nails in the shoes of a large proportion of the

SECURITY WANTED.

"Please, Sir, it's Mr. Stork, as 'as called with 'is Little Bill.'"

HIGH JINKS roil THE HUMBLE CLASSES,

O Freedom, for which I have sighed

So long, from the trammels of care !
Intestate a miser has died,

And I am his fortunate heir.
At last, independence is mine,

From fear 1 enjoy a release
Of ruin by others' design,

Misconduct, mistake, or caprice.

My eyes I can lift from the board
Before me abundantly spread,

No longer beholding the sword

Of Damocles over my head.

My cheek on my pillow can lay
^ And around me my warm blanket draw,

Nor think when the workhouse, one day,
May grudge me a litter of straw.

My dwelling to furnish I dare,

With pictures my walls to adorn,
Nor ask myself how I shall fare,

Of all these possessions when shorn.
My home gay and cheerful appears,

With objects which gladden my sight,
No longer an irony leers

In all things that round me look bright.

Ay, now I can travel at ease,

*t home if unwilling to stay,
Am able to go where I please,

Not being perplexed how to pay ;
Have something to give or to lend,

Without a discouraging sense,
That I may from helping my friend,

My own parish put to expense.

And then I can hunt, fish, and shoot,

In peace, when for sport I'm inclined,
Or aive to the higher pursuit

Of knowledge, my undisturbed mind;
Can strive to become good and wise,

And kinsfolk and neighbours to bless,
Not having, before my own eyes,

The spectre of want and distress.

That is, I could do all these things,
Misgiving remote from my breast,
My money—since riches have wings—

If I could but safely invest.
The title of land may be bad,

It will be cheering to our humbler readers, who peruse us at the parochial institution, or j And tenants may fail of their rents,

the unpretending public-house, to read the following quotation from the organ of the superior Should taxes the people drive mad,

classes :— Then, what will ensure Three-per-Cents ?

"But one or two annual festivals are not enough for the hard-worked peasantry. Every Christmas and tit-, i. a ( a' l 1 a

Twelfth-Night—every Easter and Whitsuntide, every Mid-summer and Michaelmas—should be marked by : boards 01 directors abound

meetings of rich and poor together." With rogues, what concern can I trust ?

This looks very much as if there was a good time coming for ploughmen and carters.! I cannot tell rotten from sound.

Their contemplated meetings will probably begin at Christmas. The landed nobility and j 1 know not the thieves from the just;

gentry of most, if not all counties, and the dignified clergy, will, on the Christmas-Day and j Ti, remam mse(5jy¥» ,

Twelfth-Day now approaching, invite their poorer neighbours, the hard-worked peasantry, A beggar s may still be my lot;

to meet their richer neighbours, the farmers, millers, and maltsters, and the large grocers, j L/oulound it. 1 cannot make sure

tailors, and other respectable tradesmen and manufacturers in the adjacent towns. On that! ^ keeping the money 1 ve got.

great festival these several classes will feast together, in various halls, on the usual old | --

English fare. On Twelfth-Day, divers County Balls will be given at which all ranks will be
invited to attend, at the expense of the higher. The solicitors and surgeons, among the rest
of the lower orders, will then have an opportunity of dancing with the daughters of persons
who are infinitely exalted above them by having a great deal to live upon, and nothing to do,

The Purchase System.—After all, the Com-
mander-in-Chief is only a superior Commimon
Agent.