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PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [April 9, 1864.

LATEST SHAKESPEARIAN NEWS.

The Hon. Me. Cowper, in declining to
let a procession enter the Green Park, on
Siiakspeare’s birthday, in order to plant an
oak* (the cheapest testimonial we have yet
heard of, a little oak costing, we believe, the
modest sum of one and threepence) said—

“ It is understood, it will be impossible, on the
23rd of April, to take any steps whatever for the com-
mencement of the monument that is to be erected.
The design will not be prepared, and the money will
not be raised; and no definite step with regard to
the monument can take place on the 23rd of April,
although on that day_there would be a declaration to
the public at large of the details of what at that time
will be finally decided upon with regard to'the monu-
ment that is to be erected. A site had been selected
in the Green Park, but that site had not been finally
decided upon.”

There, ladies and gentlemen, that is what
your Executive has done for you. Surely you
will hasten to pour in your money in golden
streams with bank-notes, like white sails, fre-
quently gliding down them. On the 23rd, if
you are very good, you shall know “ the
details of what at that time will be finally
decided upon.”

* A very good suggestion too, but the top of Prim-
rose Hill is the place for it.—Ed.

“ The Meed of Praise.”

A REAL DIFFICULTY.

“ Well, dear, if this is the usual style of thing in Derbyshire, the Farmers had better write up
‘ No Thoroughfare ’ at once ; then people would know what to do.”

Decidedly not the General Meade of
the Eederal army, who has just been sum-
moned to Washington to undergo a judicial
examination.

THIS YEARS PICTURES.

To Mr. Punch.

Dear Sik,

In obedience to your instructions, and while waiting the time
to visit the studios of my more distinguished friends, I have gone the
round of the R.A.’s, or Rising Artists, who have not yet succeeded in
getting their pictures exhibited, but who hope for better luck this year.
I have also to state, that, in consequence of these visits, my garments
have become so irreclaimably scented with tobacco of the strongest
type, that certain differences of sentiment between myself and the
partner of my bosom and expenses have arisen; and, hi order to pre-
vent unpleasantness, I have withdrawn to Brighton.

Young Bolligrobbs has made much progress. His domestic picture,
Skinning Pels, is very pure and conscientious, and he has evidently
studied the subject very lovingly; and a half-skinned eel endeavouring to
make its escape, and being seized by the cat, is a charming httle episode.
Jollopee has executed but one picture, but it is very fine. It is called
the Masonic Lodge, and he has represented with the utmost fidelity all
the costumes, emblems, and signs of masonry. The scene has dramatic
interest. An intrusive waiter at the Ereemasons’ Tavern has forced his
way into the Lodge, just as a new brother is going to be made, and has
instantly been cut down by the sword of the Tiler, while the Grand
Master, waving the red hot gridiron, denounces the profane miscreant.
The terror of the novice can be seen through the white night-cap drawn
over his face. Yowls has been very busy indeed, he has painted twenty-
nine works of great force and merit, but the best, I may say facile pr in-
ceps, is his Pxecution of Sam Hall, which has been done for the Society
for the Diffusion of Capital Punishments, and it is a master-piece of
gloomy grandeur. I believe that a well-known Comedian of the day has
sat for the culprit, whose expression of grim and humorous pathos is
worth whole sermons. Chiddlewicker is scarcely up to the mark of
Chiddlewickerism, if 1 may coin a word, yet his Giblets are very truthful
and earnest, and the gizzard in the foreground is worthy of Correggio.
Perhaps his Lamb's Pry is more poetical, but is deficient in grouping.

Miss Matilda Tinkl'er has executed a marvellous work, and one
which will create a.sensation by its unrivalled boldness. It is the Fight
for the Championship, and represents King delivering the awful blow
which.prostrated the American Giant. You can hear the “thud,” and
the crimsoned ground is depicted with Pre-Raphaelite literalness and
honesty. The faces are all portraits, and the leading nobility have sat
to Miss Tinkler. The likeness of the Bishop of Oxford is superb.
Her sister, Miss Rosamund Tinkler, has a clever httle drawing-room

piece, The Stretcher, and the calm sternness of the Police as they carry
away a strapped and raging virago is very fine. The work is to be
engraved for an illustrated and splendid edition of the “Women of
England.” Mrs. Spanker has done a touching little work, His First
Caning, which will be a favourite in all educational establishments.
The boy has been rather frightened than hurt, and is taking off his
shoe to hurl it at another rvho was clearly the tell-tale. Another lad,
who has “ caught it ” in earnest, is rubbing his hands on a wet slate.
The whole is truly feminine and graceful

Howbiggings has surpassed himself with his Dissecting Room, a work
of marvellous fidelity. The shuddering young student, to whom the
house surgeon, with calm irony, presents the scalpel, is admirable, and
so is the figure of the porter who is bringing in the beer. I must not
forget to mention Bandy Jockle’s httle picture. The Mudlark, a sweet
study, and the dead cat might have been painted by Landseer or
Ansdell, if either had done it. I was greatly pleased with James
Snaggerton’s Pickpocket at Pay, the. thief is painted with much
honesty, and the face of the woman clawing at the remorseless clergy-
man who has lost his watch appeals to all the best sympathies of
her nature. Bargee’s Leap Year is a happy conceit—a girl who has
been crossed in love, as is shown by a torn Yalentine, leaps from Water-
loo Bridge, but is in no danger, as her lover, who has only tried a little
experiment to test her affection, is in a boat under the arch, with a
Humane Society’s hook, and a marriage licence lies on the gunwale.
Lastly I must mention Dewlap’s refined, scholarly and gracious work,
Napping Pepper. A mischievous footman, with a white sheet, has
appeared as a Pepper Ghost to the cook, who in her ecstasy of terror
empties the cayenne bottle over him, and you can literally hear him
roaring in torture—the tone is exquisitely delicate and the feeling most
tender. I will speak of other works in my next.

Yours respectfully.

The Bedford, Brighton. • Your Art-Critic.

A Suggestion that Comes a Little too Late.

The Infant Prince has been vaccinated at Marlborough House.
We cannot help thinking, that it would have been a step in the right
direction to have taken the Royal baby to Osborne, and there to have
drawn the vaccine matter direct from Cowes.

Remarkable Day in 1864.— April. The usual Superannuated
Grandmothers’ Eestival will be held on Old Lady Day.