Punch (55.1868)

266 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [December 19, 1868.

IT’S ALL VERY WELL

To exjoy Rude Health axd to Look for all the World like a Substantial Country Squire, but the consequence is, that

DURING THE CATTLE SHOW WEEK THE ATTENTIONS OF THE LONDON PoFULACE ARE MORE EMBARRASSING THAN PLEASANT !

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PUNCH IN THE QUEEN’S BENCH.

Mr. Punch extracts from the Standard the following report of what
took place in the Court of Queen’s Bench, one day last week, in the
^course of a case which will now become immortal, Morris v. Balling.
The plaintiff, a doctor, complained of having been caricatured.

“ Mit. Serjeant Parry said it was nothing more than what appeared

• every week in Punch.

“ The Lord Chief Justice.—But ‘ Punch’ is privileged.

“ Mr. Serjeant Parry.—I should be sorry to say anything to the contrary.
“ The Lord Chief Justice.—We have all appeared there more or less.

“ Mr. Serjeant Parry.—I am sure your Lordship never appeared there

• except in a complimentary manner.

“ The Lord Chief Justice.—I once saw myself there ; and if I believed I

• could have appeared in so ruffianly a form I should have been very much
•• ashamed of myself.”

Por the earlier remarks of the Lord Chief Justice of England, Mr.
Punch simply tenders his thanks. The declaration from the Bench is
•useful as a notice to any foolish persons who do not comprehend that
Punch can do no wrong. The sharpest attorney will hardly venture a
letter after Sir Alexander Cockburn’s dictum, not that Mr. Punch

• ever cared for attorneys’ letters. Further, he offers to Mr. Serjeant
Parry his acknowledgments for the admirable way in which he con-
veyed Mr. Punch's own sentiments in reference to the Chief Justice.
But in reply to his Lordship’s last remark Mr. Punch has a word to say.
Sir Alexander was upon one occasion depicted by a hand that dwelt
■more upon the situation to be illustrated than upon the vraisemblance of
'the portraiture—let that pass, and let it be noted that on a later occa-
sion, when the Chief Justice was again delineated, his Lordship was
represented in all the dignity of his high office, manifesting a noble and
.judicial disgust at the appearance of a Briber and Corrupter. There
Tull justice was done to one whom Mr. Punch delights to honour, and
of 'whom he hath ever-spoken in a befitting way. _ He has, however, a
complaint to make against Sir Alexander for involuntarily cutting
him out of a capital picture and quotation, which would certainly have

followed the above remark of the Chief Justice, if he had only happened
to be an individual of Yanity. In that case it would have been Mr.
Punch's obvious duty to depict himself conducting the judge to a
mirror, and saying, from Henry the Fourth,

“ My Lord Chief Justice, speak to that Vain Man.”

But as Sir A. Cockburn has more right to be vain than ninety-nine
people out of a hundred, and yet does not exercise that right, Mr. Punch
is debarred from this exercise of his wit, and he is glad of it. Finally,
and in all the seriousness which is becoming when a Christmas wish
is uttered, he wishes Sir Alexander all the good wishes of the coming
season.

Spiced Beef.

We knew, and have commented upon it in these pages, that with
the spread of luxury. Cattle were indulged with Cocoa; but a visit to
the Great, Fat Show at Islington made known to us, that they are also
tempted to eat by having their food seasoned with “ Cattle Spice ” and
“ Condiment,” and, probably by way of dessert, are pressed to partake
of “Date-Farina Meal.” Happy Ilerefords ! Lucky Devons ! How
enviable your lot, if it were not for the final attentions of Messrs.
Giblett,' Mutton, Comfort, &c. !

Mr. Peabody.

We have been thinking how to word an acknowledgment to the
noble-hearted American who has just increased his donation to tiie
London poor (not paupers) to 350,0001 We think this will do. “He
may have the Body of a Pea, but, by Jove, lie has the Soul of a
Bean ! ” (For the information of posterity, a Bean means the same as a
Brick, and that is the highest form of exilogy known to the nineteenth
century.) __

Much to be desired.—It is an advantage to the Ministerial Party
in the House to have Playfair. Let us hope they will have the further
advantage of Fair Play.

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