Punch: Punch (57.1869)

4

228 PUNCH, OH THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [December 4, 1869.

TOO TRUE!

Mamma. " My dear Child, where did you Get that dreadful Scratch on your Arm ?"

Little Ada. "Oh, 'Ma, it was 'Lisbeth's big Brass Brooch with the Green Glass in it, that the Tall Soldier gave her I

WHIPPING-CHEER WITH A WILL.

Is it true that the distinguished officer whose hands are charged
with the exalted employment of Finishing the Law has ceased to be the
man that he was ? If so, the knowledge of that circumstance must
diminish the satisfaction which has been derived from the subjoined
news, announced the other day by a contemporary :—

"Flogging in Newgate Gaol. — At the last Session of the Central
Criminal Court, J ames French was convicted of robbery with violence, and
sentenced to receive twenty-five lashes with the cat, and be kept in penal servi-
tude for seven years. The former part of the sentence was carried into effect
yesterday morning in the gaol of Newgate in presence of the sheriffs, (Alder-
man Causton and Mr. Vallentin), the under-sheriffs (Messrs. Crosley
and Baylis), Mr Jonas (the governor), and Dr. Gibson (the surgeon of
the gaol). The punishment was inflicted by Calcraft."

Have years unstrung the nerves of the once steady hand; relaxed
the muscles of the erst vigorous arm ? " Use every man after his
desert, and who should 'scape whipping P " Certainly not any ruffian
and rascal convicted of robbery and violence, like James French.
But, that a deserver so meritorious as Mr.French should be really used
after those deserts which entitle him to a whipping, it is most meet the
whipping should be sound. How can it, if administered with energy
enfeebled with age ? Is that the case with the venerable functionary
who has so long officiated at Newgate ? This question suggests serious
misgivings. If James French received a sound whipping, he was used
after his deserts. But may we indulge the fond belief that he was
whipped as soundly as he deserved to be, when, in regard to his whip-
ping, we know that " the punishment was inflicted by Calcraft ? "
Can we be satisfied that it was adequately inflicted ? Are we safe in
relying on Mr. Calcraft's continued ability to inflict that punishment
as it ought to be inflicted on cruel thieves ? The howling which it
may evoke is no trustworthy criterion. Simulation bellows, and
Bravado grins. Perhaps a dynanometer would enable the Sheriffs to
test, the strength of the aged Executioner. If found unequal to the
efficient application of the scourge, let him be relegated to the dignified

and pensioned retirement of a private station, and the cat-o'-nine-tails
and the noose be transferred to hands enabled by comparative youth to
adjust the latter with due adroitness, and to ply the former with suffi-
cient power. Mr. Calcraft could then devote the calm evening of
life to the cultivation of those letters which, from a recently published
specimen of his correspondence, he appears to have been compelled to
neglect by the pre-occupations of his professional career. Then he
might yet live to enrich the literature of his country with an auto-
biography—which would be interesting and instructive, if not sensa-
tional.

Punch-Laureate.

Nov. 26, 1869.

We wanted something pleasant,

Never times like those at present—
Fogs, Fenians, Spain in muddle, Napoleon in a mess :

Let us smile at least a minute.

Take a glass, with something in it,
And cry " Bless the Nation's Darling and her little new Princess.

A Gaol-Bird M.P.

The Electors of Tipperary have chosen as their M.P. a convict Fenian,
now in gaol, and likely to remain there. . He is a very proper represen-
tative of his Constituents, and we recommend Government to give
deputations from them every opportunity of making his better acquaint'
ance, which can only be made by somewhat protracted sojourn with the
Honourable Gentleman.

an ecclesiastical question.

May tickets of admission to Churches—the Temple for example,
where by the way you cannot always be sure of finding a vacant seat
when you arrive—be considered as holy " Orders " ?