Punch (86.1884)

January 12, 1884.J PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

15

NOT PARTICULAR TO A SHADE: OR, A COLLECTION IN THE GROSVENOR GALLERY.

Sir Frederick Leighton, P.R.A. (1884) “ I think you ought to have come to us!”

Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A. (1769) (with his ear-trumpet up). “Eh? What?” (Sir Frederick repeats.) “Ah—um—well - why didn’t
/ou think to ask me?” (Takes snuff.)

the attempt to make him pay on the gross value of his property,
instead of on its rateable value, and he tights the wealthy Water
Company first before the Magistrate, when he loses, then in the Court
of Qneen’s Bench, when he wins, then in the High Court of Appeal,
when he loses again, and then, with an undaunted pluck worthy of
all admiration, he carries the case to the House of Lords, and then
wins, not only his own great battle, but our great battle, the great-
ness of which may be estimated by the fact, that the same statistical
genius who made our previous calculations has pledged his scientific
character to the truth of the astounding statement that it will save
the inhabitants of our Metropolis no less than £238,560 per annum !

We have requested one of our historical staff to search through the
records of History for all time, which of course he has done, with the
result that, with the exception of Julius C.-esar, when he left
seventy-five drachmas to each of the 463,642 Citizens of Rome, no
such case of pecuniary benefit to an enormous population is on
record.

Mr. Dobbs fought a wealthy public Company single-handed, in
four different Courts of Law, with the certainty, if he lost the final
battle, of having to pay all the enormous costs on both sides,
amounting to many thousands of pounds ; his own gain, if he won,
being a saving of some thirty shillings a year, and the gratitude of
his fellow Citizens.

It is proposed to show that gratitude in a tangible form.

Gentlemen of the Metropolis, Mr. Punch ventures to suggest
“ Three cheers for gallant Mr. Dobbs,” and, as it is entirely a water
question, Down with the Dust!

At the Grosvenor.

0 Men who daub Guys and write epicene bosh, you a
Lesson may learn from plain manly Sir Joshua.

Let each sickly dreamer who pencil or pen holds,

Come here and get health’s inspiration from Reynolds !