DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16516#0256
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
CHiLD SNOBSON'S PILGRIMAGE.
Where am I ? at the portal of the park,
Which nestles at the foot of Primrose Hill,
As to its mother's breast, the new born lark
Nestles and nestles near and nearer still ;
Then bursts into a carol wild and shrill,—
The Regent's Park,—where art with nature blends,
To form a sight our eyes with tears to fill,
For here the Colosseum's bulk extends
From Regent's planted groves—to long Albania's ends.*
xi.
Here the chain'd eagle, with a broken wing,+
The type of liberty for ever lost ;
Too faint to croak, and never taught to sing,
Glares with glazed eye, upon the vulgar host
Who the Swiss cottage threshold may have cross'd,
And must the king of birds for e'er remain,
Having small scraps of biscuit at him toss'd ;
Is there no hand to break his rusty chain,
And send him screeching back to his wild life again ?
xii.
Here is the land of artificial ice :
And here the pseudo Swiss doth also dwell,t
* From Regent's planted groves to long Albania's ends.
This stanza is so highly wrought, that we almost lose sight of the sense in the excess
of the sentiment. That the Colosseum goes back from the Regent's Park into Albany
Street, is the simple fact upon which the poet has founded that beautiful tracerv of
poetical imagery which brings up "Regent's planted groves," and places " kmg
Albania" before the eye in a sort of poetical kaleidoscope, which the mind becomes
at last, almost sickened with splendour to dwell upon.—Moo re.
t Here the chained eagle with a broken wing.
The history of this eagle is a very affecting one. The bird was born at Exeter
Change, and was sold on the pulling down of the building. It was purchased to
give a classical air to the Colosseum, but as if disgusted with the cruelty of this idea
the miserable bird always puts on a most commonplace appearance at the approach,
of visitors.—Note in the original Mi.
t And here the pseudo Swiss doth also dwell.
K found this Swiss a very intelligent fellow. He says he fancies himself a veritable
inhabitant of the Alps all day, but he admits, that at night, be turns off the water
which forms the mountain rivulet, and takes off the costume which belongs to hie
Who by a little masquerade device,
Is made to look the character full welL
Until he speaks—then any one may tell
He is a cockney of the broadest kind,
Put there the pastry and the fruit to sell.
To those who are to purchase it inclined,
And sleeping there at night, the premises to rnin<i.
xiii.
While stands the Colosseum London stands ;
When falls the Colosseum London falls.
a moving scene
(They mean the picture done by many hands.
Which decorates the Colosseum's walls :)
Alas ! this prophecy the sense appals,
For Robins—auctioneer of vast renown—
Has is%ued a prospectus where he calls
The whole attention of the astonished town,
To his intent to knock the Colosseum down.S
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
troy weight.
It would seem that in Troy six carats were equal to one penny weight ;
or, in other words, that carrots were sold at the rate of six a penny in that
famous city of antiquity. Helen is said to have had red hair, and we
ought not therefore to be surprised that in Troy carrots were extremely
plentiful.
vocative caret.
apothecaries' weight.
It would seem that the Apothecaries were formerly a very sober class
of men, for according to the old standard they had three scruples to a
dram ; but whatever those scruples originally may have been, some of the
apothecaries of our own day have got over them.
beer measure.
Beer measure varies exceedingly, and depends a good deal upon the
honesty of the person employed to go for it. It is generally something
less " in your own mugs," than in the pewter-pot ; and it is a curious fact
that a pot of porter brought by a juvenile becomes shorter in quantity the
longer the distance he has to carry it.
dry measure.
The measure when used by the proprietors of fruit-stalls is different from
any other. It is formed by battering the sides of pewter pots, and occa-
sionally placing leaves in the bottom. A balance, made from the bottom
of a small candlestick and the lid of a large saucepan, is well adapted to
the dealings of itinerant vendors.
Accident from the Fog.—So thick was the late fog, that a gentleman
suddenly putting his head out of the door received a concussion of the
brain !
employer. He has, on several occasions, visited the rocky pass opposite bis dwelling
for the purpose of sweeping away the bits of orange peel thrown there by visitors.
Sometimes it is impossible to get him to descend from the character of a Swiss, but
I once tried him by affecting to have eaten less pastry than I had really taken. He
came out very strongly on the occasion alluded to.—Authors' note.
I To his intent to knock the Colosseum down.
This splendid and classic property is destined to fall beneath the Robinsonian
hammer. The poet has felt a delicacy in treating at length a subject which, in the
hands of Mr. George Robins, will no doubt give rise to one of the finest pieces of
fiction in the English language. His mind imagination has already converted into
a fine speculation, and a means of realising a princely income.
CHiLD SNOBSON'S PILGRIMAGE.
Where am I ? at the portal of the park,
Which nestles at the foot of Primrose Hill,
As to its mother's breast, the new born lark
Nestles and nestles near and nearer still ;
Then bursts into a carol wild and shrill,—
The Regent's Park,—where art with nature blends,
To form a sight our eyes with tears to fill,
For here the Colosseum's bulk extends
From Regent's planted groves—to long Albania's ends.*
xi.
Here the chain'd eagle, with a broken wing,+
The type of liberty for ever lost ;
Too faint to croak, and never taught to sing,
Glares with glazed eye, upon the vulgar host
Who the Swiss cottage threshold may have cross'd,
And must the king of birds for e'er remain,
Having small scraps of biscuit at him toss'd ;
Is there no hand to break his rusty chain,
And send him screeching back to his wild life again ?
xii.
Here is the land of artificial ice :
And here the pseudo Swiss doth also dwell,t
* From Regent's planted groves to long Albania's ends.
This stanza is so highly wrought, that we almost lose sight of the sense in the excess
of the sentiment. That the Colosseum goes back from the Regent's Park into Albany
Street, is the simple fact upon which the poet has founded that beautiful tracerv of
poetical imagery which brings up "Regent's planted groves," and places " kmg
Albania" before the eye in a sort of poetical kaleidoscope, which the mind becomes
at last, almost sickened with splendour to dwell upon.—Moo re.
t Here the chained eagle with a broken wing.
The history of this eagle is a very affecting one. The bird was born at Exeter
Change, and was sold on the pulling down of the building. It was purchased to
give a classical air to the Colosseum, but as if disgusted with the cruelty of this idea
the miserable bird always puts on a most commonplace appearance at the approach,
of visitors.—Note in the original Mi.
t And here the pseudo Swiss doth also dwell.
K found this Swiss a very intelligent fellow. He says he fancies himself a veritable
inhabitant of the Alps all day, but he admits, that at night, be turns off the water
which forms the mountain rivulet, and takes off the costume which belongs to hie
Who by a little masquerade device,
Is made to look the character full welL
Until he speaks—then any one may tell
He is a cockney of the broadest kind,
Put there the pastry and the fruit to sell.
To those who are to purchase it inclined,
And sleeping there at night, the premises to rnin<i.
xiii.
While stands the Colosseum London stands ;
When falls the Colosseum London falls.
a moving scene
(They mean the picture done by many hands.
Which decorates the Colosseum's walls :)
Alas ! this prophecy the sense appals,
For Robins—auctioneer of vast renown—
Has is%ued a prospectus where he calls
The whole attention of the astonished town,
To his intent to knock the Colosseum down.S
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
troy weight.
It would seem that in Troy six carats were equal to one penny weight ;
or, in other words, that carrots were sold at the rate of six a penny in that
famous city of antiquity. Helen is said to have had red hair, and we
ought not therefore to be surprised that in Troy carrots were extremely
plentiful.
vocative caret.
apothecaries' weight.
It would seem that the Apothecaries were formerly a very sober class
of men, for according to the old standard they had three scruples to a
dram ; but whatever those scruples originally may have been, some of the
apothecaries of our own day have got over them.
beer measure.
Beer measure varies exceedingly, and depends a good deal upon the
honesty of the person employed to go for it. It is generally something
less " in your own mugs," than in the pewter-pot ; and it is a curious fact
that a pot of porter brought by a juvenile becomes shorter in quantity the
longer the distance he has to carry it.
dry measure.
The measure when used by the proprietors of fruit-stalls is different from
any other. It is formed by battering the sides of pewter pots, and occa-
sionally placing leaves in the bottom. A balance, made from the bottom
of a small candlestick and the lid of a large saucepan, is well adapted to
the dealings of itinerant vendors.
Accident from the Fog.—So thick was the late fog, that a gentleman
suddenly putting his head out of the door received a concussion of the
brain !
employer. He has, on several occasions, visited the rocky pass opposite bis dwelling
for the purpose of sweeping away the bits of orange peel thrown there by visitors.
Sometimes it is impossible to get him to descend from the character of a Swiss, but
I once tried him by affecting to have eaten less pastry than I had really taken. He
came out very strongly on the occasion alluded to.—Authors' note.
I To his intent to knock the Colosseum down.
This splendid and classic property is destined to fall beneath the Robinsonian
hammer. The poet has felt a delicacy in treating at length a subject which, in the
hands of Mr. George Robins, will no doubt give rise to one of the finest pieces of
fiction in the English language. His mind imagination has already converted into
a fine speculation, and a means of realising a princely income.