Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,359 pages of information about Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,359 pages of information about Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete.

Thomas Duncombe, Esq., Member for Finsbury, examined—­Had known the deceased for some years.  Had the highest notion of the robustness of his constitution.  Would have taken any odds upon it.  Deceased, however, within these last three or four weeks had flighty intervals.  Talked very much about the fine phrenological development of Sir Robert Peel’s skull.  Had suspicions of the deceased from that moment.  Deceased had been carefully watched, but to no avail.  Deceased inflicted a mortal wound upon himself on the first night of Sir Robert’s premiership; and though he continued to rally for many evenings, he sunk the night before last, after a dying speech of twenty minutes.

Colonel Sibthorp, Member for Lincoln, examined—­Knew the deceased.  Since the accession of Sir Robert Peel to power had had many conversations with the deceased upon the ministerial bench.  Had offered snuff-box to the deceased.  Deceased did not snuff.  Deceased had said that he thought witness a man of high parliamentary genius, and that Sir Robert Peel ought to have made him (witness) either Lord Chamberlain or Chancellor of the Exchequer.  In every other respect, deceased behaved himself quite rationally.

There were at least twenty other witnesses—­Members of the House of Commons—­in attendance to be examined; but the Coroner put it to the jury whether they had not heard enough?

The jury assented, and immediately returned a verdict—­Felo de se.

N.B.  A member for Finsbury wanted next dissolution.

* * * * *

A CURIOUS ERROR.

A member of the American legislature, remarkable for his absence of mind, exhibited a singular instance of this mental infirmity very lately.  Having to present a petition to the house, he presented himself instead, and did not discover his mistake until he was

[Illustration:  ORDERED TO LIE ON THE TABLE.]

* * * * *

SIR ROBERT PEEL (LOQUITUR).

  When erst the Whigs were in, and I was out,
  I knew exactly what to be about;
  Then all I had to do, through thick and thin,
  Was but to get them out, and Bobby in.

  And now that I am in, and they are out,
  The only thing that I can be about
  Is to do nothing; but, through thick and thin,
  Contrive to keep them out, and Bobby in.

* * * * *

SONGS FOR THE SEEDY.—­No. 3.

  Oh! think not all who call thee fair
    Are in their honied words sincere;
  And if they offer jewels rare,
    Lend not too readily thine ear. 
  The humble ring I lately gave
    May be despised by thee—­well, let it;
  But Mary, when I’m in my grave,
    Think that I pawn’d my watch to get it.

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Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.