The Sun.
London, England, 1831-10-25 00:00:00

THE NUMOURIST.

" First come, first served," is our sole motive for
giving " The Humourist" the precedence. It
is a sprightly affair, full of grimace and caricature,
and should have been edited by Liston or Grimaldi.
Mr. Harrison, however, is no incompetent caterer,
whether as respects selection or variety of subject.
His tales are good, his embellishments still better.
" Emigration," which forms the frontispiece, will
discompose many a muscle. A prolific family of
operatives, mounted, a dozen in a cart, and accom-
panied by an obese sow, four pigs, and three chil-
dren, in a wheelbarrow, are just setting out, in pur-
suance, doubtless, of Wilmot Horton's recommen-
dation,for Canada, New South Wales, or some such
distant clime. The countenances of the groupe are
matchless ; they are all in a roar, though the one
horse that draws them painfully onward, cannot see
the joke. He is dead), of the Rozinante breed,
much given to sedateness and melancholy. " Lightly
Tread" is capital. A plump, oily fellow, is, in
spite of himself, hastening quick towards a hole
in the ice, above which peep forth the two legs of
some respectable gentleman, whose head is at least
a yard arid a half below water. The fat man strives
to stop himself; but in vain, the irresistible laws of
motion propel him onward. He is, consequently, in
a desperate fright, and it is to be apprehended will
be ducked, peradventure o:owned. From his sleek
condition we conclude that he is either a sinecurist
or a boroughmonger : if so, his immersion will be
productive of much public benefit. " Fast and
Loose." A corpulent dowager has stuck fast in a
gateway, which a thin, shadowy old maid
has just safely passed through. The fat dame
looks hopeless and disconsolate, and can only
be relieved by the assistance of the carpenter ;
though, as the day is hot, she may possibly,
in time, melt down into the requisite tenuity.
The" Horse Marine" is illustrated by the picture
of a wooden-legged sailor seated srpoliing ilcroas
sea-chest, with ;a tumbler of grog and a tankard of
Hle liside him. The tar has a face—such a face !
it would make the fortune of a comedian. " The
Bull and the Barber." The barber is commencing
operations on the chin of an elderly clod-hopper with
a heard as rough as a shoe-brush, whet, be is sur-.
prized by the sight of a coati bull, who, has uncere-
moniously thrust his jaws in, at the window. The
barber of course is petrified, and ;in the ,7,gitation of
the moment slices off two-thirds of the peasant's
nose. There is infinite whim in this evgrerving.
" Robin Hood and Little John" pourtrays a
wheezy, corpulent friar, who is thtmdiwsLincx by
the apparition of a proty, etixoth, lass with an infant
in her fiVMS, his undoubted proHrty. The ghost!
OtheTis evidently alive to the Mimic), of his po-
tjtion, awl looks as if he would fain shirk the order
of affiliation. But the girl is inexorable, and sticks
to him hke a leech or an apothecary. " Embarka-
tion." Illustrated by two well-fed, c?,mfortabfe
looh-
irig citizens,. who are just setting out on a voyage.
They will be dreadfully sea-sick, and we should
grieve to be near them when they cast up their acr!
r'oants, " (rossing the Line":ep;esenti 4 drunken

sailor who is pitching headlong from a rope into tt'e
sea. It is to be hoped he will be drowned, as the
interest of his situation will be thereby considerably
heightened. " Heavy Wet." Two women with
legs like mill-posts, and stockings visible as far as
the clocks, are caught in a soaking shower. Their
situation is agreeable and to be envied. The re-
maining embellishments are more or less deserving
of praise.