Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-11-10

From PArtOn's Humorous Poetry.


Lord Melbourne, and the accession of the
Tories, headed by Sir Robert Peel. Orig
mated by a circle of wits and literary men
who frequented the Shakespeare Head,
tavern in Wych street, London; Mark Le-
mon, the Landlord. was, aud still is, its
editor. He is of Jewish descent. and had
some reputation for ability with his pen,
having been connected with other jour
nails, and also written farces and dramatic
pieces Punch's earliest contributors were
Douglas Jerrold, Albert Smith, Gilbert
Abbot ABeckett, Hood and Maginn-
Thackeray'S debut occurring in the third
voumn. 1t is said that one evening each
week was especially devoted to festive
meeting of these writer's, where, Lemon
presiding, they delberated as to the con-
duct and course Of the periodical. Punch,
however, was at first not successful, and
indeed on the point of being abandoned as
a bad speculation, when Messrs Bradbury
& Evans, two aspiring printers, now ex-
tenSiVe publishers, purchased it at very
moderate price of one hundred pounds,
since which time it has continued their
property, and valuable one. In those
days it presented a somewhat different APP
pearance from the present, being more
closely printed, finer type used, and the
illustrations with the exception of a small
black, silhouette cuts, after the style of
those in similar French publications. were
comparatively scanty. Soon, however,
Punch throve apace, amply meriting It's
success. To Benning's drawings (mostly
those of political nature) were added
those of Leech, KeHney, Meadows, PHI,
II. X. Browne Gilbert, Alfred Crow
quill, FORESTER and others-Doyle'S
pencil not appearing till some years later
Chief of these gentlemen in possession Of
the peculiar artistic ability which has iden-
tilted itself with Punch is unquestionably
Mr. John Leech, of whom we shall subse-
quently speak at greater length He also
remained constant to the journal from its
first volume.
Jerrold's writings date from the COM
mencement. Many essays and satiric
sketches over fancy signatures, are from
his pen. His later and longer productions,
extending through many volumes, art
Punch'S Letters to His Son, PunchS Com
plete Letter Writer, Twelve LabOrs
Hercules, Autobiography of Tom Thumb.
Mrs Candles Curtain Lectures, CapScum
House for young Ladies, Our Little Bird,
Mrs Benible'S Tea and Toast, Miss Robin
son CruSoe, and Mrs. Bib's Baby, the last
two of which were never completed. Du-
ring the publication of the Caudle Lee
lures, Punch reached the highest circula-
ton it has attained We have the author
ity of personal friend of the author for
the assertion that their heroine was no fiC-
titiOus one The lectures were immensely
popular, EnglShmer not being slow to
recognize in Jerrold'S caustic portraiture
the features of a very formidable household
reality. But with the ladies Mrs Caudle
proved no favOrite; nor, in their judgment,
did the Breakfast Table-talk, Of the Hen
pecked Husband, subsequently published
in the Almanac of the current year, make
amends for the writer's former prOduc-
tons.
Albert Smiths contributions to the pages 0
Punch, were the Psychologists of the London
Medical Student, London Idler, and Evening
Parties, with other miscellaneous matter
is probably comprised in tie former, and his
| ellow-students and intimates at Middlesex
Hospital were at loss to identity the majority
of the characters introduced Mr.. Smiths
connection with Punch was no: of long con
tinuance. A severe criticism appearing sub
sequently in the columns, on bis novel of the
Marchioness of Brinvillers, published in
Benqey's Miscellany, Of which journal he was
then editOr,) he, in retaliation, made an on
slaugh on Punch in another story, The Pottle
ton Legacy, where it figures under the title o
the Cracker.
Mr.. Gilbert A'Beckett, who had before been en-,
gagged in many unsuccessful periodicals, found in
Punch ample scope for his wit and extraordinary
f.cuty of puuuirg In The Comic Blackstone, Pc
htical Dictionary, Punch's Noy's Ma1ims, aud the
Autobiography, and other papers relating to Sr
Briedess, he put his legal knowledge to a comic
use. Many fugitive minor pieces have also pro-
ceeded from his pen, aud he has but few equals in
that grolesque form OF hybrid poetry known as
Nacaronic. b. is now London magistrate, and
par excellence, the punster Of Punch.
! The Greek version Of sundry popular ballads
such as the King Of the Cannibal Islands were the
work of Maginn. Hoods world-famous Song of the
Shirt first appeared in Punch's pages.
! Thackeray has also been an industrious contrib,
utor. Commencing with A ISIS TckIetoby's Lecture
tan idea afterwards carried out in somewhat diff
/ ferent fashion by A'Beckrtt in his Crmic History
of England,) he, besides scelaneous writings,
/ produced the Snob Papers, Jeames Diafv, Punch
in tue East. Prose NoVeli-ts, The Traveller in Lon
don, Mr.. Browns Letters to young Man about
/ Town, aud The PrOser. OF the merits Of these
| works il is unnecessary to speak The Book o
Snobs may rank with it, authors most finished pro,
auctions. Jeames' Diary suggested by the cirCum-
! stances of a May fair ioOtman achieving sudden
aflucnce by railroad speculatons during the ruin
ousy exciting period in 1916, may, however, be
considered only further carrying out of the origi-
nal idea OF Charles YelloWplush A ballad in t. The
Lines to my Sisters Portrait is said TO use a vulgar,
though expressive phrase, to have aha fsp Lord
John Manners, who had achieved some small repu-
tation as one of the Young England poets. Thsck-
crsy paroded his style and heuceioTlh the voice OF
the minstrel was dumb in the land. Like Jeroii's
Caudle Lectgres,ot which many versions appeared
at the London theatres, Jeames' adventures we're
dramsiErd The Prose NOvclists contain buresque
limitations Of Bulwer, D'Isseli, Lever, Jam :,
Fenuinore Cooper, and hrs Core. The illustra>
tions accompanying Thackeray's publications in
Punch are by his own hand as are also many other
sketches scattered throu bout the volume. They
may be generally distinguished by the insertion Of
pair OF spectaces ia the corner. His articles,
to, frequently bear toe signature "SPEC." Not
until the commencement OF 1855 did Taackeray
relinquish his connection with Punch. An allusiOn
to this from his pen, contained in an essay on the
genius of Lsech, aud published in the Westminster
Review, was commented upon very bitterly by
Jerrold, in notice o. the article which appeared
in LlOyd's Weekly Newspaper, OF which he is
editor.
During the last Eve years, other writers, among
which may be enumerated the Mayhem brothers,
Mr.. Tom Taylor Angus Beech and Shirley Brooks
have found field for their talents in Punch. Only
JeirUld, A'Bsokett (since dead) and the editor,
Lemon, remain OF the original contributors Us
course has been a varied, but perfectly indepen-
dent one generally, however following the lead OF
the almighty times, that glory and shame OF Eng
G.ff I