The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities — David Hume — John Shaqi
The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
David Hume · en
A new line of railway, direct to Windsor, will be sanctioned the
earliest in the Session; in consequence, those who make a pilgrim's
progress to the old station will find it literally the Slough of
Despond.
A bold member, moving that the statues for the new Senate of the
sovereigns of England shall go up by order of merit rather than
succession, will secure a tolerably good perch for Oliver Cromwell; and
it is not unlikely that Byron's statue will take its place in Poet's
Corner at the same time.
Two new steamers, the _Emmet_ and the _Earwig_, will run between London
Bridge and Chelsea six times for a penny. They will be greatly crowded
in consequence.
SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A train will get off the line and run down an
embankment into a farm-yard.
MARCH.
Several legal gentlemen will be expelled from one mess to get into
another, for reporting cases; a plain statement of facts of any kind
being against all professional morality. The press will, in consequence,
turn round upon the bar; and the bar will get pretty considerably the
worst of it. The inscription, "Tongues sold here," will be transferred
from ham and beef shops to the chambers of honourable barristers. Such
reform will be worked that a leading advocate will, perhaps, hang
himself upon finding he has undertaken a wrong cause. The "Andover
Commission" will be revived as the "Underhand Inquiry."
[Illustration]
Von Lumley will arrive from the Continent with a variety of singing
birds, who will pipe Norma, Puritani, Don Giovanni, duets, arias, &c.
TERRIBLE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A train going too fast will run over another
going too slow, from neglect of signals.
APRIL.
The Shakspeare Jubilee Festival will be celebrated at the "only national
theatre" on the 23rd, with the following performances:—
"The Grand Opera of 'HAMLET:' the Music by Mr. Balfe; the _libretto_ by
Messrs. Shakspeare and Bunn.
"After which, a Divertissement; in which Mr. Delferier and Madame
Giubelei will, as Romeo and Juliet, dance the Capulet Polka. Grotesque
Pas de Caliban, from the 'TEMPEST,' by Mr. Wieland; and the celebrated
Desperate Combat from 'RICHARD THE THIRD,' by Messrs. T. Matthews and W.
H. Payne.
[Illustration]
"The whole to conclude with a New Grand Pantomime of 'HARLEQUIN MACBETH;
OR, THE MAGIC CALDRON AND WALKING WOOD.'"
From the Opera, the following song may be predicted to be sung by the
first tenor, Hamlet:—
[Illustration]
"TO BE, OR NOT TO BE."
"Oh say!—To be, or not to be?
That is the question grave;
To suffer Fortune's slings and darts,
Or seas of troubles brave.
To die; to sleep! perchance, to dream!—
Ay, there's the rub!—when we
Have shuffled off this mortal coil!—
To be, or not to be!