We are not among those who like going on with the March of Intellect at the old jog-trot pace, for we rather prefer running on before to loitering by the side, and we have consequently taken a few strides in advance with Geography, by furnishing a Map of England, as it will be in another year or two. Our country will, of course, never be in chains, for there would be such a general bubbling up of heart's blood, and such a bounding of British bosoms, as would effectually prevent that; but though England will never be in chains, she will pretty soon be in irons, as a glance at the numerous new Railway prospectuses will testify. It is boasted that the spread of Railways will shorten the time and labour of travelling; but we shall soon be unable to go anywhere without crossing the line.--which once used to be considered a very formidable undertaking. We can only say that we ought to be going on very smoothly, considering that our country is being regularly ironed from one end of it to the other.
15.--MR. PUNCH POKES FUN AT THE RAILWAY MANIA OF 1845.]
No. 13 is from page 157 of Volume VII., October 5, 1844. It represents the Prince of Wales, then not quite three years old, "capturing several of his Mamma's gold fish, one of which was as big as a dace, and weighed six ounces. It was very nearly pulling the Prince in."
In the "Innocence" picture, No. 14, observe that the little dog _Fido_, which is being sought by the lady, is just visible in the left coat-pocket of the Bill-Sikes-looking rough.
[Illustration: A NICE YOUNG MAN FOR A SMALL PARTY.
Young BEN he was a nice young man, An author by his trade; He fell in love with Polly-Ties And was an M.P. made.
He was a Radical one day, But met a Tory crew; His Polly-Ties he cast away And then turned Tory too.
Now BEN had tried for many a place When Tories o'en were out: But in two years the turning Whigs Were turn'd to the right-about.
But when he called on ROBERT PEEL, His talents to employ, His answer was, "Young Englander, For me you're not the boy."
Oh, ROBERT PEEL! Oh, ROBERT PEEL! How could you serve me so! I've met with Whig rebuffs before, But not a Tory blow.
Then rising up in Parliament, He made a fierce to do With PEEL, who merely winked his eye, BEN wink'd like winking too.