THE THRASHING MACHINE
the course of talking of the different places of amusement, and the numerous sights, I mentioned Père la Chaise, the onemost impressive to my feelings. To my surprise, he had never been there; that had excited the curiosity of every stranger, when observing—" What, not yet been to see Père la Chaise?" Still sticking to his shop, he replied, "Poh! Père la Chaise, give me a chaise and pair."
The Thrashing Machine
An amateur, as I have long been, of caricatures, Rowlandson having been my instructor, for in my opinion it is a
dangerous amusement. Of the many I once exhibited in the shops, I have ever avoided giving offence, and have only sought those characters who were known only for their singularity, and who were pleased that their likenesses were made public, notoriety being their sole aim. So far, to them, I made myself useful. Latterly, having sketched the contour and resemblance of a schoolmaster, well known for his morose disposition and austerity, his fondness for the thrashing machine and the on dit, not only the pleasure he seemed to enjoy at the writhen countenance of his victim, as he lays on his cuts with all his force, but boasting of the number he had flogged before breakfast. An old pupil of his, to whom I have given the sketch, who had contributed his share towards his old schoolmaster's amusement, taking out his pencil, wrote underneath "sanquineos occulos, virgamque requiret." Should Sir Francis Burdett's motion succeed, the army and navy be exempt from flogging, and the schools follow the example, this utendaum est etate, which this magisterial amateur of the thrashing machine has so long amused himself, however,
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