"As touching that Department of my Academy which should deal with the Education of the Public in the true Appreciation of Humour, I am of a very hopeful Persuasion, in that I hold it but necessary to shut them out from all Sight and Knowledge of our aforesaid dismal Climate, at the same time bringing them in familiar Contact with the Productions of our School, to bring about the desired End."
The comic model sitting.
Having finished in his addressing to us this Discourse, the worthy Man was at some Pains to persuade us to drop a few Coppers into an old Hat which he kept by him for the Reception of Subscriptions towards the Cost of starting his projected Scheme; whereat we, being in too great Haste to plead a sudden Engagement elsewhere, and making hurriedly for the Stairs, by great good Fortune escaped a headlong Tumble, and so pell-mell into the Street.
I fell, in my Walk Home, into a profound exhaustive Speculation upon the Scheme of this ingenious Fellow; in the Outcome of which I became of a most pronounced Conviction that great Detriment would accrue to the Nation if it should be carried out; for it seemed to me that the Appreciation of Humour must involve so huge and radical a Change in the mental Constitution of my Countrymen as would be like to seriously endanger the Stability of the Constitution.
The comic model, his son, and dog trudging to work.
With a Purpose of establishing or rectifying this my Surmise for the satisfying of myself, I presently propounded to a Fellow-Countrymen that happened to pass by the following Queries:—
"Do you perceive the Humour of rendering Necessaries more costly by means of Strikes?—the subtile Absurdity of being at so great Pains to provide a healthy Atmosphere for those that make chaotic Laws at St. Stephen's, while suffocating and freezing the Judges that try to decipher them in the High Courts?—the Mirth-provoking Pleasantry of permitting Billingsgate to
