NUMBER 1. LONDON, MARCH 18, 1848. ONE PENNY. OUR NAME AND ADDRESS. THE "SHOWMAN" presents his compliments and his portrait to the British Public, and introduces himself as a person who intends exhibiting the PUPPETS of the day in their true light. In Politics he will attack every side with the strictest impartiality, and will patronise no parties except dinner parties. With regard to the Currency Question he need hardly state that he will issue his own paper, which will be exchanged for copper on every possible occasion. The publisher will be Liberal-in his allowance to the trade; but will not, it is hoped, testify such a "love of change" as might induce him to keep threepence out of a fourpenny piece, tendered in pay ment of a number of the PUPPET-SHOW. The SHOWMAN will occasionally Review Books, and, what is more, will read them. He will not cut up works with the pen previously to doing so with the paper knife. 66 In Theatrical matters he will be "just," whether or not managers be generous." It is a mistake to imagine that critics, like clergymen, cannot officiate without "taking orders." He will not support Her Majesty's Theatre because it happens to be the 'old original Opera House:" some thingshats for instance-are not improved by age; nor will he attack the rival establishment on account of its being situate in the vicinity of Seven Dials. 66 With regard to the Newspapers the SHOWMAN need only mention that he will cultivate the fourth estate with a view to the production of a large crop of jokes. He will be constantly picking holes in the "happy broadsheet which not e'en critics criticize;" and, in fine, will allow himself the greatest liberty with the Press. In the paragraphs published under the head of "Pins and Needles" particular attention will be paid to the points, which it is hoped will be found not deficient in sharpness, and always of the best-tempered description. Doubtless some curiosity will be excited as to the cause of the Cyclopian appearance which the countenance of the SHOWMAN presents. It is well known in newspaper circles that a periodical called "THE EYE" was brought out solely with the view of allowing the Editor to exclaim on the day of publication, "Here we are with our Eye out." It was no such object that could have induced the SHOWMAN to part with his orb of vision; nor does he mean to state that it was in fact a voluntary action which deprived him of it. Suffice it to say that, until a future period, it must remain veiled by mystery-and a black patch. The SHOWMAN will do his best to gratify his readers, and he has no doubt that they will be delighted with his first publication, for none can be so devoid of egotism as to think badly of NUMBER ONE. But if, at any time, a subscriber should consider that he has not received ample satisfaction, the SHOWMAN will be happy to give it him at the Puppet-Show Office, where pistols will be kept in readiness from ten till four, and where "rubbish shot." A WELCOME TO LOUIS PHILIPPE. We do not cheer thee, faithless king, Nor shout before thee now; We have no reverence for a thing We form no crowds to welcome thee, An old man desolate. When, in such sudden dark eclipse, We see thine overthrow, The hisses die upon our lips, Poor vagabond of royalty, So abject, so forlorn, The greatness of thy misery Shall shield thee from our scorn. We saw thee yesterday elate In majesty and pride, Thy flowing wealth, thy gorgeous state, We saw thy meshes lurk, We saw thee building, building up Even genius, drunk with bribery's wine, When earnest men affirmed the right, Had fraud and falsehood thriven? A living mockery of the just, That gave their truth the lie. All this thou wert but yester morn— may be On falsehood built, thy basements shrunk,{ It throbbed-it beat-it nerved their hands- We blushed, we groaned, to see thee seek And, like a knavish bankrupt, sneak We have not heart to hiss. Live on-thou hast not lived in vain. Its radiant forehead o'er thy reign, And Empire based upon a wrong Is rotten through and through. Though falsehoods into system wrought, May stand awhile, their power is nought- His revolutions speak in ours, And make His justice plain Old man forlorn, live out thine hours, Thou hast not lived in vain. A TOAST FOR THE TIMES. May all Englishmen plant a firm foot against the income tax, and prove themselves not inclined to budge-it! A REGULAR SELL.-The Morning Chronicle has been converted to Toryism. Can the "premises," which were lately whitewashed, lead to the "conclusion" that a similar process might otherwise have been found necessary by the proprietor? or Was the change a conscientious one, and induced by the practical Liberality evinced by the Conservatives? or Was it compulsory, and occasioned by the Whig Journal receiving a heavy check from the enemy? or Was it caused by these three reasons united? A CHEAP AMUSEMENT.-The best way of combining excitement with economy and amusement with duty-we mean police duty-is to get sworn in as a special constable. You will be provided with a baton, with which you can keep the peace and break people's heads, while an innocent and healthful recreation may be obtained by chasing the mob about Kennington Common. If possessed of ordinary intelligence and corresponding strength, you may take an opportunity of paying off some old scores by knocking down or "taking up" those of your acquaintances who may at any time have annoyed you. If any person should be rash enough to question your authority, he renders himself liable to a penalty of twenty pounds: you will therefore have all the fun on your own side. THE LAW OF HONOUR.-It has been stated by an Irish authority, that according to the present law relating to duelling it would be illegal, in case of a riot, to “call out" the military. Were it allowable, we are sure that something more than "satisfaction" would be given. : PROTECTIONISTS. CHARLES X. went out of France with the dignity of a gentleman. Louis Philippe slunk out; called himself SMITH; disguised his person; and fled when no man pursued him. On his arrival in England, the congenial name of SMITH met his eyes over the door of the inn of Newhaven. It was a happy omen. He knew he was in a comfortable land-a land of decent people-a land of Smiths and KING SMITH (may the name we give him stick to him!) took courage for the first time, and thanked God that he was on British ground. He did not remember at the moment that he had very pertinaciously striven to overreach England, and had risked a war with her for certain unmanly projects in Spain. The people of Brighton and Newhaven were, however, as forgetful as his Majesty of this little passage in his life, and warmly received the Ex-King on his landing. A magnanimous Briton (not a snob), named Stone, raised the shout of loyalty. He welcomed to England the Majesty of SMITH in the name of the people of England, exclaiming, as with their voice, "WE will protect your Majesty' KING SMITH was "much agitated," and repeatedly thanked the representative of England for the There are powerful aid he had offered. 66 sermons in Stones," says a high authority. There was a national declaration in this. The words meant, that if M. de Lamartine, M. Arago, M. Louis Blanc, or the redoubtable Colonel Barbès, should attempt the forcible seizure of KING SMITH, while he was on British ground, Stone himself, at the head of the armies of England, would throw a shield over the fugitive, and dare the saucy Republic to do its worst. We have not heard of Stone since; but he is doubtless engaged in the noble task of arousing the people of England to do their duty in this emergency like Stones-we had almost said like bricks. On the morning that followed the Ex-King's arrival, a whole tribe of similar Britons came to Mrs. Smith's inn to offer the tribute of their admiration. "At ten o'clock," says the Sussex Express, "Mr. Packham introduced between forty and fifty of the principal tradesmen, &c. of Brighton, Newhaven, and the neighbourhood, to his Majesty, whom they heartily congratulated on his safe arrival." Every one of them was no doubt ready to do battle in King Smith's behalf against the French nation. There may possibly have been a lurking idea that King Smith had a million or two in the funds, and that he might expend a portion of the treasure among the Smiths, and the Browns, Joneses, and Robinsons, of Brighton and Newhaven, after he should have settled fairly down into private citizenship. But no-we will not wrong these noble tradesmen. It was a love of virtue that prompted them to visit the Ex-King. It was that sublime spectacle, a great soul greater than adversity, that they wished to behold. The old idea was still uppermost, however, in the mind of King SMITH. He had neither forgotten the dangers of his flight, nor the magnanimous promise of Stone. In the midst of much agitation" and "excitement," he exclaimed, "I am delighted, gentlemen, to see you. I feel that I am SAFE.' Poor old Smith! There is not a man in England who would hurt a hair of his head. 66 |