No. 16 introduces us to a very early _Punch_-picture of Benjamin
Disraeli [June, 1845]; not the first, which was, Mr. Philip Agnew
tells me, in the year 1844, but this is the more interesting picture
of the two. Mr. Punch was sometimes very severe in his treatment of
Disraeli, and this sketch with the accompanying verses is a good
example of _Punch's_ early satire. As regards Mr. Punch's politics,
it is interesting to quote the following words from "The History of
_Punch_":--
"The Table" [_i.e._, the weekly _Punch_ dinner-table at which
the cartoons, etc., are discussed.--J. H. S.] has always shown
an amalgam of Conservative and Liberal instincts and leanings,
although the former have never been those of the "predominant
partner." The constant effort of the Staff is to be fair and
patriotic, and to subordinate their personal views to the general
good. For, whatever the public may think, neither Editor nor Staff
is bound by any consideration to any party or any person, but hold
themselves free to satirise or to approve "all round."
When No. 16 was published, Disraeli was the leader of the "Young
England" party, having some years previously been converted from a
Radical into a Tory: hence the allusions contained in the lines below
this sketch.
[Illustration: THE RISING GENERATION.
_Juvenile._ "I TELL YOU WHAT IT IS, GOVERNOR, THE SOONER WE COME TO
SOME UNDERSTANDING, THE BETTER. YOU CAN'T EXPECT A YOUNG FELLER TO BE
ALWAYS AT HOME; AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY I GO ON, WHY I MUST HATE
CHAMBERS, AND SO MUCH A-WEEK!"