THE COMIC ANNUAL.
THE present volume of the Budget of Fun is an improvement -upon its predecessors. Without losing its old features, the work
has acquired new ones. There are the same forced jokes and the . same verbal jingles and conceits as before, for those who like them; but these arc not the only dishes of the feast. Mr. Hours has imparted to his fancies something of a continuous interest by hanging them upon narratives, and chosen some of his subjects from the funny or foolish things of the past year. Much as the " Committee on Drunkenness" has been handled, we think the points of the Report have never yet been brought out so well as in the " Ode to J. S. Buckingham, Esq., M.P." The burning of the
two Houses of Parliament furnishes the groundwork of " The
Great Conflagration ;" a sort of story, or rather an exhibition of incidents and characters, in letters somewhat after the fashion of
Humphrey Clinker. "Sketches on the Road," is a broad but humorous account of such adventures and contra temps as might take place in a stage-coach. In all these, and several of the
minor pieces, though Hoon's peculiar style is visible, yet it is not predominant : the junction of remote coincidences is not so forced ; the wit depends less upon the words than the ideas ; or at least it agpears so to du till very closely analyzed,—which answers the purpose just as well.
We have intimated the general character of the "Great Confla- gration :" some of the corresponders in it are an old and rather foolish Tory Member and his family. The following is the Io triumplee of Sir Jacob's sun on the occasion, and for good reasons.
DEAR TOM—
Throw up your cap and huzza. There's glorious news, and so you'll say when I tell you. I could almost jump out of my skin for joy ! Father's dis- membered ! The House of Commons caught fire, and he was dissolved along with the rest.
I've never been happy since we came up to London, and all through Par- liament. The election was good sport enough. I liked the riding up and
down, and carrying a flag; and the battle, with sticks, between the Blues and the Yellows, was famous fins ; and I buzza'd myself hoarse at our getting the day at last. But after that came the jollup, as we used to say at Old Busby's. Theme-writing was a fool to it. If father composed one maiden speech, he coin posed a hundred, and he made me knuckle down and copy them all out, and precious stupid stuff it was. A regular physieker, says you, and I'd worse to take after it. lie made 115 all sit down and hear him spout them, and a poor stick he made: Dick Willis, that we used to call Ilaudpost, was a dab at it compared to bins. He's no better hand at figures, so much the worse for me. Did you ever have a fag, Tom, at the National Debt? I don't know who owes it, but I wish he'd pay it, or he made bankrupt at once. I've worked more sums last month than 1 ever did at school in the half year,—geography the same. I had to hunt nut Don Carlos and Don Pedro, all over the maps. I cause in for a regular wigging one day, for wishing both the Dons were well peppered, as Tom Tough says. I've seen none of the sights I wanted to see. He wouldn't let me go to the play, because he says the theatres are bad schools, and would give me a vicious style of elocution. The only pleasure he promised me was to sit in the Gallery at the Commons and see him present his petitions. Short-hand would have come nest, that I might take down his speechifying; for he says the reporters all garble. An't I welt out of it all—and a place he was to get fir me besides, from the Mime Minister ? I suppose the Navy Pay ; to sit on a high stool, and give Jack Junk one pound two and nine-pence twice a year. l'it rather be Jack Junk hiinself, wouldn't you, Tons ? But father's lost his wicket, and huzza for Shropshire ! In hopes of our soon meeting, I
remain, my dear Tom, Your old churn and schoolfellow, FREDERICK Jetta.
P.S. A court gentleman has just come in, with a knock .111e-down-again. lie says there's to be a new election. I wish you'd du something ; it would he a real favour, and I will do as much for you another time. What I want of you is, to get your father to set up against mine. Do try, Tom, there's a good fellow. I will ask every body I know to give your side a plumper.
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