The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

is 5 ee ee ee \ THE STEAM PACKET. / ll As soon as all the members present had been accommodated with the species of liquor and tobacco which they required, Mr. Pifpaf called ‘‘Silence!” and then, after a sip of his brandy-and-water, and three puffs at his pipe, he added, ‘‘ Gentlemen, the secretary will now read you the mznztes of our last meeting.” Thereupon, Mr. Rumtutch, who had been looking at the gas-light just above his head, as if he were quite unaware that he was about to be called upon for any purpose whatever, opened his book, hemmed, wiped his mouth with his handkerchief, cast a glance towards the chairman, hemmed again, and then began to read as follows :— ‘‘ At a meeting of the club of Honourable and Independent Lumin- aries, held at the Musical Bee, on Monday, the of May, 1840, Mr. Timothy Pifpaf in the chair, the minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. ‘‘ Mr. Pifpaf then called the attention of the meeting to a letter which he had received from the Secretary of State for the Home Department, returning thanks, in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, to the Honourable Club, for the stuffed ring- tailed monkey most respectfully presented by this club to Her Majesty, and which Her Majesty was most graciously pleased to accept. ‘‘ The secretary next reported that several gentlemen then present had incurred certain fines, which were thereupon inflicted by the chairman, and paid, with the exception of that in which Mr. Jeremiah Crumplings was assessed. This gentleman, to the great grief of his friends, com- menced a series of gross abuse upon the venerable chairman, stating amongst other calumnies that the said venerable chairman was him- self ‘as drunk as an owl,’ and promiscuously sending the aforesaid venerable chairman to the abode of Lucifer, where he recommended him to amuse himself with spiders ;—whereupon it was moved by Mr. Shiffley, seconded by Mr. Nibkins, supported by Captain Pentonville, and carried unanimously, that the said Mr. Jeremiah Crumplings be ex- pelled the room. This resolution was effected by means of the potboy _ and three gentlemen in smock-frocks who were drinking in the tap-room of the establishment. Memorandum :—The chairman, in virtue of his prerogative, ordered the potboy and the three gentlemen here alluded to, to be regaled with a go of gin each, at the expense of the society. ‘Tt was moved by Mr. Nibkins, seconded by Mr. Turnchurch, and carried unanimously,—that a treat of two guineas’ worth of punch, volunteered by Mr. Tillinick upon the occasion of his most auspi- cious marriage, be accepted; and that the thanks and kindest wishes of the club be presented to Mr. Tillinick. ‘¢ It was moved by Mr. Kruby, and seconded by Mr. Tiptile, that Gomichbooks (E(0)