CHAMBERS' EDINBURGH JOURNAL
CONTENTS
THE CHARITABLE CHUMS' BENEFIT CLUB.
LA ROSIÈRE.
RAMBLES IN SEARCH OF WILD-FLOWERS.
AN EVENING IN WESTMINSTER.
'MEN OF THE TIME.'
ARCHBISHOP WHATELY'S BOOK OF SYNONYMS.
'CHAPTER ON CATS.'
A MARINER'S WIFE.
REMITTANCES TO AND FROM EMIGRANTS.
FOREST-TREES.
WHISKY AND MISERY.
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS, EDITORS OF 'CHAMBERS'SINFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE,' 'CHAMBERS'S EDUCATIONAL COURSE,' &c.
| No. 427. New Series. | SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1852. | Price 1½d. |
THE CHARITABLE CHUMS' BENEFIT CLUB.
The 'Mother Bunch' public-house stands modestly aside from the din,traffic, and turmoil of a leading London thoroughfare, and retires, likea bashful maiden, from the gaze of a crowd to the society of its ownselect circle. It is situated in a short and rather narrow street,leading from an omnibus route running north from the city to nowhere inparticular—or, if particulars must be given, to that complicatedassemblage of carts, cabs, and clothes-lines; of manure heaps anddisorganised pumps; of caged thrushes, blackbirds, and magpies; of deaddogs and cats, and colonies of thriving rats; of imprisoned terriers andgoats let out on parole; of shrill and angry maternity and mud-lovinginfancy; and of hissing, curry-combing grooms and haltered horses, towhich Londoners have given the designation of a Mews. Mr Peter Bowley,the landlord of the 'Mother Bunch,' was the late butler of the late SirPlumberry Muggs; and having succeeded, on the demise of the baronet, toa legacy of L.500, and finding himself unable any longer to resist thecharms of his seven years' comforter and counsellor, the cook,supplemented as they were by the attractions of a legacy of the likeamount, he had united his destiny and wealth with hers in one commoncause. The name of Sir Plumberry Muggs, even though its worthyproprietor was defunct, was still of sufficient influence to procure alicence for his butler; and within a few months of his departure, MrBowley had opened the new Inn and Tavern for the accommodation of HerMajesty's thirsty lieges. He had congratulated himself upon theselection of the site, and upon the suitableness of the premises to there