SIR JOHN TENNIEL'S INDIAN CARTOON.
go me EDITOR OF THE "SpecTeroir."3 SIR,—The grand series of Sir John Tenniel's cartoons in Puncs are a national heritage. On the whole, throughout all his career, they have with marvellous fidelity portrayed the history of the times. It is therefore a national misfortune when by a strange lapse one of them sets forth an historical falsehood. That is the case with the cartoon of last week, in which Lord Lawrence is presented as the foreseeing seer of the Mutiny days warning our generation of coming danger. Great as were John Lawrence's services when the Mutinies were upon us, he was blind as any bat to the rising of the storm. Sir Charles Napier and Henry Lawrence had clearly foreseen what was coming. Either of them might have taken the place of Lord Lawrence in the picture. That cartoon ought never to be republished, and ought, for the reputation of both Punch and Sir John Tenniel, to be blotted out from their series. It is no mere difference of men. Two antagonistic policies would be represented by two cartoons, one of which should show Henry Lawrence and the other John as giving the warning. The one would be that which facts have vindicated, the other that which facts have condemned. Mr. Punch throws his
formidable weight on to the side of a false policy. I hope, therefore, that you will allow me to enter this protest against
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