Chapter 13

_PUNCH'S_ WRITERS: 1841.

H. P. Grattan--W. H. Wills--R. B. Postans--Bread-Tax and Tooth-Tax--G. Hodder--G. H. B. Rodwell--Douglas Jerrold--His Caustic Wit--The "Q Papers"--A Statesman _pour rire_--His Sympathy with the Poor and Oppressed--Wins for _Punch_ his Political Influence--Ill-health--"_Punch's_ Letters"--The "Jenkins" and "Pecksniff" Papers--"Mrs. Caudle"--Jerrold's Love of Children, common to the Staff--He Silences his Fellow-wits--And is Routed by a Barmaid--He sends his Love to the Staff--And they prove theirs 282