The (almost really) Complete Works of Lewis Carroll

The year when boilers froze

Source: perhaps written for Samuel Courthorpe Bosanquet, 1855

The sources claim it was written for Robert Holford Macdowall Bosanquet, but his birthday was July 31, not really the date for frozen boilers. Samuel Courthorpe Bosanquet’s birthday was March 2, and he is the more likely addressee, anyway. Historical weather data suggest the year 1855, with extreme cold in February, though Carroll didn’t mention anything of this in his diary.

The year when boilers froze and ket-
tles crystallised the fender
The natal day of Bosanquet
Dawned on us in its splendour.

For those who wear wool hosen cat-
ching colds a thing unheard of
But this great maxim Bosanquet
Would not believe a word of.

When Frenchmen say ‘sare, no zank’ et-
iquette suggests the answer
‘A zoughtless, zankless Bosanquet
Would be more zief zan man Sir.’

Dear Bosanquet I’ve here expressed
The grateful feeling that is
But due to one who treats his guest
To genuine oyster patties.

C. L. D.