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[Page 21]
Some say, 'twas his Conscience that gave him a stroke,
But those who best know him, treat that as a joke;
'Tis a trick, which Stage Orators use in their need,
The Passions to raise, and the Judgment mislead. -
When FRANCIS beheld his friend SHERIDAN drop,
He sprung twenty feet at two steps and a hop;
Assafoetida Drops, he applied to the nose
Of his friend, who recovered his strength, and arose -
But THURLOW, long silent, now thought it his turn
To speak to the Court, so he moved an ADJOURN.
Yours, &c.
LETTER the SECOND,
From SIMPKIN the SECOND, to his Dear BROTHER in WALES.
World June 2 1788 [in margin]
DEAR BROTHER --
--- You ask, why was FR--------s distrest?
Why he fear'd for the Cause so much more than the rest?
To answer this question as well as I can,
I must give you a Sketch of this wonderful Man:
Some certain things rise from the dark,
Our HERO started first a Clerk -
In Office, that was still Impressing
On tender youth this useful Lesson;
Those that would thrive, must learn to cringe,
"To turn like door upon a hinge;"
To flatter those that favour shew ye;
To spurn at those that are below ye;
FR--------s, by acting well this part,
Completely won his Patron's heart,
Who made him, by a sudden spring,
The FIFTH PART of a Potent King;*
That is, he was to Bengal sent,
The under limb of Government. -
Let yonder Beggar mount a Horse,
The Proverb tells "which way his course;"
So FR--------s, who had been a Hack
Of Office, 'midst a servile Pack,
Saw thousands tremble at his nod,
And like another PHILIP'S Son, became a God.
Great his wealth had been indeed,
If HASTINGS had not check'd his speed;
And to his prospects put an end,
By calling from LUCKNOW his Friend.
This FR--------s never can forgive,
As long as he and HASTINGS live;
And from that time, has been pursuing
Means to effect his total ruin;
But fruitless finding OPPOSITION,
He form'd - like some - a COALITION:
But Coalitions still must fall,
One certain fate o'ertakes them all.
Tho' his - a novel kind of plan -
To join,and then betray the Man;
But HASTINGS' Genius was awake,
And ere he stung, it scotch'd the Snake.
This to the fire but added fuel,
Until it ended in a Duel. -
When FR--------s saw his Schemes all fail,
For England's shore he spread his sail. -
No sooner on shore had our PHILL set his feet,
Than he drove, like a Post-boy, to LEADENHALL-STREET;
In the flames of his Malice, he burnt to disclose
A Tale, which had cost him some years to compose;
But he got a rebuff from the COURT of DIRECTORS;
They were HASTINGS'S Friends; they were Virtue's PROTECTORS;
They paid just regard to their Honor and Glory;
They read not PHILL'S Papers; they heard not PHILL'S Story.
Tho' like Light'ning to ENGLAND from INDIA he came,
In speed he was greatly surpass'd by his FAME;
They knew how the measures of HASTINGS he crost,
How near his advice COROMANDEL had lost;
By the Court of Directors, it clearly was seen,
That the Man was a compound of Envy and Spleen -
Then away to the Mongers of Boroughs went he,
To try, if with some one he could not agree;
And find a fit corner - for once - to his use,
For speech unrestrain'd, and for licens'd abuse.
But when he found out each abusive Oration
Could produce no effect on a sensible Nation,
His attention was turn'd to the Quixote-like BURKE,
Who is fond of engaging in Quixote-like Work;
He told them long stories "of Damsels distress'd,"
"Of extirpated Nations, of RAJAHS oppress'd;"
* FRANCIS'S definition of himself, and his Power, to the People in India.
[column 2]
Of HASTINGS'S having compell'd the NABOB,
His Kindred, his Mother, Grandmother, to rob. -
Shall the eloquent BURKE, who by pleading the cause
Of Powell and Bembridge, gain'd lasting applause;
Shall the Man who to Wretches like these was a friend,
The Rights of Old Damsels refuse to defend?
Oh! let not the Children of ASIA beseech
Thy mercy in vain; but the Tyrant Impeach;
I myself will find Matter, do thou furnish Speech.
Then away posted BURKE to his CHARLEY and SHERRY,
Who were toping at BROOKES'S, pot-valiant and merry! -
"I have something, my BOYS, upon which we may prate,
'Tis time we should Spout, lest we grow out of date;
Against the NABOB I am furnish'd with matter, -
When matter is found, we can all of us chatter;
WARREN HASTINGS is he, you remember, his friends
Disappointed us lately, in gaining our ends.
That Stock-holding Crew, the late change brought about
In Administration, and turn'd us all out:
Let us try, in our turn, if we can't over-reach him,
Then HILLOA, Brave Boys, let us on and Impeach him!
Perhaps the rich Rogue, when he finds himself under
Our lash, may present us some part of the Plunder.
Then CHARLEY, who found himself not in a cue
So wild, so romantic, a scheme to pursue;
Who found by a Balance, just made of his Books,
Himself better paid, by attending at BROOKES';
Requested, that BURKE would be pleas'd to desist
From the business, or strike his Name out of the List.
And SHERRY, who now holds Theatrical Stuff,
Declar'd, on the Stage "there was acting enough."
And begg'd, that if BURKE had this Farce at his heart,
He might be prevented from playing a part.
BURKE started, and swore, if you do not think fit
To support me in this, I'll go over to PITT.
Then CHARLES, who began to foresee, the reduction
Of his force at St. Stephen's might prove his destruction;
Engag'd for himself,and the whole of his Party;
Tho' some people think CHARLES is not very hearty.
Three years have elaps'd since the suit they began,
They may work many more, let them do all they can,
Before they will conquer this much-injur'd Man!
You ask'd me, what cause had the House to resist
Adding FR--------s name to the Managers' List?
Why all moderate men to exclude him agreed,
Tho' BURKE pledg'd his honour, he could not proceed
Without FR--------s's aid, to support him in need.
Then, EDMUND! thy zeal struck the guard from thy tongue,
And betray'd the base source, whence thy Charges all sprung.
Great part of the House, which till then had believ'd
Thy story, now find themselves grossly deceiv'd;
How many good men, now are griev'd to the heart,
To think they were talk'd into taking a part.
But FR--------s triumphantly laughs in his sleeve,
To think he so long could the public deceive.
As he walk'd along Bond-street, he said to a friend,
"Tho' my Foe be acquitted, 'twill answer my end;
Opprest with fatigue, and o'er-burthen'd with cost,
His health will be broken, his fortune be lost;"
Then he swore, by the Lord, he would not cease pursuing,
Till Death and Damnation had finish'd his ruin.
Tho' so generous an Oath, he confess'd, gave him pain,
To come from a bosom so kind and humane.
I conclude for the present: - but if, my dear Brother,
You like this Epistle, I'll send you another;
And ground there will be, quite enough, to your sorrow,
For SHERRY begins his Oration To-morrow -
And Sums up the whole of the Charge as he goes: -
Tho', amidst all "this summing," - just under the Rose -
'Tis surprizing, he never sums up - what he owes!
Yours &c.
LETTER the THIRD.
From SIMPKIN the SECOND, to his Dear BROTHER in WALES.
World June 6 1788 [in margin]
THE IMPEACHMENT.
YOU ASSURE me, Dear Brother, the comical Tales
I've related, amuse our Acquaintance in WALES;
You beg me, as SHERRY proceeds to Impeach,
To give you in Rhime the Contents of his Speech.
The Task is too hard - for the Speech is so fine,
It escapes such a dull understanding as mine.
Howe'er, to oblige you as far as I can,
I'll begin an Oration as SHERRY began.