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[Page 32]
The buds of FANCY in luxuriance blowing,
Like Eastern Wind, his Breath pestif'rous blighted;
The stream of Oratory sweetly flowing -
That stream it dry'd, which you and me delighted.
The fragrant flowers in ELOCUTION'S spring,
Like morning frost, HIS breath congealing nip'd;
In plumage gay, IMAGINATION'S wing
Soaring aloft his Hand unhallow'd clip'd.
In ELEGY solemn no more to complain,
As curses and prayers are both equally vain;
I must tell you, but not without horror and dread,
That the rage of Restriction seems likely to spread;
But I should not break in at the midst of a story,
So I'll lay the Proceedings in order before you.
Many PAPERS last Tuesday were read by the CLERKS,
Whose dryness was moisten'd by EDMUND'S Remarks:
"By reading these Documents, 'tis my intent,
"Of the soot of CORRUPTIONS to give you the Scent.
"The scent of Corruption is lasting and strong;
"If we follow our Noses, we cannot go wrong."
Then sniffing and snuffing BURKE followed the track
Of Corruption, like BRAWLER, the Head of the Pack;
But in spite of this hunt, and the musical cry
Of BRAWLER, the sport grew insipid and dry.
By Ladies the Court was but thinly attended,
And the CLERKS seem'd asleep ere the business was ended.
For the Use of LOGICIANS, I beg leave to add,
Where Presumption Affirmative cannot be had,
A NEGATIVE one may be put in its place,
As a Substitute good in a Criminal Case.
This doctrine to some appear'd dang'rous and new,
But in HASTINGS'S Case, EDMUND says it will do.-
Last THURSDAY again I attended the COURT,
Without any reason to boast of the sport.
Oh! how I admire this most wonderful Man,
For contriving a new oeconomical plan!
As the COMMONS, you know, have refus'd him per-mission
To indent at his pleasure for new Ammunition;
The Balls which lay scatter'd and spread on the Plain,
Are collected by GREY, and fir'd over again.
In this Cannonade so terrific and hot,
NUNDCOMAR and his Charge were unlawfully shot.
But to speak in plain language, as GREY was proceeding,
The Counsel objected to what he was reading:
They said, that no credit was due to the tongue
Of a slanderous fellow, for Forgery HUNG!
Now CHARLES, to keep HASTINGS'S Counsel in awe,
In argument rose against PLOMER ad LAW.
You have heard it by many repeatedly said,
Like CHARLES'S there never existed a head.
His Head is a rich inexhaustible mine
Of Arguments plausible, subtle, and fine:
'Tis a BANK, where the orders of SOPHISTRY pass,
And are paid on demand in Lead, Copper, or Brass.
This Man, whose acuteness discover'd a fault
In every species of Evidence brought
To convict BURKE of having said more than he ought;
Tho' EDMUND was twice heard to own and declare it;
Tho' the Writers took Notes, and were ready to swear it;
Tho' CHARLES was twice present, and happen'd to hear it;
Tho' the Members themselves heard the ORATOR speak;
All this was incompetent, futile, and weak.
This man, who contended against the admitting,
All proofs such as these, from being highly unfiting,
Now proves to the COURT, in this CASE to dispense
With an OATH, is consistent with JUSTICE and SENSE.
"But in lieu of an OATH, or the Pris'ner's admission,
"We have NUNDCOMAR'S word, and a load of SUSPI-CION.
"And tho' he on a Gibbet for FORGERY died,
"Does it follow from thence, that he constantly lied?
"I say, (and 'twas seemingly said with REGRET)
"We have brought the best proof WE could possibly get.
" 'Tis the custom of all the LAW COURTS of our KING,
"To accept the best proofs PROSECUTORS can bring;
"And when there is doubt of what People advance,
"To cast up the Odds, and be GUIDED by CHANCE.
"When you think of the Character now at your Bar,
"And of HIS, who accus'd him - the said NUNDCOMAR-
"Can any one harbour a doubt in his breast,
"But the word of the LATTER is safest and best?"
This reas'ning of CHARLES, though exceedingly good,
Was either not relish'd, or misunderstood;
For the LORDS to their Chamber agreed to withdraw,
To consult with their Oracles, Men of the LAW.
This determin'd the COURT for that day to adjourn,
And I hear that next Wedn'sday they mean to return;
But whatever their LORDSHIPS may wisely decree,
It will work no effect upon BURKE or on ME.
The genius of CHARLES no Eulogium can raise-
It is proof against SHAME, and superior to PRAISE;
He turns like a Gig, and you'd wonder thereat,
In a person like his, so unwieldly and fat.
All his friends and his enemies freely confess
His versatile powers, his art, and address.
There is nothing so white, there is nothing so black,
But CHARLEY can either defend or attack.
Before, my dear SIMON, I lay down my pen-
(As I may not find matter to write you again),
I must tell you, that HASTINGS'S Counsel objected
To BURKE in a manner I never expected:
For HE, who had been so extremely profuse,
Who had scarcely omitted one term of abuse;
Who, when his own language could furnish no more,
Lamented its being so barren and poor-
So repeated the same he had utter'd before.
In the field of an argument ample and spacious,
He gave to some action the name of "Audacious."
The COUNSEL of this to their LORDSHIPS complained,
And BURKE for indelicate terms was arraigned:
You will judge from this trifling, this simple event,
What reason I have to complain and lament;
If BURKE is confined to decorum and order,
I'll relinquish my Pen, and the Post of RECORDER.
SIMPKIN.
World May 25 1789
NEVER had Heroes so faithful an HISTORIAN! No word, ever so minute - no Act, ever so ludicrous or so great, escapes him. Who can wonder then - that all Parties equally should admire him?
To his Dear BROTHER SIMON in WALES.
LAST Wednesday, Dear Brother, their LORDSHIPS de-creed
That NUNDCOMAR'S Charge was improperly read:
That is, as their CONSCIENCES could not believe it -
They thought that they legally could not receive it.
When the CHANCELLOR said, "that their LORDSHIPS were come
To this Resolution,"poor EDMUND was dumb.
He stood, like a Spectre, aghast and affrighted,
Then pray'd that the Words might again be recited.
The words were repeated-The MANAGERS pray'd
For time to consult:- So the TRIAL was stay'd.
You remember that MILTON has finely related
That when the Dark PRINCE was in battle defeated,
He to Council conven'd all his LEADERS in Black.
To consult about making another attack.
So EDMUND, extremely distress'd and perplext,
Consults with his friends upon CHAPTER the next.
Awhile they sat sullen: then JOSEPH arose,
And thus spoke to the Chiefs in poetical prose:
"TH'ADVICE I offer'd at the last debate,
"Was then rejected, and now I repeat
"You will repent it, and repent too late."
Why do we thus encounter endless shame.
Like desperate Gamblers play a losing game?
The very Sufferers, whose Cause we try,
DISOWN it, and their Advocates DENY.
The HOUSE which sent us here to plead this Cause,
Disgusted too, its confidence withdraws:
The LORDS, who ought to favour and protect us
On all occasions slightingly neglect us.
Oh! that it never had been undertaken,
Would that the Cause last week had been foresaken.
Here MONTAGUE put in to save the name
Of his dear BURKE from everlasting shame.
"Fatal, ALAS! the consequence must be
"To this great Cause, if LEADERS disagree:
"Shame and Defeat attend desponding fear,
"Whilst FORTUNE yields to those who PERSE-VERE.
New Batt'ries 'tis our duty to provide,
"And canonade the Fort on every side.
"You, CHARLES, a thund'ring Battery must erect.
"To bear upon the Bastion INTELLECT.
"And JOSEPH - you, behind the Curtain stealing
"Must undermine the COURT on fudge and feeling,
"Let EDMUND'S Battery on their Patience play,
"To beat down that, already giving way.
"Pleas'd with th'advice, the CHIEFS with ardor burn'd,
"DISSOLVED the Council, and to COURT RE-TURNED."