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[Page 37]
When the COURT was assembled, he spoke for two Hours
About Major SCOTT and his general powers:
He describ'd them as having unbounded dimension,
Whilst the COUNSEL deny this uncommon extension:
A whisper, mean time, round the GALLERY ran,
"Which is he?" and "Where is this powerful Man?"
Now EDMUND proceeds with examining SCOTT,
Concerning what Powers he had, and had not:
But SCOTT, who is fond of beginning de novo,
And tracing the state of his Chicken ab ovo,
Began a long Speech, and went on to relate
Some things which my CHIEF did not want him to state;
And unable to judge what he farther might say,
BURKE seem'd in a hurry to send him away.
In the course of this day, an immortal Commander
Disputed with LAW on the meaning of Slander.
You remember the COMMONERS once disavow'd
Some things which the Orator utter'd aloud.
LAW thinks an Accuser, that cannot support
His Charges, with Evidence given in COURT,
Is guilty of SLANDER - but EDMUND and FOX,
Supported by all the loud tongues in the Box,
Say, false Accusation deserves no such name,
Till the HOUSE of St. Stephen pronounce it the same.
Here this Letter ends:-but expect, my dear Brother,
As soon as I've matter, I'll send you another:
But my AUNT BRIDGET says, lest you should forget her,
She too has some thoughts of transmitting a Letter.
SIMKIN.
World June 24. 1789.
"And read his History in a Nation's Eyes."
What SWIFT did not receive, and JUNIUS could not command, this Writer has obtained-the deputed tribute of NATIONAL APPROBATION. For while from one quarter some silly reprehension of him was attempted, up rose all the Genius and Taste of the Country, and exclaimed, as with one voice, - "Save to us SIMKIN!"
SIMKIN to his Dear Brother SIMON in Wales.
OH, BROTHER! Oh, BROTHER! I'm deeply distrest,
My mind is a blister, a stranger to rest:
I have strange news to give you, but when you receive it,
'Tis impossible, SIMON, that you should believe it.
At ST. STEPHEN'S, last Tuesday, BURKE spoke of an Order
To turn SIMKIN out of his post of RECORDER:
Oh! where is that promise, made many months since,
That I should be Laureat, one day, to the PRINCE?
Alas! all my hopes from HIS HIGHNESS are fled!
Ah! why did I trust what an ORATOR said?
The praises of EDMUND, oh! why did I sing?
And offend, for his sake, both the QUEEN and the KING?
But what adds to my sorrow, beyond all expression,
(I am cover'd with shame while I make this confession)
Is, that EDMUND, becoming my critical foe,
Has declar'd that my stile "is exceedingly low."
That Facts are misstated, Assertions untrue,
That I gave him not HALF of the praise which is due.
He's afraid that good people, who live at a distance,
Who read not the HERALD, and draw no assistance
From such kind of prints, which diurnally paint
BURKE'S party as Cherubs, and BURKE as a Saint,
From reading my letters, may look on the Heroes
As thrasonical Blocks, or tyrannical NEROES.
And this, notwithstanding, I vow and protest,
I have always endeavour'd at doing my best.
If the MANAGERS' speeches seem not very good,
I will swear I detail'd them as well as I cou'd.
But he wishes the PRESS to be under subjection,
And publish no Speeches without his inspection,
And when they require it - his learned correction.
BURKE says, that the lying, iniquitous WORLD,
For its manifoldsins, should be "SMITTEN and HURL'D."
He, who open'd a College for bowing and capers,
Would the COMMONS instruct in the HURLING of Papers:
He, who formerly thought it an innocent thing
In JUNIUS, so strongly to libel the KING,
Now holds it the greatest of abominations
For the WORLD to profane his own sacred Orations:
He, who formerly held that a Law Prosecution
For a LIBEL, would ruin a good CONSTITUTION,
Is willing that SIMKIN should now undergo it,
For being a "low, an inelegant Poet."
Oh, BROTHER! we innocent Natives of WALES
Are too often misled by insidious tales;
I have heard that a DUTCHESS, remark'd for her taste,
And, that ROYALTY also, some minutes would waste
In reading my LETTERS, and us'd to admit
That I wrote with fidelity, humour, and wit.
The DUTCHESS asserted, that EDMUND'S Sublime,
Appearing in SIMKIN'S fantastical rhime,
Becomes such a happy, fortuitous texture,
That it ought to be christen'd the BEAUTIFUL MIXTURE.
But now, as the CHIEF has his Poet rejected,
A DUTCHESS'S taste may be justly suspected:
But I've something to tell you, a hundred times worse,
BURKE wants to attach both my person and purse.
Tho' he ne'er gave in money, so much as a penny,
To the Poet, whose verses, you know, have been many:
It seems, if the HOUSE would concur in the plot,
He would take the last FARTHING poor SIMKIN has got.
In all other cases, except this of mine,
'Twere dang'rous, BURKE thinks, to proceed in that line.
Were an insolent Senator guilty of treason,
An ATTACHMENT would not be consistent with reason;
But because his own Poet, in BURKE'S estimation,
Has not dress'd to his liking, for once, an oration,
He would turn the DELINQUENT now out of employ-ment,
And strip him of fortune, and ev'ry enjoyment.
Oh, BROTHER! how cruel, how hard is the fate
Of those who rely on the words of the GREAT!
But now my attention, 'tis fit, I recall
To the bus'ness of Wedn'sday at WESTMINSTER HALL.
The HOUSE met:- And the CHANCELLOR said, "'twas agreed
"That the MANAGERS be not permitted to read
"MUNNY BEGUM'S Epistle:" - Then EDMUND declar'd,
Tho' their LORDSHIP'S decision he always rever'd,
He must, notwithstanding, beg leave to remark,
That their PRINCIPLES hitherto were in the dark;
And unless for new Lights we have reason to hope,
In darkness it must be our fortune to grope.
Now EDMUND, with fervour, their LORDSHIP'S admonish'd
Of the dangers attending Men's being astonish'd
At the wond'rous decision, which Reason confounds,
Being built, as BURKE thinks, upon technical grounds.
Howe'er, I must yield to your determination,
Tho' it humbles the MANAGERS, COMMONS and NATION.
But left as I am, without light to conduct me,
While your LORDSHIPS seem not much inclin'd to instruct me,
May I venture to guess, that you would not allow it,
Because MAJOR SCOTT did not choose to avow it?
DISAVOWALS, my LORDS, are form'd into a system,
And as far as we're able, we ought to resist 'em.
As my HERO was speaking, I cou'd not help thinking
That he rather was saving that system from sinking,
For the Speeches my ORATOR utter'd aloud,
As recorded by me, HE has since disavow'd.
Nay, the MANAGERS all disavow and detest
Their own children, because they are shabbily drest.
To return - EDMUND failing in this last attack,
To RAJAH GOURDOSS he precipitates back;
And here a new Question arose to be stated,
Which by FOX and the COUNSEL was warmly debated:
The subject, I cannot precisely say what,
But 'twas whether some action was kindness or not?
Some Office, conferr'd to oblige the NABOB,
Which EDMUND suspects was corruption and job.
After ARGUMENTATION, at half after two,
To consider the Question, their LORDSHIPS withdrew.
And while the grave Peers BURKE is driving about,
'Tis pleasant to see them - go in - and go out;
But before, my dear SIMON, I bid you adieu,
I must tell you that nothing that EDMUND can do
Shall ever prevent me from writing to you.
Not HOMER, who sung of ACHILLES and fighting,
Had more pleasure that me in heroical writing;
A subject, like BURKE, I can't think of forsaking,
But must keep him in mind, whether sleeping or waking;
Howe'er, for the present, my writing I'll end,
And to-morrow AUNT BRIDGET a letter will send.
AUNT BRIDGET.
World June 25.1789
That such a Nephew as SIMKIN should have to boast such an Aunt, is not to be wondered at. POETRY, like the Welch blood, runs in the family, and it is pure to its source. The LADY mentioned in the Verse, we apprehend to be complimented, perhaps, above her deserts - certainly above her intentions.