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[Page 48]
At the Foot of the Column, black people are kneeling,
To raise in the Patriots, compassionate feeling ;
Or to gratefully thank them, for have procur'd
Relief from Distresses they never endur'd ;
For persuading the Commons, that man to condemn,
Who preserv'd to the Crown its most brilliant Gem,
Or, perhaps, for preventing all further abuse,
By turning their Wealth to the National Use.
Munny Begum, who Fame Burke so wickedly painted,
Is drawn like the Lady, why formerly fainted
At a Tale of Distress, * with which you are acquainted.
This Begum, Burke said, was a Prostitute common,
A disgrace to her Sex, a vile profligate Woman ;
And though from the dregs of the people she sprung,
Made a Begum, because she enchantingly sung ;
But, in justice to Burke, I must own be recanted
When his Evidence fail'd, and the Begum's was wanted ;
Then her Credit remained unimpeach'd and unshaken,
And a hearsay from her was a proof to be taken.
But 'tis surely affronting Cecilia, to place her
In a station like this -- nay, it needs must disgrace her '
And, indeed, at first sight, I suspected a plot
That the Artist was brib'd, and corrupted by Scott,
To exhibit his Begum, whom Edmund accus'd
Of crimes, as an Angel, by Hastings abus'd --
To shew Inconsistency and variation,
This fixing discredit on Edmund's Narration ;
But the Major, if wise, of his cash might be sparing,
For the Charges of Burke are sufficiently glaring.
But since Inconsistency is not alarming,
On the contrary, I think variety charming ;
And now I am reading a book of that name
Whose pleasantries varied, demonstrate the same.
The Artist display'd some satirical fun,
By putting both Grey and Anstruther for one.
Wherein, I presume, he adopted the plan,
Of their putting nine Taylors to make up a Man ;
And concluded that Rajah Cheyt Sing to pourtray,
Would take two such men as Anstruther and Grey.
But perhaps into error the Artist was led,
By reading what Anstruther formerly said ;
For who would conceive that Cheyt Sing was the same,
The identical Person, as well as the Name,
Who Anstruther said, in this conscience he held
To be legally fin'd, and with justice expell's.
But now, as this versatile Hero contends,
Was punish'd unjustly, for villainous ends.
* The Story of Deby Sing
THE GREAT ANNIVERSARY !
[in margin] World Nov. 19. 1789
Ode, by the Historic Muse, omitted for want of room, and which should have been published with Simkin's Letter of yesterday.
Gentle Butchers ! ring your cleavers --
Royal Coblers ! Barbers ! Weavers !
Chimney-sweepers ! and Coal-heavers,
Leave your work, and come away !
Coopers, down with adze and wimble !
Taylors, drop the yard and thimble !
Link-boys and Lamp-lighters nimble
Come and keep this Holiday !
Drink and drive away the vapours --
When the night comes, light your tapers ;
Dance and sing, and cut high capers,
Dedicate this day to mirth.
Let this day be ne'er neglected !
But, like Christmas, be respected --
Fox this day was first elected --
Fox, the greatest man on earth !
Not the glorious Revolution,
Checking lawless persecution,
Which secur'd our constitution
Free, for overturning shocks --
Not the Brunswick Coronation,
Chasing Pop'ry from the nation,
E'er deserv'd commemoration,
Like th' Election of Charles Fox !
[2nd column]
When the Hero tells his story,
Acts of splendor, deeds of glory,
Will diffuse their light before ye --
Then bestow your loud applause !
Walter Tyler, clad in armour !
Master Cade, the great Reformer !
Cromwell's self never was warmer
Than Charles Fox in Virtue's cause !
C****** and B****, by joint endeavour,
Thirteen Provinces did sever
From the British Crown for ever !
Noble Charles, and loyal Burke !
Irish Independance rearing,
Kingdoms two asunder tearing,
Make the Crown not worth the wearing --
This, indeed, is glorious work !
Gallant Charles, the Nation's blessing,
Eas'd your shops of tax distressing,
Laid thereon by Pitt, oppressing --
Hail, for ever, Blue and Buff !
Still there's something more provoking,
Pitt has laid a tax on smoaking,
Whilst your wives and mothers, croaking --
Dread another tax on Snuff.
Toast the Prince and Royal Brother,
Whilst some folk, in places other,
Toast his Father and his Mother --
Drink the People's Majesty !
Drink about, ye thirsty fishes !
Toasting, with sincerest wishes,
Russels, Bentincks, Cavendishes,
With Fitzwilliam, ever free !
Godlike Charles, the World's Eighth Wonder !
In St. Stephen's squeaking thunder,
Keeps the frighted Members under :
Oh ! let Fox be ne'er cast out !
Rise ! ye gallant sons of freedom !
Damn the laws, and never heed 'em !
Honest poor can live without.
See the Sire, by Son forsaken --
F--- persuades the Heir mistaken
The Prerogative to weaken --
Thanks to Charles's soothing tongue.
When he speaks -- Huzza ! -- encore him !
Tumble down, and kneel before him !
Kiss his shoe-string, and adore him --
Charles from Freedom's Goddess sprung !
At next Westminster Election,
Guard with care against defection ;
Give delinquents just correction --
Bring a Hundred Thousand Voles.
Collar Magistrates, and fright 'em --
Meet your foes, and boldly fight 'em --
Sanson like, with jaw-bone smite 'em
Make clean work, and cut their throats.
[in margin]
Oracle Novr 1789
SIMKIN.
A mutilated and imperfect Copy of the following humourous Epistle having made its appearance in another Print, we are happy in being able to do the Author justice, by present his Poem to our Readers in it original and perfect state. -- It may only be unnecessary however to observe again, that the Oracle is devoted to original Compositions only, the Classical parts of which will be preserved, and transmitted to posterity in small pocket volumes, executed in the stile of Bell's Edition of Fugitive Poetry. -- Poetical Pieces sent to us at second-hand, will not in future be acceptable.
The following Poem was occasioned by the Author's seeing a Print, called India Vindicated, dedicated, as it is there said, by permission, to the Dutchess of Devonshire. We need not describe the Print, as it is very fully explained in the following lines.
SIMKIN IN TOWN TO HIS BROTHER SIMON IN WALES.
You remember, dear Brother, my formerly stating
That Burke was displeas'd with my mode of relating ;
But alas ! now I fear I'm for ever rejected,
As a new Poet Laureate is lately elected.