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[Page 64]
These gallant SPEAKERS, one and all,
Were disappointed men,
Who once had gotten into Power,
But were turn'd out again.
With many Speeches long and loud
These Men the House die[did] shake,
Till repetitions of their words
An echo shrill did make.
The PARTY muster'd all their strength
(Who could their rage endure!)
What time they strove so strenuously
To make th' IMPEACHMENT sure.
At length a COMMITTEE was chose
To carry up the Bill:
Quoth BURKE, "My LORDS, we've found a Rogue,
"And 'peach him here we will.
"To see him sentenc'd, hang'd or burnt,
"I will with pleasure stay."-
With that the noble CHANCELLOR
Thus unto him did say;-
"Here JUSTICE still shall Truth maintain,
"Whatever may betide;
"And Heav'n shall prosper now your Cause
"As TRUTH is on your side."-
"O woe be to us! (then said BURKE)
"For TRUTH I ween is scant,
"But Declamation's noisy power
Shall well supply the want:
"And now with me, brave MANAGERS,
"Your voices all advance;
"For never was there ORATOR
"Of IRELAND or of FRANCE,
"For Rhetoric, however fam'd,
"Or Argument absurd,
"But with him I will here engage
"To prate you word for word."
PART II.
Great HASTINGS, clad in Innocence,
In conscious Virtue bold,
In JUSTICE put his confidence
More than his mickle Gold.
Full many a wise and virtuous deed
Had crown'd his former Fame;
His wisdom British INDIA serv'd
'Midst War's destroying flame.
The fate of mighty Nations once
He balanc'd in his hand;
Now, sad reverse! see at the Bar
This virtuous STATESMAN stand.
The Man who first a Speech did make,
Was Leader EDMUND, he,
Who said, "My LORDS, I'll now disclose
"What set of Men we be."
"All of us here resolve this Man
"To trial, right or wrong:
"This to effect I swear I'll speak
"While I can move my tongue;
"And ere we yield the fell pursuit
"All of us here shall die."-
Says HASTINGS, "BURKE! I know thou'rt old,
"And so, alas! am I;
"And trust me, EDMUND, pity 'twere
"So much good time to kill,
"To try the patience of these LORDS,
"For they have done no ill.
"Therefore, I pray thee, keep to Facts,
"And set vain words aside"-
"Accurs'd were I," did EDMUND say,
"If these were me deny'd!"
Then BURKE did strait begin to state
All that he could invent:
On his first Speech, 'bout DEBY SING,
Full three whole days were spent.
Great HASTINGS, with indignant Scorn
The mean Manoeuvre view'd;
By manly Fortitude upheld,
Undauntedly he stood.
His speaking Counsel were but Three,
All Men of Genius try'd:
(Tho' of his Friends throughout the land
Were thousands more beside).-
With strong-told Facts his mortal Foes
They frequently did wound;
But still the MANAGERS went on,
Tho' oft they chang'd their ground.
Sometimes the CLERK, with nasal twang,
Would read the live-long day;
And sometimes Evidence was call'd,
Who nothing had to say.
O! but it was a grief to see,
And likewise for to hear,
ANSTRUTHER'S leaden Eloquence
To sleep rock many a Peer!
PART III.
There chanc'd to be 'mongst HASTINGS' Friends
A POET of great fame,
Who often heard these ORATORS
So valiantly declaim.
Sir SIMKIN was this Poet call'd,
Of Wit and Genius bright:
In Ridicule he dipt his Shafts,
Then hie'd him to the Fight.
At each Absurdity he struck,
Without or dread or fear,
'Till BURKE, all wrath, said "he was hurt
"Much more than he could bear:
"He'd have the COMMONS make a Law,
"All Humour to suppress;
"That WIT henceforth might be deny'd
"The Freedom of the PRESS.
"Of one SCOTT, too, he there complain'd,
"Who on him did bear hard;
"Who gave the LYE to half he said,
"And all his Stories marr'd;
"His Pamphlets and his Paragraphs
"Put him in doleful dumps."-
(Against him many a good goose-quill
Had SCOTT wrote to the stumps).
The COMMONS said "their Hearts did bleed
"With Sorrow for his sake;
"For sure a better ORATOR
"Mischance did never take:
"But they no Cognizance would grant,
"Nor any more enlarge"-
When this he heard, with double Rage
He turn'd him to the Charge.
The well-fought Field, for many a day,
Stout EDMUND did maintain;
And well supported, too, he was,
By all his doughty Train.
Black-visag'd FOX, DICK SHERIDAN,
Two Knights of prowess bold;
PELHAM and WYNDHAM, ERSKINE, NORTH,
And GREY, that fiery Scold.
And ADAM, with terrific front,
And eke the fierce BURGOYNE,
To bear down Patriot HASTINGS, did
Their force with EDMUND join.
But all their efforts were in vain:
Amidst their clam'rous din,
The more that they seem'd to advance,
The less they seem'd to win.
Of Two and Twenty Articles,
That against HASTINGS be,
Within the first Four Years they sat,
They finish'd only Three.
And if the Trial it goes on
As it has thus began,
What time the Century is out,
The Tenth Charge won't be done.
GOD save the King, and bless the Land,
In Plenty, Joy, and Peace;
And grant henceforth a Law be made,
That Trials NEVER cease.