Chapter 55

58. [Horace Walpole, in a letter to Hannah More, quotes one word of these verses incorrectly, writing:—“Though Catodied,” an error which P. Cunningham allows to pass, as also another, thatMr.—instead ofLord—Nugent wrote them.—Ed.]

59. Line 26.—[SirRobert Adair. Some observations on his alleged mission to St. Petersburgh to counteract the measures of Government will be found on a subsequent page. The publication here satirized is entitled “Part of a Letter from Robert Adair, Esq., to the Rt. Hon. C. J. Fox; occasioned by Mr. Burke’s mention of Lord Keppel in a recent publication,” London, Debrett, 1796, and is by no means a contemptible composition. It is called “Partof a Letter,” because it is a portion of a longer one, being only the part devoted to a vindication of the writer’s uncle, Admiral Lord Keppel, and of Fox; with characteristic delineations of Sir G. Saville, the Marquis of Rockingham, Lord North, and George Byng, M.P., on all of whom he passes great compliments.—Ed.]

60.And loads the blunderbuss withBedford’sbrains.—This line is wholly unintelligible without a note. And we are afraid the note will be wholly incredible, unless the reader can fortunately procure the book to which it refers.In the “Part of a Letter,” which was published byMr. Robt. Adair, in answer toMr. Burke’s“Letter to the D. of B.,” nothing is so remarkable as the studious imitation of Mr. Burke’s style.His vehemence, and his passion, and his irony, his wild imagery, his far-sought illustrations, his rolling and lengthened periods, and the short quick pointed sentences in which he often condenses as much wisdom and wit as others would expand through pages, or through volumes,—all these are carefully kept in view by his opponent, though not always very artificially copied or applied.But imitators are liable to be led strangely astray; and never was there an instance of a more complete mistake of a plain meaning, than that which this line is intended to illustrate—a mistake no less than that of acoffinfor acorpse. This is hard to believe or to comprehend—but you shall hear.Mr. Burke, in one of his publications, had talked of the French “unplumbingthe dead in order to destroy the living,”—by which he intended, without doubt, not metaphorically, but literally, “stripping the dead of theirLEADEN COFFINS,and then making them(not theDEADbut theCOFFINS)into bullets”. A circumstance perfectly notorious at the time the book was written.But this does not satisfy our author. He determines to retortMr. Burke’sown words upon him; and unfortunately “reaching at a metaphor,” whereMr. Burkeonly intended a fact, he falls into the little mistake above mentioned, and by a stroke of his pen transmutes the illustriousHeadof the house ofRussellinto a metal, to which it is not for us to say how near or how remote his affinity may possibly have been. He writes thus—“IfMr. Burkehad been content with ‘unplumbing’ a dead Russell, and hewingHIM (observe—not the coffin, butHIM—the old dead Russell himself)into grape and canister, to sweep down the whole generation of his descendants,”&c., &c.The thing is scarcely credible; butIT IS SO! We write with the book open before us.

In the “Part of a Letter,” which was published byMr. Robt. Adair, in answer toMr. Burke’s“Letter to the D. of B.,” nothing is so remarkable as the studious imitation of Mr. Burke’s style.

His vehemence, and his passion, and his irony, his wild imagery, his far-sought illustrations, his rolling and lengthened periods, and the short quick pointed sentences in which he often condenses as much wisdom and wit as others would expand through pages, or through volumes,—all these are carefully kept in view by his opponent, though not always very artificially copied or applied.

But imitators are liable to be led strangely astray; and never was there an instance of a more complete mistake of a plain meaning, than that which this line is intended to illustrate—a mistake no less than that of acoffinfor acorpse. This is hard to believe or to comprehend—but you shall hear.

Mr. Burke, in one of his publications, had talked of the French “unplumbingthe dead in order to destroy the living,”—by which he intended, without doubt, not metaphorically, but literally, “stripping the dead of theirLEADEN COFFINS,and then making them(not theDEADbut theCOFFINS)into bullets”. A circumstance perfectly notorious at the time the book was written.

But this does not satisfy our author. He determines to retortMr. Burke’sown words upon him; and unfortunately “reaching at a metaphor,” whereMr. Burkeonly intended a fact, he falls into the little mistake above mentioned, and by a stroke of his pen transmutes the illustriousHeadof the house ofRussellinto a metal, to which it is not for us to say how near or how remote his affinity may possibly have been. He writes thus—“IfMr. Burkehad been content with ‘unplumbing’ a dead Russell, and hewingHIM (observe—not the coffin, butHIM—the old dead Russell himself)into grape and canister, to sweep down the whole generation of his descendants,”&c., &c.

The thing is scarcely credible; butIT IS SO! We write with the book open before us.

61. Qu.—Surcharge?

[62]HORACE, ODE VIII., BOOK II.IN BARINEM.Ulla si juris tibi pejeratiPœna, Barine, nocuisset unquam,Dente si nigro fieres, vel unoTurpior ungui,Crederem.[64]Sed tu simul obligâstiPerfidum votis caput, enitescisPulchrior multo, juvenumque prodisPublica cura.[66]Expeditmatris cineresopertosFallere, et toto[66]taciturna noctisSignacum cœlo, gelidâque DivosMorte carentes.Ridet hoc, inquam,[67]Venus ipsa; ridentSimplices[69]Nymphæ, ferus et[73]CupidoSemper ardentes acuens sagittasCote cruentâ.Adde quod pubes tibi crescit omnis,[74]Servitus crescit nova;[75]nec prioresImpiæ tectum dominæ relinquunt,Sæpe minati.Te suis matres metuunt juvencis;Te[76]senes parci, miseræque[77]nuperVirgines nuptæ, tua ne retardetAura Maritos.

[62]HORACE, ODE VIII., BOOK II.IN BARINEM.

[62]HORACE, ODE VIII., BOOK II.

IN BARINEM.

Ulla si juris tibi pejeratiPœna, Barine, nocuisset unquam,Dente si nigro fieres, vel unoTurpior ungui,

Ulla si juris tibi pejerati

Pœna, Barine, nocuisset unquam,

Dente si nigro fieres, vel uno

Turpior ungui,

Crederem.[64]Sed tu simul obligâstiPerfidum votis caput, enitescisPulchrior multo, juvenumque prodisPublica cura.

Crederem.[64]Sed tu simul obligâsti

Perfidum votis caput, enitescis

Pulchrior multo, juvenumque prodis

Publica cura.

[66]Expeditmatris cineresopertosFallere, et toto[66]taciturna noctisSignacum cœlo, gelidâque DivosMorte carentes.

[66]Expeditmatris cineresopertos

Fallere, et toto[66]taciturna noctis

Signacum cœlo, gelidâque Divos

Morte carentes.

Ridet hoc, inquam,[67]Venus ipsa; ridentSimplices[69]Nymphæ, ferus et[73]CupidoSemper ardentes acuens sagittasCote cruentâ.

Ridet hoc, inquam,[67]Venus ipsa; rident

Simplices[69]Nymphæ, ferus et[73]Cupido

Semper ardentes acuens sagittas

Cote cruentâ.

Adde quod pubes tibi crescit omnis,[74]Servitus crescit nova;[75]nec prioresImpiæ tectum dominæ relinquunt,Sæpe minati.

Adde quod pubes tibi crescit omnis,

[74]Servitus crescit nova;[75]nec priores

Impiæ tectum dominæ relinquunt,

Sæpe minati.

Te suis matres metuunt juvencis;Te[76]senes parci, miseræque[77]nuperVirgines nuptæ, tua ne retardetAura Maritos.

Te suis matres metuunt juvencis;

Te[76]senes parci, miseræque[77]nuper

Virgines nuptæ, tua ne retardet

Aura Maritos.

63. Line 3.—[Referring toLord Moira’scomplaints against the Government agents, for unnecessary cruelty to the Irish rebels.—Ed.]

65. Line 13.—[The following attack upon Lord Moira, “for his patriotic zeal, and the correctness and propriety with which he gave, in the upper House of Parliament, an account of the insurrection upon his estates, and in other parts of Ireland,” is extracted from the “Batchelor”. These observations were there pointed at the father of Lord Moira, but have been adapted by the Author of theOdeand the Artist to the son.Lord Moira.—“My Lords, I rise to return my thanks to the Noble Lord who spoke last. I can testify the truth of all he has asserted. At the time of the Insurrection in the North, I had frequent and intimate conversations with that celebrated enchanter,Moll Coggin. I have often seen her riding on a black ram with a blue tail. Once I endeavoured to fire at her, but my gun melted in my hand into a clear jelly. This jelly I tasted, and if it had been a little more acid, it would have been most excellent. The Noble Lords may laugh; but I declare the fact upon my veracity, which has never been doubted. Once I pursued this fiend into my ale cellar: she rode instantly out of my sight into the bung-hole of a beer barrel. She was at that time mounted on her black ram with the blue tail. Some time after, my servants were much surprised to find their ale full ofblue hairs. I was not surprised, as I knew the bluehairswere the hairs of the ram’sblue tail. Noble Lords may stare, but the fact is as I relate it. ThisMoll Cogginwas the fiend who raised theOak-boysto rebellion. I was also well acquainted with the two Cow-boys mentioned by the Noble Lord; they were my tenants, and were certainly endowed with supernatural powers. I have known one of them tear up by the roots an Oak two hundred feet high, and bear it upright on his head four miles! his party were on that account called Oak-boys. Noble Lords may laugh, but I speak from certain knowledge. The Oak-tree grew in my garden, and I have often seen five hundred Swans perching on its boughs; these swans were remarkable for destroying all the snipes in the country—they flew faster than any snipe I ever saw, and you may imagine a small bird could make but a feeble resistance in the talons of a swan. I hope, my Lords, you will pardon my wandering a little from the present subject,” &c.—Ed.]

Lord Moira.—“My Lords, I rise to return my thanks to the Noble Lord who spoke last. I can testify the truth of all he has asserted. At the time of the Insurrection in the North, I had frequent and intimate conversations with that celebrated enchanter,Moll Coggin. I have often seen her riding on a black ram with a blue tail. Once I endeavoured to fire at her, but my gun melted in my hand into a clear jelly. This jelly I tasted, and if it had been a little more acid, it would have been most excellent. The Noble Lords may laugh; but I declare the fact upon my veracity, which has never been doubted. Once I pursued this fiend into my ale cellar: she rode instantly out of my sight into the bung-hole of a beer barrel. She was at that time mounted on her black ram with the blue tail. Some time after, my servants were much surprised to find their ale full ofblue hairs. I was not surprised, as I knew the bluehairswere the hairs of the ram’sblue tail. Noble Lords may stare, but the fact is as I relate it. ThisMoll Cogginwas the fiend who raised theOak-boysto rebellion. I was also well acquainted with the two Cow-boys mentioned by the Noble Lord; they were my tenants, and were certainly endowed with supernatural powers. I have known one of them tear up by the roots an Oak two hundred feet high, and bear it upright on his head four miles! his party were on that account called Oak-boys. Noble Lords may laugh, but I speak from certain knowledge. The Oak-tree grew in my garden, and I have often seen five hundred Swans perching on its boughs; these swans were remarkable for destroying all the snipes in the country—they flew faster than any snipe I ever saw, and you may imagine a small bird could make but a feeble resistance in the talons of a swan. I hope, my Lords, you will pardon my wandering a little from the present subject,” &c.—Ed.]

68. Line 17.—[“One night afternine o’clock, a party of Soldiers saw a light in a house by the road-side—they went and ordered it to be extinguished immediately: the people of the house begged that the light might be suffered to remain because there was a child belonging to the family in convulsion fits, who must expire for want of help if the people were to be without fire and candle;but this requestHAD NO EFFECT.”Lord Moira’s Speech in the House of Lords, November 22, 1797.This statement was, however, satisfactorily disproved. The incident forms a feature in the accompanying engraving. Notwithstanding official denials, it has long been admitted that the conduct of the Soldiery in Ireland was simply infamous. Billeting on Catholics and reputed malcontents of the better class appears to have been invariably as an unlimited licence for robbery, devastation, ravishment, and, in case of resistance, murder. Sir Ralph Abercromby, on assuming the command of the army in Ireland, declared, in general orders, that their habits and discipline were such as to render them “formidable to everybody but the enemy”. The just severity of this phrase was confirmed by the subsequent experience of Lord Cornwallis.—Ed.]

70. Line 19.—[Sir George Augustus William Shuckburgh, distinguished by his scientific researches, married the daughter and sole heiress of Jas. Evelyn, Esq. of Felbridge, Surrey, by whom he had an only daughter, Julia, who became, in 1810, the wife of the Earl of Liverpool. Sir George, on the decease of his father-in-law in 1793, assumed the additional surname of Evelyn. He died in 1804, having been five times returned to Parliament for the county of Warwick.—Ed.]

71. Line 20.—[Sir John Macpherson, Bart. was M.P. for Horsham, and for a short period Governor-General of India.—Ed.]

72. Line 21.—[Col. Bastard was M.P. for Devon. He was returned with Mr. Rolle, the hero of “The Rolliad,” on the Pitt interest.—Ed.]

78. Line 31.—[Sir William Pulteney was M.P. for Shrewsbury, and no Member in the House was more looked up to. He was the second son of Sir James Johnstone, Bart., of Westerhall, and brother of Governor Johnstone. He married the cousin of Lt.-Gen. Henry Pulteney, surviving brother of William Pulteney, Earl of Bath, assuming the name of Pulteney. The General left immense wealth, “the fruits of his brother’s virtues!” as Horace Walpole sarcastically phrases it. The greater part of it he bequeathed to the said cousin. Sir William Johnstone Pulteney died in 1805. His daughter was created Countess of Bath.—Ed.]

79. The trepidation of Mr. Tooke, though natural, was not necessary; as it appeared from the ever-memorable “Letter to Mr. M‘Mahon” (which was published about this time in theMorning Chronicle, and threw the whole town into paroxysms of laughter), that in the Administration which his Lordship was so gravely employed in forming, Mr. Fox was to have no place!

81. Line 36.—[OfM‘Mahonit is said inT. Raikes’sJournal(November, 1836):—“George IV. never had any private friends: he selected his confidants from his minions.M‘Mahonwas an Irishman of low birth and obsequious manners: he was a little man, his face red, covered with pimples; always dressed in the blue and buff uniform, with his hat on one side, copying the air of his master, to whom he was a prodigious foil, and ready to execute any commissions, which in those days were somewhat complicated.” He was private secretary and keeper of the privy purse to King George IV. when Prince Regent, was sworn of the Privy Council, and created a Baronet, 7th August, 1817, with remainder, in default of male issue, to his brother.Sir Johndied 12th September, 1817, the title devolving on his brotherThomas, a distinguished military officer, who was Adjutant-General of Her Majesty’s forces in India, Lieut.-Gov. of Portsmouth, Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army, &c.Sir John M‘Mahonleft a large personal property, amounting to £90,000. One of his bequests is thus worded: “ToThomas Marrable, a dear and esteemed friend, £2000; and with my last prayers for the glory and happiness of the best-hearted man in the world, thePrince Regent, I bequeath him the said Thomas Marrable, an invaluable servant”. The latter was a member of the household of King George IV., and one of his confidential agents. A full-length portrait of him as one of the procession is given in Sir G. Nayler’s history of the coronation of that monarch.Among Gillray’sCaricaturesis an amusing one, engraved but not designed by him, published in 1804, representing the Heir-Apparent, mounted on a tall horse, with the much smaller person of M‘Mahon consequentially riding on a diminutive steed at his side, passing the gates of Carlton House. The quotation from Burns engraved on it suggests that the Prince might still prove a worthy occupant of the throne.—Ed.]

Sir John M‘Mahonleft a large personal property, amounting to £90,000. One of his bequests is thus worded: “ToThomas Marrable, a dear and esteemed friend, £2000; and with my last prayers for the glory and happiness of the best-hearted man in the world, thePrince Regent, I bequeath him the said Thomas Marrable, an invaluable servant”. The latter was a member of the household of King George IV., and one of his confidential agents. A full-length portrait of him as one of the procession is given in Sir G. Nayler’s history of the coronation of that monarch.

Among Gillray’sCaricaturesis an amusing one, engraved but not designed by him, published in 1804, representing the Heir-Apparent, mounted on a tall horse, with the much smaller person of M‘Mahon consequentially riding on a diminutive steed at his side, passing the gates of Carlton House. The quotation from Burns engraved on it suggests that the Prince might still prove a worthy occupant of the throne.—Ed.]

82. [As if written byRobert Adair, who had previously indited “Halfa Letter to Mr. Fox”.]

[83]Non usitatâ nec tenui ferarPennâ biformis per liquidum ætheraVates.[84]——Non ego, quem vocasDilecte, Mæcenas, obibo,[85]Nec Stygiâ cohibebor undâ.[86]Jamjam residunt cruribus asperæPelles, et album mutor in alitem[87]Supernê, nascunturque levesPer digitos humerosque plumæ.Visam gementis littora Bosphori,Syrtesque Gætulas,[89]canorusAles,[90]Hyperboreosque campos.[91]Me Colchus, et qui[92]dissimulat metum* * ** * * me peritusDiscet Iber Rhodanique[93]potor.Absint[94]inani funere neniæ,[95]Luctusque turpes et querimoniæ.[96]—— —— —— sepulchriMitte supervacuous honores.

[83]Non usitatâ nec tenui ferar

Pennâ biformis per liquidum æthera

Vates.

[84]——Non ego, quem vocas

Dilecte, Mæcenas, obibo,

[85]Nec Stygiâ cohibebor undâ.

[86]Jamjam residunt cruribus asperæ

Pelles, et album mutor in alitem

[87]Supernê, nascunturque leves

Per digitos humerosque plumæ.

Visam gementis littora Bosphori,

Syrtesque Gætulas,[89]canorus

Ales,[90]Hyperboreosque campos.

[91]Me Colchus, et qui[92]dissimulat metum

* * *

* * * me peritus

Discet Iber Rhodanique[93]potor.

Absint[94]inani funere neniæ,

[95]Luctusque turpes et querimoniæ.

[96]—— —— —— sepulchri

Mitte supervacuous honores.

88. [Mr. Pitt’sTax upon Hair-powder proved a failure; many of the public declining its use. Those who continued it were called “guinea-pigs,” the tax being a guinea per head.—Ed.]

97. [For an explanation of this allusion, see Note at p.74.—Ed.]

[98]Acmen Septimius suos amoresTenens in gremio, mea, inquit, Acme,Ni te perdite amo, &c.[99]Cæsio veniam obvius Leoni.[100]Hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistram, ut anteDextram, sternuit approbationem.[101]At Acme leviter caput reflectens,Et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellosIllo purpureo ore suaviata,Sic, inquit, mea vita,[102]Septimille, &c.[103]Nunc ab auspicio bono profectiMutuis animis amant, amantur.Unam Septimius misellus AcmenMavult quam[104]Syrias Britanniasque.[105]

[98]Acmen Septimius suos amores

Tenens in gremio, mea, inquit, Acme,

Ni te perdite amo, &c.

[99]Cæsio veniam obvius Leoni.

[100]Hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistram, ut ante

Dextram, sternuit approbationem.

[101]At Acme leviter caput reflectens,

Et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos

Illo purpureo ore suaviata,

Sic, inquit, mea vita,[102]Septimille, &c.

[103]Nunc ab auspicio bono profecti

Mutuis animis amant, amantur.

Unam Septimius misellus Acmen

Mavult quam[104]Syrias Britanniasque.[105]

105.I.e., The Clerkship of the Pells in Ireland, and Auditorship of South Wales.

106. [On 7th Feb., 1796, aforgedFrench newspaper calledL’Eclair, containing false intelligence, was circulated in London for stock-jobbing purposes. On 3rd July a verdict of £100 was given againstD. Stuart, proprietor ofThe Morning Post, for sending the above paper to the proprietors ofThe Telegraph, by which it was discredited; and on the following day, a verdict of £1500 was given against Mr. Dickinson, for falsely accusing Mr. Goldsmid, the money-broker, of forging the above. It announced a peace between Austria and France.—Ed.]

107.Morning Post, Jan. 25.

108.Morning Chronicle, Jan. 25.

109. This appears to allude to Mr.Sheridan’sconduct during theMutiny.

110. This is not the first time that we have heard of Mr.Tierney’sdiscouragement of impiety. However we may disapprove of this gentleman’s political principles, we are not insensible to the merit of such conduct.

111.Morning Post, Jan. 25.

112.Morning Chronicle, Jan. 25.

113.Morning Chronicle,Morning Post,Morning Herald, &c.

114. The Company seem to have recollected (hadhis Graceforgotten?) that theDukeofNorfolkhasanotherSovereign, to whom he has recently, more than once, sworn Allegiance; and under whom henowholds theLieutenancyof theWest Ridingof theCounty of York, and the Command of aRegimentofMilitia.

115. SeeThe True Briton, of Thursday, Jan. 25.

116.Conjuravere Cives nobilissimi Patriam incendere—Gallorumgentem infestissimam nomini Romano in bellum arcessunt—Dux Hostium cum exercitu supra caput est.—Orat. Caton.ap.Sallust.

117.Tum Catilina polliceri tabulas novas, proscriptionem locupletium, Magistrates, Sacerdotia, rapinas, alia omnia quæ bellum atque lubido Victorum fert.—Sallust.

118. [“A Correspondent cautions us against making a profane use ofMr. Wilberforce’sappearance on Sunday; that gentleman would not have been so ungodly as to gallop there without a sufficient reason—it was the fulfilment of some Prophecy; and the horse he rode might be related to the White Horse of the Revelations.”—Morning Chronicle, Jan. 11, 1798.—Ed.]

119. [This refers to Charles Howard, eleventhDuke of Norfolk, (who gave, at a public dinner, the famous toast of “Our Sovereign’s health, the Majesty of the People,”) and to John Horne Tooke, who was a regularly ordained clergyman, and had been tried for High Treason and acquitted.—Ed.]

120. [These lines allude to the Empress Catherine’s placing in her gallery the bust of Fox between those of Demosthenes and Cicero, as a token of gratitude for his exertions in defeating the project ofPitt, who, in conjunction with Prussia and Holland, had, in 1791, prepared a powerful armament to compel her to give up Ockzakow, which she had seized. The Court party delighted in stigmatizingFoxas the modernCatiline. “But the part which he took in parliament subsequent to 1793, (saysSir N. W. Wraxall), and the eulogiums lavished by him on the French Revolution, soon changed the Empress’s tone. She caused the bust to be removed; and when reproached with such a change in her conduct, she replied, ‘C’étoit Monsieur Fox deQuatre-vingt-onzeque j’ai placé dans mon cabinet’.”—Wraxall’s Posthumous Memoirs, vol. 1, pp. 435, 436.“It seems to have escaped general notice, (says Sir James Prior in his Life of Burke), that the misfortunes of Poland in her final partition may be, in some degree, attributed, however undesignedly on their part, to Mr. Fox and the Opposition, in the strong and unusual means made use of to thwart Mr. Pitt in the business of Ockzakow. They lay claim, it is true, to the merit of having prevented war on that occasion. But if war had then taken place with England for one act of violence comparatively trivial, Russia, in all probability, would not have ventured upon a second and still greater aggression, involving the existence of a nation, with the certainty of a second war. Nothing, after all, might have saved Poland from the combination then on foot against her; but it is certain that Mr. Pitt, from recent experience, had little encouragement to make the attempt.”It is a curious circumstance that, though theplateillustrating theseLineswas published, according to its inscription, on the 17th March, 1792, the five stanzas engraved on it are identical with those which appeared in theAnti-Jacobinof 12th Feb., 1798, though these were introduced as written “by an English Traveller just [sic] returned from Petersburgh”.Assuming the date on the engraving to be correct, we might account for theparachronismon the supposition that the author of the earlierplate-stanzasavailed himself of the appearance of theLines written under the Bust of Charles Fox at the Crown and Anchor to reproduce them—six years afterwards—with a few verbal alterations, to adapt them to a later period—and with an equivocal statement as to the period of their first production.The following are the alterations in the reprinted version:—Stanza2line3, franticforlawless.„3„1, their country’sfordomestic.„3„1, and wealth andforexternal.„3„3, honouredforsacred.„4„1, nowforthen.„4„3, advocatefortool confessed.„4„4, laterformodern.„5„2, thusfornow.„5„4, CatilineforCataline.„5„4, modernforlater.—Ed.]

“It seems to have escaped general notice, (says Sir James Prior in his Life of Burke), that the misfortunes of Poland in her final partition may be, in some degree, attributed, however undesignedly on their part, to Mr. Fox and the Opposition, in the strong and unusual means made use of to thwart Mr. Pitt in the business of Ockzakow. They lay claim, it is true, to the merit of having prevented war on that occasion. But if war had then taken place with England for one act of violence comparatively trivial, Russia, in all probability, would not have ventured upon a second and still greater aggression, involving the existence of a nation, with the certainty of a second war. Nothing, after all, might have saved Poland from the combination then on foot against her; but it is certain that Mr. Pitt, from recent experience, had little encouragement to make the attempt.”

It is a curious circumstance that, though theplateillustrating theseLineswas published, according to its inscription, on the 17th March, 1792, the five stanzas engraved on it are identical with those which appeared in theAnti-Jacobinof 12th Feb., 1798, though these were introduced as written “by an English Traveller just [sic] returned from Petersburgh”.

Assuming the date on the engraving to be correct, we might account for theparachronismon the supposition that the author of the earlierplate-stanzasavailed himself of the appearance of theLines written under the Bust of Charles Fox at the Crown and Anchor to reproduce them—six years afterwards—with a few verbal alterations, to adapt them to a later period—and with an equivocal statement as to the period of their first production.

The following are the alterations in the reprinted version:—

121. [Written to ridicule Richard Payne Knight’sProgress of Civil Society, a Didactic Poem, in Six Books. London, 1796, 4to.—Ed.]

122.Ver.3. A modern author of great penetration and judgment observes very shrewdly, that “the cosmogony of the world has puzzled the philosophers of all ages. What a medley of opinions have they not broached upon the creation of the world. Sanconiathon, Manetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus have all attempted it in vain. The latter has these words—Anarchon ara kai ateleutaion to pan—which imply, that all things have neither beginning nor end.” See Goldsmith’sVicar of Wakefield; see also Mr. Knight’s Poem on theProgress of Civil Society.

123.Ver.12. The influence of Mind upon Matter, comprehending the whole question of the Existence of Mind as independent of Matter, or as co-existent with it, and of Matter considered as an intelligent and self-dependent Essence, will make the subject of a larger Poem in 127 Books, now preparing under thesameauspices.

124.Ver.14. See Godwin’sEnquirer; Darwin’sZoonomia; Paine; Priestley, &c. &c.; also all the French Encyclopædists.

125.Ver.16.Quæstio spinosa et contortula.

126.Ver.26. “Add thereto a tiger’s chawdron.”—Macbeth.

127.Ver.26, 27.“In softer notes bids Lybian lions roar,And warms the whale on Zembla’s frozen shore.”Progress of Civil Society, Book I. ver. 98.

127.Ver.26, 27.

“In softer notes bids Lybian lions roar,And warms the whale on Zembla’s frozen shore.”Progress of Civil Society, Book I. ver. 98.

“In softer notes bids Lybian lions roar,

And warms the whale on Zembla’s frozen shore.”

Progress of Civil Society, Book I. ver. 98.

128.Ver.29. “An oyster may be crossed in love.”—Mr. Sheridan’sCritic.

129.Ver.34. Birds fly.

130.Ver.35. But neither fish, nor beasts—particularly as here exemplified.

131.Ver.36. The bear.

132.Ver.37. The mackerel—there are alsohard-roedmackerel.Sed de his alio loco.

133.Ver.38. Bear’sgrease, orfat, is also in great request; being supposed to have acriniparous, or hair-producing quality.

134.Ver.39. There is a special Act of Parliament which permits mackerel to be cried on Sundays.

135.Ver.45 to 49. Every animal contented with the lot which it has drawn in life. A fine contrast to man, who is always discontented.

136.Ver.49.Salt wave—wave of the sea—“briny wave”.—Poetæ passim.

137.Ver.50. A still stronger contrast, and a greater shame to man, is found in plants;—they too are contented—he restless and changing.Mens agitat mihi, nec placida contenta quiete est.

138.Ver.50.Potatoes ’tatoes breed.Elision for the sake of verse, not meant to imply that the root degenerates.—Not so with man—Mox daturusProgeniem vitiosiorem.

138.Ver.50.Potatoes ’tatoes breed.Elision for the sake of verse, not meant to imply that the root degenerates.—Not so with man—

Mox daturusProgeniem vitiosiorem.

Mox daturus

Progeniem vitiosiorem.

139.Ver.61–66. Simple state of savage life—previous to the pastoral, or even the hunter state.

140.Ver.66. First savages disciples of Pythagoras.

141.Ver.67, &c. Desire of animal food natural only to beasts, or to man in a state of civilized society. First suggested by the circumstances here related.

142.Ver.71. Pigs of theChinesebreed most in request.

143.Ver.76. First formation of a bow. Introduction of the science of archery.

144.Ver.79. Grass twisted, used for a string, owing to the want, of other materials not yet invented.

145.Ver.83. Bone—fish’s bone found on the sea-shore, shark’s teeth, &c. &c.

146.Ver.90. Ah! what avails, &c.—See Pope’sDescription of the death of a Pheasant.

147.Ver.93. “With leaden eye that loves the ground.”

148.Ver.94. The first effusion of blood attended with the most dreadful consequences to mankind.

149.Ver.97.SocialMan’s wickedness opposed to the simplicity of savage life.

150.Ver.100, 101. Different causes of war among men.

151.Ver.106. Invention of fire—first employed in cookery, and produced by rubbing dry sticks together.

152. [Written in the character ofC. J. Fox, at his seat, St. Anne’s Hill, near Chertsey, during his secession from Parliament from 1797 to 1802. His fondness for the Greek Poets is well known.—Ed.]

153. [Alluded to at page79.—Ed.]

154. [Erskine was noted for his intense vanity, which procured him the nickname ofEgo. Sir John Bowring, who knew him well, gives in hisAutobiographyseveral instances of this peculiarity, one of which is here inserted. “The master-string of his mind was vanity; its vibrations trembling to the very end of his existence. He said, ‘When the Emperor Alexander came to England, Lord Granville told me that the Emperor wished to see me. I went. He received me with particular attention, and said he was very anxious to make my acquaintance. He spoke English as well as you do. “You are a friend and correspondent,” he said, “of my most valued friend La Harpe?” “Yes, sire.” “Is he a regular correspondent?” “Yes, a very kind one.” “Has he been so of late?” “Well, if your Majesty will cross-examine me, I must own he owes me a letter.” He put his hand into his pocket, and drew forth a letter addressed to me. “Yes, there is his answer. I intercepted it that I might have the pleasure of knowing Lord Erskine.” I gave Alexander all my writings and speeches, which he received with many expressions of satisfaction.’”—Ed.]

155. [On April 3, 1797, an open-air meeting of the inhabitants of Westminster was held in Palace Yard, during very inclement weather (Westminster Hall having been shut against them by order of the keeper), to consider of an address to his Majesty to dismissPitt’sministry.Foxand the Duke of Bedford took part in the proceedings. Meetings were held about the same time all over the country for the same object.—Ed.]

156. [After Lord Shelburne’s resignation of the office of Prime Minister, consequent on the coalition of Fox and Lord North, he was created Marquis of Lansdowne, and withdrew almost entirely from public life, passing his time principally at his magnificent seat, Bowood, near Calne, Wiltshire.—Ed.]

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