Who threaten'd last year, in a superfine passion,
To cut me, and bring the old K-ng into fashion.
This is all I can lay to my conscience at present;
When such is my temper, so neutral, so pleasant,
So royally free from all troublesome feelings,
So little encumber'd by faith in my dealings
(And that I'm consistent the world will allow,
What I was at Newmarket the same I am now).
When such are my merits (you know I hate cracking),
I hope, like the Vender of Best Patent Blacking,
"To meet with the gen'rous and kind approbation
"Of a candid, enlighten'd, and liberal nation."

By the bye, ere I close this magnificent Letter, (No man, except Pole, could have writ you a better,)

'Twould please me if those, whom I've humbug'd so long *

With the notion (good men !) that I knew right from

wrong,

"I cannot conclude without expressing the gratification I should feel if some of those persons with whom the early habits of my public life were formed would strengthen my hands, and constitute a part of my government.” — Prince's Letter.

Would a few of them join me

--

- mind, only a few To let too much light in on me never would do; But even Grey's brightness shan't make me afraid, While I've C-md-n and Eld-n to fly to for shade; Nor will Holland's clear intellect do us much harm, While there's W-stm-rel-nd near him to weaken

the charm.

As for Moira's high spirit, if aught can subdue it, Sure joining with H-rtf-rd and Y-rm-th will do it!

Between R-d-r and Wh-rt-n let Sheridan sit, And the fogs will soon quench even Sheridan's wit: And against all the pure public feeling that glows Ev'n in Whitbread himself we've a Host in G-rge R-se!

So, in short, if they wish to have Places, they may, And I'll thank you to tell all these matters to Grey*, Who, I doubt not, will write (as there's no time to lose)

By the twopenny post to tell Grenville the news;

* "You are authorized to communicate these sentiments to Lord Grey, who, I have no doubt, will make them known to Lord Grenville."- Prince's Letter.

And now, dearest Fred (though I've no predilec

tion),

Believe me yours always with truest affection.

P. S. A copy of this is to P-rc-l going *. Good Lord, how St. Stephen's will ring with his crowing!

*

"I shall send a copy of this letter immediately to Mr. Perceval."- Prince's Letter.

ANACREONTIC

TO A PLUMASSIER.

FINE and feathery artisan,
Best of Plumists (if you can
With your art so far presume)
Make for me a Pr-ce's Plume -
Feathers soft and feathers rare,
Such as suits a Pr-ce to wear.

First, thou downiest of men, Seek me out a fine Pea-hen; Such a Hen, so tall and grand, As by Juno's side might stand, If there were no cocks at hand. Seek her feathers, soft as down, Fit to shine on Pr-ce's crown; If thou canst not find them, stupid! Ask the way of Prior's Cupid.*

* See Prior's poem, entitled "The Dove."

Ranging these in order due,
Pluck me next an old Cuckoo ;
Emblem of the happy fates

Of easy, kind, cornuted mates.
Pluck him well be sure you do
Who wouldn't be an old Cuckoo,
Thus to have his plumage blest,
Beaming on a R-y-1 crest?

Bravo, Plumist!

now what bird

Shall we find for Plume the third?

You must get a learned Owl,

Bleakest of black-letter fowl

Bigot bird, that hates the light *,
Foe to all that's fair and bright.
Seize his quills, (so form'd to pen
Books+, that shun the search of men ;
Books, that, far from every eye,
In "swelter'd venom sleeping" lie,)

Stick them in between the two,

Proud Pea-hen and Old Cuckoo.

*P-rc-v-1.

† In allusion to "the Book" which created such a sensation at that period.