ONLY. GOING TO DINE WITH JAKES. DON'T WANT TO HURT POOR OLD JAKES'S
FEELINGS--DON'T WANT TO BE POISONED BY HIS BEASTLY WINE. SEE?"]

* * * * *

NEPTUNE'S "AT HOME;" OR, NEIGHBOURS UNITED.

The French are all coming, for so they declare,
Of their fleet and their tars all the papers advise us;
They're to come o'er the sea and to Portsmouth repair,
Their squadrons at Spithead will please, not surprise us.
Their fleet is to come for a right friendly spree;
To promise them "skylarks" is hardly presumption.
They're welcome to NEPTUNE's old "Halls by the Sea."
Of powder and grog there'll be mighty consumption,
In toasts and salutes, for they're friends and invited;
JOHN and JOHNNY clasp paws,
And drink deep to the Cause
Of NEPTUNE's two guests and brave Neighbours United!

The scribes and the specials report wondrous things,
Of the grand preparations, the routs and the rackets.
Gone the old days of huge wooden walls and white wings,
We now meet without mutual dusting of jackets.
Well so much the better! Our seas let them try,
Their squadrons are welcome to float 'em and swim 'em.
Like good _Cap'n Cuttle_ we'll smile and "stand by,"
Friendly bumpers we'll empty as fast as they brim 'em
To welcome his guests Father NEPTUNE's delighted,
He'll clasp both their paws,
And drink deep to the Cause
Of Sailors as shipmates and Neighbours United!

Old NEP is "At Home" to the Sailors of France.
Old foes turn new friends as their reason grows riper;
"All hands for Skylarking!" A measure we'll dance,
With friendship for fiddler and pleasure for piper.
'Tis a good many years since they sought our white shore;
Once more at hands'-grip we are glad to have got 'em.
As to Jingos or Chauvinists,--out on the bores!
Such Jonahs should promptly be plumped to the bottom;
Poor swabs! For this party _they_ are not invited;
Shall they come athwart hawse
As we drink to the Cause
Of Shipmates for ever and Neighbours United?

Yes, we know that humanity fondly may scheme
For Peace, of all ills the supposed panacea:
We know that Utopia's only a dream,
Unbroken good fellowship but an idea.
Old NEP knows his great Naval Show is now on,
And ARMSTRONG and WHITWORTH's huge works he's aware on;
He sees what our shipwrights and gunsmiths have done
To send foes o'er the Styx