art and deception you plainly cou'd find,
Were employ'd for to make every briton inclined,
To treat our lov'd Queen with mark'd disrespect;
But thank God her cause you did never neglect,
To espouse in a manner that plainly foretold,
You thought the Italians were cited by gold;
To say, or unsay, or devise any thing,
At the critical moment, a censure to bring.
On a female as chaste as the best of her sex,
Their aim was to injure, disgrace, and perplex;
Behind the grand curtain an agent display'd
A signal for slander, tho' he was afraid;
A generous nation wou'd it's colours hurl down,
Convinc'd that such signals dishonour'd the crown;
Our monarch I'm certain and really believe,
Desires from his heart our woes to relieve;
For reasons too plain, his advisers insist,
No decrease shall take place in the old civil list;
Or rather a new one I ought to have said,
It's very much alter'd I am much afraid:
For our comforts, or interests, or even our peace,
Our burthens arise as the list shall increase;
Let the King live in splendour, yet this I may say,
Too much is allowed when so much is to pay;
For interest for millions and millions we owe:
The snug little sum our grave ministers know,
And so do we all, or the people at large,
'Tis said our whole kingdom wou'd not it discharge,
If brought to the hammer and very well sold,
That's certain the case I suppose and am told.
Can the ministers say they e'er found you willing,
To share from the loaves and the fishes a shilling,
I only this circumstance slightly just name,
And ask many statesmen if they can do the same:
Was they daily to act as statesmen like you,
Our burthens and troubles we could soon subdue:
Their conduct is such no mortal can praise:--
Oh, how I should like to be at their dole days.
Suppose I'd a right sir, at such times to be there,
I dare say a large sum would come to my share;
Enough in one day to end care and strife,
Or plenty to last me all days of my life.
When one takes ten thousand another takes more,
No wonder Great Britain is now become poor.
About a year since, to New Holkham I went,
To view that sweet spot was my only intent;
Each garden look'd lively, and in them I found
Vegetation encouraged as I pass'd my round.
Taste and simplicity marked every spot;
There were flowrets apparent and greens for t