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they seem to regard as enemies when at home, but visit as friends when abroad.

As this is a subject, Mr. Editor, upon which I might be both long and loud, probably what has been already talked of it may be sufficient for the end proposed; so, for the present, I'll hold my

TONGUE.

ELEGY,

WRITTEN IN BARTLEMY FAIR, AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING,

[From the Morning Chronicle, Sept. 14.]

HE clock-bell tolls the hour of early day;

THE

The lowing herd their Smithfield penance see;
The watchman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the Fair-all solitude-to me!

Now the first beams of morning glad the sight,
And all the air a solemn stillness holds;
Save when the sheep-dog bays with hoarse affright,
And brutal drovers pen th' unwilling folds:

Save that, where shelter'd or from wind or shower,
The lock'd-out 'Prentice, or frail Nymph, complain
Of such as, wandering near their secret bower,
Molest them, sensible, in sleep, to pain.

Beneath those ragged tents-that boarded shed,
Which late display'd its stores in tempting heaps,
There children, dog, cakes, oysters-all are laid,
There, guardian of the whole, the master sleeps.
The busy call of care-begetting morn,

The well-slept passenger's unheeding tread,
The Showman's clarion, or the echoing horn,
Too soon must rouse them from their lowly bed.
Perhaps in this neglected Booth is laid

Some head volcanic, oft discharging fire!
Hands-that the rod of magic lately sway'd:
Toes--that so nimbly danc'd upon the wire.

Some

Some Clown, or Pantaloon-the gazers' jest,
Here, with his train, in dirty pageant stood:
Some tir'd-out Posture-master here may rest,
Some conjuring Swordsman-guiltless of his blood!
Th' applause of listening cockneys to command,
The threats of City Marshal to despise;
To give delight to all the grinning band,
And read their merit in spectators' eyes,
Is still their boast;-nor, haply, theirs alone;
Polito's Lions, (though now dormant laid,)
And human monsters, shall acquire renown,
The spotted Negro-and the armless Maid!
Peace to the youth who, slumbering at the Bear,
Forgets his present lot, his perils past :
Soon will the crowd again be thronging there,
To view the man on wild Sombrero cast.
Careful their Booths from insult to protect,
These furl their tap'stry, late erected high;
Nor longer with prodigious pictures deck'd,
They tempt the passing youth's astonish'd eye.
But when the day calls forth the belles and beaux,
The cunning Showmen each device display,
And many an useful notice round he shows,
That teach th' ascending stranger-where to pay.
Sleep on, ye Imps of merriment-sleep on!
In this short respite to your labouring train;
And when this time of annual mirth is gone,
May ye enjoy, in peace, your hard-earn'd gain!

EPIGRAM

ON A YOUNG LADY BEING LATELY MARRIED TO A MI.

DEATH.

[From the same, Sept. 17.]

SHOULD Death, from Death again release her,
Julia from Death will then be free, Sir:

Till when, with Death she still shall live,
And taste the pleasures Death can give.
Woburn.

A BALLAD

ATTRIBUTED TO AN EMINENT BARRISTER.

The Storie of the Hottentot Ladie and her lawfull Knight, who essaid to release her out of Captivitie; and what my Lordes the Judges did therein.

[From the Public Ledger, Sept. 21.]

OH, have you been in London towne,

Its rarities to see;

There is, 'mongst ladies of renowne,
A most renowned she.

In Piccadillie street so faire
A mansion she has got:

On golden letters written there,
"THE VENUS HOTTENTOT."

But

you may ask, and well, I ween,
For why she tarries there;

And what in her is to be seen,

Than other folks more rare ?
A rump she has (though strange it be)
Large as a cauldron pot;

And this is why men go to see
This lovely Hottentot.

Now this was shown for many a day,

And eke for many a night;

Till sober folks began to say,

That all could not be right.

Some said this was with her good will,
Some said that it was not-
And ask'd why they did use so ill
This Ladie Hottentot.

At last a doughty Knight stood forth,
Sir Vikar was his name:

A knight of singular good worth,
Of fair and courtly fame.
With him the laws of chivalrie
Were not so much forgot

But he would try most gallantly

To serve the Hottentot.

He

He would not fight, but plead the cause
Of this most injur'd shee;

And so appealed to the laws,
To set the Ladie free.

A mighty "Habeas Corpus"
He hoped to have got,

Including rump and all, and thus

Release the Hottentot.

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Thus, driving on with might and main,
This gallant Knight did say,

He wish'd to send her home again,
To Afric far away.

On that full pure and holy plan,
To soothe her rugged lot,

He swore, in troth, no other man
Should keep his Hottentot.

He went unto the Judges grave,
Whose mercies never fail;
And there, in gallant style, and brave,
Set forth the Ladie's tale.

He said, a man of cruel heart,

Whose name is now forgot, Did show, for pay, the hinder part Of this fair Hottentot;

That, in this land of libertie,

Where freedom groweth still,

No one can show another's tail

Against the owner's will;

And wish'd my Lordes to send some one,
To know whether or not

This rare exhibiting was done
To please the Hottentot.

The Judges did not hesitate

This piteous tale to hear,

Conceiving her full-bottom'd state

Claim'd their especial care;

And told the Knight that be might de
As he thought best, and what-

E'en visit privately, and view

His Ladie Hottentot.

Then

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say 't was done with full consent
Of the fair Hottentot.

When speaking free from all alarm,
The whole she does deride;

And

says she thinks there's no great harm.
In showing her b-side.

Thus endeth this sad tale of woe,
Which raiseth, well I wot,

The fame and the revenues too
Of Sartjee Hottentot.

And now good people all may go
To see this wondrous sight :
Both high men born, and also low,
And eke the good Sir Knight.
Not only this her state to mend,
Most anxious what she got,
But looking to her latter end
Delights the Hottentot.

WATERING-PLACES.

[From the General Evening Post, Sept. 21.]

MR. EDITOR,

1

IF the result of a late visit to our Watering-places be acceptable to you, it is much at your service. It is scarcely worth while to trace at what time it became fashionable to visit these places. What, however, began in fashion seems now to end in necessity; and although the father of a family does not clearly perceive that necessity, he is so soon out-voted by the other domestic branches, that all objection on his part becomes useless, The original pretext, I have no doubt, was health; of this some faint traces yet re--

VOL. XVI.

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