POLITICAL SQUIBS.

Imprimis, choose a Plenipo,
To Courts of Europe let him go,
As men of consequence describe us,

And that, though money cannot bribe us,
Perhaps some moderate gratuities

Of secret pensions, or annuities,

From France, Great Britain, or from Spain,

May be bestow'd, and not in vain,
But make full many proselytes

To Jacobins, and Genetites.*

Then bawl, with patriotic fervour,

To tell our Country how we'll serve her,—
Strong advocates for Freedom's cause,

Huzza for Liberty and Laws!

Declare that Washington and Jay

Their Country's interests would betray!

*The disciples of Genet, the French Ambassador to the United States.

POLITICAL SQUIBS.

That men in Power are such a gang They scarce are good enough to hang!

And, that so desperate the case is,

We Jacobins must fill their places,

To save religious rights and civil
From his grim Majesty, the Devil!

Should Federal Judges make a rumpus,
With maul of Justice think to thump us,
We will not stoop to their correction,
But join the Pittsburgh insurrection ! *

Then, should we chance to be defeated, With lenity we shall be treated,

*In the year 1795 the American Government imposed a tax on whiskey, which greatly offended certain ardent patriots. An organised opposition (in which a well known character, now high in office in the United States, took an active part) was the consequence.

POLITICAL SQUIBS.

Escape the gallows, twenty ways,
As did our predecessor, Shays.*
Suppose the worst that can befal us,
The pillory, whipping-post, or gallows,
That men may with us sympathize
With heavy hearts, and weeping eyes,
Myself will scribble doleful ditty,

To melt the populace to pity;

And all shall wail the sad condition

Of Us, the martyrs of Sedition!

*

Shays, a sort of an American Wat Tyler, who excited a rebellion in the State of Massachusetts.

POLITICAL SQUIBS.

POETICAL SUMMARY

For the New Year 1800.

THE Federal Bard, who erst bestow'd,
On Walpole-press a New-Year's Ode,*
Which critics, with sagacious noddle,
Affirm was built on Pindar's model ;-
And who, by dint of love-lorn ditty,
Can melt a marble-heart to pity;
Make hakmataks, and spruces join †
The sprightly dance, and song divine;
Now glowing with poetic fire

Awakes to extacy the lyre!

* See page 60.

Two kinds of forest trees.

POLITICAL SQUIBS.

Apollo, and Aonian ladies,

Whose lives are made of merry May-days,
Who sometimes warble lays diviner,

If possible, than ever mine are;
Bring violins, and flutes sonorous,
To aid the song, and swell the chorus!

Borne on poetic wing, we rise
Like blazing rocket to the skies,
While mortals gaze, and turning pale,
Mistake us for a Comet's tale!

Which indicates, by corruscations,
The devil's to pay among the nations!

But hold, my rambling Muse, so airy,
More wild than Oberon, the Fairy,
Your Lady-ship, and I must stoop
To hit the Jacobinic group,

Must dig, and delve, or take our aim,
A thousand leagues above our game.