And blending love of truth and zeal for right Whom facred truth can charm, whom Heav'n has grac’d Affert your facred rights! fulfil your truft! And, fpurning Fafhion's fway, ftill dare be juft! A CHAPTER OF OHS! WRITTEN BY CAPTAIN MORRIS. OH what miraculous times! Oh what wonders of wonders! Oh what a series of crimes ! Oh what pulling and tugging! Fal de rol lol de rol, &c. Oh what a baby and nurse! Oh what a plenty of money! Oh for a Corsican crown! And oh for a string of new lords! Fal de rol, &c. Oh that the French would but fight! And oh how we drive to the devil! Fat de rol, &c. THE I SIR, THE PLAGUES OF AN ELECTION. [From the Public Ledger.] HAVE taken up my pen twice or thrice a day for the last week, with a view to write to you on certain fubjects, but have as often laid it down:-" Pooh! (faid I to myself,) what fignifies writing about the war, and the funds, and the police, &c. when the papers contain nothing but election matters?" and on this reflection conftantly threw away the pen. I have, how ever, once more ventured to take it up, becaufe my fubject having fome connexion with the Election, will, I hope, be admitted, and even read. It is neceffary to premife, I have no candidate to recommend, no interest to promote-I leave all fuch bufinefs to "thofe whom it may concern ;"-but I am to represent the hardships which we quiet and orderly people fuffer during a contested city election. In truth, Sir, I can do no business, partake of no pleasure, and go no where, without having this Election thrust down my throat. If I meet a friend in the ftreets, the good old How do ye do? is forgotten, and I am faluted with-" Well, and how does the poll goon?" If I go to dine with a party, the whole converfation turns on the Election. Give me leave to help you to a bit of fish---Polled two hundred in a day-A little butter if you please, Sir-As to his coming in, there can be no doubt-Some bread, John-The poll was rather flat for fome timeTwo glaffes of fherry, John, for Mr. and me-He muft fpend a deal of money-Another bit of chicken, Mr.? I certainly do think him a very proper person to reprefent-A goofe and green peas, Gentlemen-O! depend upon it, he'll be left out-A leg or a wing, Sir?-The numbers were nearly equal at two o'clock-A glass of small beer-His intereft is not fo ftrong as fome people thought-Cheshire or Gloucefter, Sir? &c. &c.-And thus every mouthful I take fmells and taftes of the poll. I went yesterday to prefent a bill for payment. The tradefman looked at it, and fhook his head. I begged to know if it was right. "Right, Sir, I don't know what you mean by right; but by G-d I'll bet you a bottle there has been fome d-'d mistake." I begged to look at the bill again; but, fmiling, he told me, that a name on it had brought his friend into his head, and then he paid the bill; and afked me, "What I thought of the bufinefs at Guildhall?" I made fome fort of anfwer, and haftily took my leave, perceiving the poor gentleman was bit. Another gentleman I had to call upon on a very different bufinefs, for I had that morning received a letter from Nottingham, informing me of the death of his fifter, and requefting I would inform him of it in fuch a manner as not to fhock his feelings, for he is rather tender-hearted.-I found him in his countryhoufe, and as foon as I entered he flew to me with, "Well! Mr. Meekly, have you been at Guildhall?" "No:-but I have a very unpleasant piece of news to give you." "The devil you have? Why, Mr. —— the wrong fide, is he?” "No fuch matter.' "O! then, perhaps Mr. by this day's poll." is not on has gained upon him "No fuch thing.-I beg you will let me advise you not to be too much shocked-for-your fifter isdead!" Dead! Judy dead! poor woman, fhe has long been ill! Well! Heaven has been pleased to take her away from this evil world." Ay-fhe was indeed a good creature-one of the clect!" "Elect! "Elect!—Now you talk of the ele&t, Mr. Meekly, pray what do you really think of this Election? For my part, I hope and fear, and with and imagine, and think-but I declare I don't know what to think." "You know I never mind election matters---and fo, Good day-there is the letter I received-". "What! have you received a letter, and from whom? I hope you will not defert us.-We want a few plumpers." Finding it in vain to reafon with this madman, I left the letter from Nottingham for his perufal in fome lucid interval. In going along the ftreets, I was flopt often by my friends with-Have you polled-Who are you for ?---Have you been at the Hall?-and-What is your opinion?-fo that I determined to go home, and lock myself and family up for a week, fending out the fervant only for provifions, and to fee no company until I could converfe with them on proper and equal terms. Home I reached at laft, and told my wife my hardfhips, and that I hoped I fhould at least be quiet there; and for fome hours I enjoyed fome eafe, when my fervant returned from an errand with a bunch of ribands in his hat, fufficient to last a dreffy lady for a month-"You dog you," said I, "how dare you appear before me with that cockade ?-Go directly, and take it out of your hat, elfe I'll turn you out of the houfe." He obeyed, but went muttering out of the room; the only words I heard were "for ever!"-I enjoined my wife not to let that fellow come near me until the election was over. Yesterday evening, as I became tired of my confinement, I ftole out after dark to fmoke a pipe with a few friends, whofe good fenfe I knew would prevent the infection; and as most of them were not liverymen, I prefumed that the fecurity was the greater: but what was my furprife, when, on entering the room, C 4 more |