THE

SPIRIT

OF THE

PUBLIC JOURNALS.

EPIGRAMMATA BACCHANALIA.

Being Epigrams on the Subject of Mers. PITT and DUNDAS going DRUNK to the House of Commons, on the Day when His Majefty's Meffage was to be delivered relative to an immediate WAR with FRANCE.

EPIGRAM- I.

HAT Ca Ira in England will prevail,
All fober men deny with heart and hand;

TH

To talk of going's fure a pretty tale,

When e'en our rulers can't fo much as fland.

II.

D. TO P.

SINCE now John Bull we've led into a dance, And each man joins cross-partnership with France, Shall we prefume the joyful scene to aid? -For who like us thefe generous joys fhould feel? -You, gentle youth, fhall tip them a cafcade, While I contribute by a Scottish reel.

III.

THE fwinifh multitude fee Burke disclaim, And Pitt rejoin-"Thy fentiments are mine." -Say, fhall the mob prefume his creed to blame? When e'en our rulers get as drunk as-fwine.

IV.

IN what old ways we tafte misfortune's cup-
While France throws down the gauntlet, Pitt throws up.

V.

P. loquitur.--
.----ST. STEPHEN'S.

"THE foul mifdeeds to ftate," if humbled France
Would ask the tongue of Roman or of Greek,
But while this folemn truth I griev'd advance,
I'm fo o'ercome, Sir, that I cannot speak.

VI.

P. loquitur.

SINCE now but naval war there's nothing for'tGod fend us all laid fnugly up-in Port.

VII.

D. refpondet.

I Hate French principles, French taste, French mirth, Almoft as much as feftivals at Perth

But this indeed I'll fay, if fay I dare it,

God fink French land, and fill the chafm with claret.

VIII.

The multitude at best are only fwine,

The mildeft Judge will this admit, at least-
But does it therefore follow, cafuift fine,
A Statefnan may not be in drink-a beaft?

IX.

Solace to Senators who may happen to be overtaken in their cups. YOUR gentle brains with full libations drenchYou've then Pitt's title to the Treasury Bench.

X.

Loguntur ambo.

IN Bedlam's prifon all the mad we throw,
Who near Saint James's come, or Kew-gate:

'Tis ours the fafe infanity to know

To get as nobly drunk as New-gate.

XI.

Colloquy between ditto on the Stairs, from Bellamy's
SAYS Pitt to Dundas,

"May I ne'er taste a glass,

But I'll give that d-n'd Fox a good wiper."
Then to him, quoth Dundas-
"May I ne'er kiss a lass,

If you are not as drunk as a piper.”

XII.

THE French are wild, irregular, infane,
Yet ftill, fays Pitt, ftrict juftice we'll retain;
Still fome regard to fair-play fhould be had,
The drunk alone fhould combat with the mad.

XIII.

THE multitude are fwine, with truth we fay, Though to their King and Church they meekly bow; Refolve me then, what animals are they,

Whofe attributes are thofe of-David's fow?

XIV.

OF war's expence, Pitt dreads the dire amounts, And wife began-with cafting up accounts.

XV.

YOUR foe in war to over-rate,

A maxim is of ancient date;

Then fure 'twas right, in time of trouble,
That our good rulers fhould-fee double.

XVI.

WHEN war's declar'd, Pitt holds his tongue,
For which, on him, his foes turn short round;
This in their teeth he might have flung-
That that, like other craft, was-PORT-bound.

XVII.

FIRM as a rock is England's land,

Ye French we scorn, and mock ye;

Not only on a rock we ftand,

Our Rulers too are-rocky.

XVIII.

WHEN England's jovial Rulers fight with France,
Hurtlefs on both fhould fall the blunted lance;
Sure from that war no danger fhould be dreaded,
Where the light-heel'd contend with the light-headed.

XIX.

P. and D. loquuntur.

BRITANNIA's fons complain, and fay
Thefe horrid wars will gripe her;
Remember, Sirs, though you may pay,
In drink, we beat the piper.

XX.

THE Spartan rulers drench'd their flaves in wine,
From beaftly vice their people to refine
Not fo the moralifts of modern time,
The Anti-Spartans of Britannia's clime,
They make the people free, and then they think
"Tis only fair to drench themselves in drink.

XXI.

"The mob are beafts!" exclaims the Knight of Daggers. What creature's he, that's troubl'd with the taggers?

XXII.

OUR leaders are like British oak,
And fo away with daftard croaking!
A truer word was never fpoke,

For they get touter, Sirs, by-foaking.

XXIII.

Encouragement to Englifbmen to ftand to their posts in battle: BY flight, my friends, you ne'er will fave your bacon, Since e'en our very guides are-overtaken.

XXIV.

HAPPY the land, whofe guides and it

Are join'd in intereft's tether;

-We fure enjoy that benefit,

Who go to pot together.