EPIGRAM (ON BLUE BEARD. 145 as they are now, they would have known better what to think of the matter. Their anxiety, they say, and those perplexing doubts and apprehensions, would have been removed; or, rather, they would never have been troubled with them, and never have been obliged to vibrate from one opinion to another, doubtful on which side to lean! To men of this description I am willing to allow some excuse for their objections; but still I do not clearly see that they have a right to blame the faculty. Politicians have often told us, that the King's speech is the speech of the Minister. We seem now to think that the King's illness is the illness of the Minister; and that these Reports have been read, not with a view to know how our beloved Sovereign was, but how Mr. Perceval was; whether the latter was likely to recover, to regain his strength, and perform those other official duties and functions, in the performance of which some Gentlemen delight to be connected with a Minister! Now if this be the view of things which these Gentlemen have been disposed to take, while we can very readily enter into their feelings, and may, from many past instances, particularly in 1789, form an opinion of their loyal anxiety, and their affectionate concern, I shall leave it to your readers to determine what portion of pity or sympa thy is due to their present embarrassments, or their prospect of future disappointments. I am, Sir, yours, MEDICO-POLITICUS. EPIGRAM ON BLUE BEARD. [From the Morning Post.] No wonder that nightly such companies press, H. EPIGRAM EPIGRAM ON A MISER. [From the same.] STRANGE though it seem—a miser you will find 1 Others their riches on themselves employ, WE THE MUSING LOVER. [From the Morning Chronicle] C. T. VERE I a moon-beam," quoth a love-sick swain Musing beneath the shadowy cope of night, I'd steal through yonder chamber window's pane, And on my sleeping charmer's lip alight: "Were I a zephyr, when morn's charms invite Her wandering footsteps o'er the dewy lawn, Around her damask cheek and bosom white I'd frisk in fragrance from sweet flow'rs new drawn: "Oh! were I but a kid or nice young fawn, My fondness in a thousand pranks I'd show, And lick her hand, and lie her lap upon, And follow her wherever she should go!" "Fond youth, your idle fantasies forbear," Cried Common-sense- address her as you are." TO LORD CASTLEREAGH, ON SOME EXPRESSIONS RESPECTING HIM IN MR. WHITBREAD'S SPEECH, AS REPORTED IN 66 THE CHRONICLE" OF 26TH ULT. WH [From the same, March 1.] "Quid immerentes hospites vexas, canis HORACE. HEREFORE, dread Peer, thy heaviest vengeance shed Or, at St. Stephen's, in sarcastic tone, A nobler, THE STUDIOUS MAN'S PRAYER. A nobler, worthier foe is now in view, For Whitbread e'en proclaims thee cruel too; 147 ON THE ELOQUENCE OF A CERTAIN PEER. [From the Morning Post, March 4.] WHY, when our Patriot speaks, will he persist To thump so hard the table with his fist? To bear the hardest knock, he or the table?— " "T were better far he'd thump it with his head." C. T. ON TOM, A DYER. [From the Morning Chronicle, March 4.】 STRANGE was the destiny, thought I, That while all others live to die, He only dyes to live. THE STUDIOUS MAN'S PRAYER IN MATRIMONY. [From the same, March 51 AMAN, whose studies occupied the day, C.T. And sometimes trespass'd on the peaceful night, Disturb'd by noise, was overheard to say: "O, Heav'n! I thank thee for the dear delight Which marriage lends, past, present, and to come; But crown my joys, and let my wife be dumb." # 2 ON A STOCK-JOBBING PARSON. T BY A CHELSEA PENSIONER. [From the same, March 7.] GOOD Parson Scrip, each coming week, He then exhorts his flock to seek Their Int'rest most in Heaven. But yet these prayers, of which he speaks, His Intrest most the Parson seeks A A NEW COMEDY. [From the British Press, March 8.] NEW Piece, entitled "How to conciliate the Regent," has been recently brought out, and is now performing at a certain Theatre in Downing Street. It is not the production of a single pen, but of a Junta, who have clubbed their wits; but, like most modern pieces, it boasts little novelty. In the intrigue, the structure, and the materials, even to the minor incidents, it is confessed to be a mere plagiary from the dramatic works of the late Mr. Pitt, with the addition of a few hints from Machiavel. The introduction of the Royal Dukes as "great loobies, and boobies with corals and bells," having excited universal disgust upon the first representation, that gross and scandalous part of the spectacle has been omitted; and it is now proposed to introduce them all, with the Régent at their head, in a graceful style, mounted upon their hobbies. We are confident, however, that the Authors and the Manager will fail also in this attempt, and that they will find the Regent, although necessarily an actor, is no puppet. Even this idea of the the hobbies, it must be seen, is borrowed from Blue Beard, as performed at Covent Garden. The scenery and decorations of the new Piece are miserable-indeed there is little of either-a circumstance that has excited universal disapprobation, as it is well known to the audience that the Theatre possesses both, upon the most rich, costly, and splendid scale. To supply this defect, the Manager, in the excess of his generosity, while he withheld the old, proposed to purchase a new wardrobe and decorations, and that the public should pay for them! This offer has, however, been indignantly rejected by the principal Actor, and the public loudly applaud his spirit. LAW AND REASON.-AN EPIGRAM. [From the Morning Chronicle, March 9.] OUR statesmen all boast, that, in matter of treason, |