The countenance shown to Fox by the youthful rank, fashion, and wealth of the day excited the bitterness of Tory rhymsters. The active partisanship of the Prince of Wales was a source of caustic recrimination and envy:-- “Since Britain’s great Prince condescends to evince His concern in your future election, How happy each Cobbler, Butcher, Smith, and Pot-wobbler, Who shall merit the Royal protection! “For goodness consider the rank of the bidder, Who offers so much for your plumpers: What’s the Nation or Pitt, to the Prince and Tom Tit! Dash such stuff--and to Fox fill your bumpers.” Arrayed on the Whig chief’s side was all the beauty and grace of fair and fascinating wives and daughters of the Whig aristocracy, a bevy of lovely political Circes, whose enchantments were all potent:-- “ON SEEING LADY BEAUCHAMP, LADY CARLISLE, AND LADY DERBY IN THEIR CARRIAGES, ON MR. FOX’S SIDE OF THE HUSTINGS. “The gentle Beauchamp, and the fair Carlisle, Around their favour’d Fox expectant wait; And Derby’s lip suspends the ready smile, To ask ‘the Poll?’ and ‘what is Charles’s fate?’ “But say, ye _belles_, whose beauty all admit, Do you in politics dispute the prize; Or do ye near the Hustings proudly sit, To take the _suffrage_ of admiring eyes?“ The Duchess of Devonshire was idolized by enthusiastic Whigs, who hailed in her the salvation of the cause:-- “Let Pitt and Wray dislike the fair, Decry our Devon’s matchless merit; A braver, kinder soul we wear, And love her _beauty_, love her _spirit_. Let distant times and ages know, When Temple would have made us slaves, ’Tis thus we ward the fatal blow, ’Tis Fox that beats--’tis Devon saves!” “ON SEEING THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE, LADY DUNCANNON, ETC., CANVASSING FOR MR. FOX. “Sure Heav’n approves of Fox’s cause (Tho’ slaves at Court abhor him); To vote for Fox, then, who can pause, Since _angels_ canvass for him.” “ON A CERTAIN DUCHESS. “Her mien like Cytherea’s dove, Her lips like Hybla’s honey; Who would not give a vote for love, Unless he wanted money?” Walpole’s lovely nieces, the three Ladies Waldegrave, added the influence of their charms to those of the winsome Georgiana, and were gallantly apostrophized with “Devon’s Queen:”-- “Fair DEVON all good English hearts must approve, And the WALDGRAVES (God bless their sweet faces), The Duchess she looks like the sweet Queen of love And they like the three Sister Graces.” The influence of this novel captivation upon the hearts of those so happy as to be admitted to the electoral franchise acted like magic:-- “There’s Devonshire’s Duchess, all beauty and grace, Each morning so early she shows her sweet face; Tho’ ever so envious, all must her extol, Then rouse up your spirits, and come to the poll.” “EPIGRAM ON THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE.