What need have we of Indian wealth, Or commerce with our neighbours, Our constitution is in health, And riches crown our labours: Our South-Sea ships have golden shrouds, They bring us wealth, 'tis granted; But lodge their treasure in the clouds, To hide it till it's wanted. O Britain, bless thy present state, Thou only happy Nation, So oddly rich, so madly great, Since bubbles came in fashion. Successful rakes exert their pride, And count their airy millions; Whilst homely drabs in coaches ride, Brought up to town on pillions. Few men who follow Reason's rules Grow fat with South-Sea diet; Young rattles and unthinking fools, Are those that flourish by it. Old musty jades and pushing blades, Who've least consideration, Grow rich apace, whilst wiser heads Are struck with admiration. A race of men who t'other day Lay crush'd beneath disasters, Are now by stock brought into play, And made our lords and masters. But should our South-Sea Babel fall, What numbers would be frowning; The losers then must ease their gall, By hanging or by drowning. Five hundred millions notes and bonds, Our stocks are worth in value; But neither lie in goods or lands, Or money, let me tell you; Yet, though our foreign trade is lost, Of mighty wealth we vapour; When all the riches that we boast, Consist in scraps of paper. October 1, South-Sea Stock had fallen to 370; on the 6th to 180. The consternation occasioned by this event to those who had purchased at 980, may readily be conceived. The Saturday's Post of the 1st remarks: "It is impossible to express the vast alterations made by the sudden and unaccountable fall of the South-Sea Stock, as well as other Stocks; some few of the dealers in them, indeed, had happily secured themselves before the storm arose; but the far greater number who are involved in this public calamity, appear with such dejected looks, that a man of little skill in the art of physiognomy may easily distinguish them. "Exchange-alley sounds no longer of thousands got in an instant; but, on the contrary, all corners of the town are filled with the groans of the afflicted; and they who lately rode in great state to that famous mart of money, now condescend to walk the streets on foot, and, instead of adding to their equipages, have at once lost their estates. And even those of the trading rank who talked loudly of retiring into the country, purchasing estates, there building fine houses, and in every thing imitating their betters, are now become bankrupts, and have, by necessity, shut up their shops, because they could not keep them open any longer; however, for the comfort of such whose condition will admit of a remedy, it is said, a gentleman has formed a scheme for the relief of those concerned."