Yes, John! yes, John! Most sadly we confess, John We, for the sake of “Auld Lang Syne,” for explanation press, John. Had you wax’d weary of the right, and tired of being true, John, When you across a noble life this sombre shadow threw, John? Stay, John! stay, John! Hear all we have to say, John! Falls like to that of Chamberlain in no wise us dismay, John. Joseph is an ambitious man, and full of self-conceit, John; He’s shallow, too, like young men are, and vain and indiscreet, John! But oh, John! oh, John! it was a cruel blow, John, When, with desertion not content, you went and joined the foe, John! Aye, when at Gladstone his old friend, John Bright, propelled a stone, John! ’Twas not his son alone that gave a deep and heartfelt groan, John! Aye, John! aye John! you can’t yourself deny, John, That thousands who once loved your name begin to it decry, John; Whilst those too young your worthy deeds of past years to recall, John, Already ask in wonderment why it is loved at all, John! But, stay, John! stay, John! There yet remains a way, John, In which, though stubborn, you may still this tendency allay, John; Yes, you may keep the name of Bright un-slurred in any case, John. By simply taking, as a Peer, a title in its place, John! True, John! true John! you may this plan eschew, John, But, ere you do so, please recall the things you’ve stooped to do, John; You’ve shown yourself, though old in years, quite greedy of renown, John―― You as an Oxford D.C.L. flaunt in a scarlet gown, John More, John! more, John! with feeling we deplore, John, You have most bitterly denounced the friends of heretofore, John! You’ve caused true Radicals to mourn――you’ve raised a Tory cheer, John: The climax, then, is natural――you mean to die a Peer, John! Yes, John! yes, John! your recent acts express, John, That you in your maturer years a curious craze possess, John; Which, having made you do the things you’ve all your life abhorr’d, John, Now fills you with a silly wish――’twould seem――to be a Lord, John! Eh, John! eh, John? “It isn’t so!” you say, John? Then let it be your aim henceforth, most earnestly we pray, John; Yes, please, as fitting climax to those Whig and Tories, cheers, John, To Bramwell, Lowe, and Brabourne join in our great House of Peers, John! Yes, John! yes, John! most urgently we press, John, That you should from the Upper House declaim your next address, John; So that “John Bright” may still remain a prized and honoured name, John, Whilst with “Lord Brummagem” instead we link your Tory fame, John! _Truth._ July 8, 1886. ――――