In the hall, cramm’d to excess With all “Auld Reekie’s” Liberal blood, Attir’d in his sombre dress, With piercing eyes Mac Gladstone stood (His tie awry, his locks of grey Had not known comb for many a day), And with a silvery tongue and eyes that flamed He thus to canny Scots declaimed:―― “Behold, in each event of this strange time A thousand signs the Tories’ reign is o’er; For thee, oh Benjamin, thou man of crime, A deadly retribution is in store! Hush’d is poor Harty’s tongue, That erst was loosed in scorn; Brave Bright is half asleep, I sometimes fear; Liberals, ye may not mourn Roebuck, who wildly flung Alike at friend or foe his caustic jeer. But _ye_, tried sailors in the Liberal ship, Dear as potatoes shortly will become―― Dear as the ruddy claret that I sip―― I cannot brook to think that _ye_ are dumb! No more regret――they’ll help us yet―― In fancy now I see them both, Inspired by my eloquence, Shake off their censurable sloth! Weave _we_ slowly, day by day, The winding-sheet of Torydom; Give our foes rope enough, and they Will hang themselves, and our turn come! Mark the day when we, no doubt, Shall send them to the right-about!” He spoke, and once again resumed his chair, Whilst hearty Scottish plaudits rent the air! From _Snatches of Song_, by F. B. Doveton. London, Wyman & Sons. 1880. ―――― “_The Bostonian Prophet._” An Heroi-comico-serious-Parodical-Pindaric ODE, in imitation of _The Bard_. With Notes Critical, Satirical, and Explanatory, by the Editor. London. C. Etherington, 1779. Quarto. This was a parody relating to the American War of Independence, the first act of which occurred in Boston in November, 1773, when the populace refused to pay the obnoxious tax upon tea, and cast hundreds of chests of it into the sea. The parody describes the corruption and inefficiency of the English statesmen and commanders in language too coarse to reprint, even if the Parody were of sufficient present interest to render it desirable to do so. There is another parody of Gray’s “Bard” which cannot be inserted here, it may be found in “_The Authentic and Impartial Life of Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke_,” by W. Clarke, London. T. Kelly, 1809. This Mistress Clarke lived for some time “under the protection” of H.R.H. the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. She obtained large sums of money by the sale of the commissions, appointments, and promotions which were at the disposal of her royal, but ever needy, lover. Finally an enquiry was held, and the Duke of York was compelled to resign the office he had disgraced. The parody above mentioned gives a history of the scandal, but it would be unintelligible unless accompanied by details of profligacy and corruption, such as are unsuited for any work but the Newgate Calendar. In addition to these parodies and imitations, _The Bard_ was translated into Welsh in 1822.