* * * * * _The Rime of the New-made Baccalere_, in seven parts. Oxford: J. Vincent. This clever parody (31 pages 8vo.) was first published, anonymously, in 1841, it has since been reprinted, and may be obtained from Mr. Vincent, High Street, Oxford. Like the original poem, which it follows very closely, it consists of seven parts, and commences thus: It was a new-made Baccalere, One freshman stops of three, “By thy long sleev’d gown, and hood of down, Now wherefore stopp’st thou me? “The bursary doors are open’d wide, And I must next go in: The men are met, the papers set, May’st hear the freshman-din.” He holds him with his inky hand, “There was GREAT GO,” quoth he, “Hold off! unhand me, Baccalere! Eftsoons his hand dropp’d he. * * * * * In the third volume of _The Works of Thomas Love Peacock_ (London. Richard Bentley and Son, 1875), will be found a series of poems entitled “Paper Money Lyrics,” these consist of imitations of favourite poets, amongst them is a long parody on Coleridge, called _The Wise Men of Gotham_. In a bowl to sea went wise men three, On a brilliant night of June: They carried a net, and their hearts were set On fishing up the moon. * * * * * The Christmas number of _The World_ for 1885 contained a burlesque report of the libel suit, Adams _v._ Coleridge, in which the witnesses on both sides of the quarrel are indiscriminately ridiculed, but more especially Lord Coleridge, whose treatment of his daughter was the subject of much hostile comment. The report is in prose, but it contains a parody of _The Ancient Mariner_, commencing thus: It was an Ancient Marriager, And he stoppeth one at three: “By thy smile veneered and ironic eye, Now wherefore stopp’st thou me? The “_Rime of the Ancient Statesman_.” A Relic of the Past, _not_ by S. T. Coleridge. Cambridge. Henry W. Wallis, Sidney Street, 1874. This is an anonymous political parody, consisting of seventy-nine verses, all strongly condemning the measures passed by the Liberal party under Mr. Gladstone’s leadership. The “ancient statesman” (Mr. Gladstone), meets Mr. Disraeli (then Prime Minister), at the entrance to the House of Commons: It is an ancient statesman, And he stoppeth one of three; “By thy whiskers grey and frowning face Now wherefore stopp’st thou me?” The Palace doors are opened wide, They’re waiting there within; And as I am Prime Minister In sooth I must go in. * * * * * THE BIRMINGHAM SPEECH. It was a statesman old and grey Went forth to tell his deeds, And he dined with a country Mayor At one of his sumptuous feeds. “Now, Heaven thee save, thou worthy Mayor, I pray thee tell to me, If thou art able to divine Return of pow’r to me?”