Poetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.
History
Poetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.
English poetry; France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Poetry; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1789-1820
We have received the following letter, with the poem that accompanies
it, from a gentleman whose political opinions have hitherto differed
from our own; but who appears to feel, as every man who loves his
country must, that there can be but one sentiment entertained by
Englishmen at the present moment.
Were we at liberty, we should be happy to do justice to the author, and
credit to ourselves, by mentioning his name.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “ANTI-JACOBIN”.
SIR,—However men may have differed on the political or constitutional
questions which have of late been brought into discussion—whatever
opinions they may have held on the system or conduct of
administration—there can surely be now but one sentiment as to the
instant necessity of firm and strenuous union for the preservation of
our very existence as a people; and if degrees of obligation could be
admitted, where the utmost is required from all, it should seem that in
this cause the opposers of administration stand doubly pledged; for with
what face of consistency can men pretend to stickle for points of
constitutional liberty at home, who will not be found amongst the
foremost at their posts to defend their country from the yoke of foreign
slavery?
That there should be any set of men so infatuated as not to be convinced
that the object of the enemy must be the utter destruction of these
countries, after making the largest allowance for the effects of
prejudice and passion, it is not easy to conceive. Such, however, we are
told, there are. They believe, then, that after a long series of
outrage, insult, and injury, in the height of their animosity and
presumption, these moderate, mild, disinterested conquerors will invade
us in arms, out of pure love and kindness, merely for our good, only to
make us wiser, and better, and happier, and more prosperous than before!
Future events lie hid in the volume of Fate, but the intentions of men
may be known by almost infallible indications. Passion and interest, the
two mighty motives of human action, determine the Government of France
to attempt the abolition of the British Empire! and if, abandoned by God
and our right arm, we should flinch in the conflict, that destruction
will be operative to the full of their gigantic and monstrous
imaginations!—Harbours filled up with the ruins of their towns and
arsenals, the Thames rendered a vast morass, by burying the Imperial
City in her bosom—but I will not proceed in the horrible picture.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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