A wood so much renown’d, you may be sure The Bank of England was’nt thought more secure. The miser here, his interest found so good, He quite forgot that wood was only wood! How fleeting are the joys of all this world, How soon our hopes are all to Chaos hurl’d: A storm near equal unto Noah’s flood, Relentless came, and swept away this wood. Even not one solid trunk there did remain, All batter’d remnants scatter’d o’er the plain: The nymphs lamenting for their dear resort, This wood is gone, alas! our chief support; All was confusion both to high and low, At this most sad and unexpected blow. Ye empty fops, now take the hint for good, No more your offspring can be laid to wood. _Hexham, 28th February, 1803._ THE LOYAL HEXHAM VOLUNTEERS. _A NEW SONG._ WRITTEN BY JASPER POTTS. Britannia scarce had planted the olive on our isle, Ere French insidious policy our future hopes beguile; Regardless of their former league, bent on despotic sway, Each British subject’s property they think to make their prey. But may each loyal Briton Now offer hand and heart, To frustrate their intention, And humble Bonaparte. Our island still was loyal when dangers were at hand, Uniting in one common cause to guard our native land: Amongst the rest, the gallant sons of Hexham’s worth record, Our sea girt isle, for to protect, and peace to have restor’d. And may each faithful subject Profess the same intent, Our lives and properties to guard In peace and sweet content. The oath that we have taken, which some seem much to fear, Is the duty of each subject as well as volunteer, Tho’ we may have no property to fall a prey to France, Yet for our friends and families our service should advance. Ye loyal lads of Hexham, Since danger now appears, Join the arm’d association Call’d the Hexham Volunteers. While Captain Carr commands we will stand firm and true, His knowledge as an officer will stand a strict review, In spite of party slander, our oath we will maintain, Obedient to our officers, and peace for to regain. And if an opportunity Of courage for to shew, I hope the Hexham Volunteers Will to their oath stand true. So to conclude these lines I’ve made, I hope you’ll all agree, And drink a health to Captain Carr, and all his family, And to our other officers, much praise to whom is due, And to the Hexham Volunteers, so loyal and so true. British courage once again To England peace restore, And plant the olive in a soil More lasting than before. THE JOLLY PARSON.