My heart’s wound up just like a watch, As far as springs will take-- It wants but one more evil turn, And then the cords will break. CHANGE OF MINISTRY. As human fashions change about, The reign of Fools should now begin, For when the _Wigs_ are going out The _Naturals_ are coming in. A PIG IN A POKE. A Lord bought of late an outlandish estate, At its Wild Boars to Chevy and dig; So some people purchase a pig in a poke, And others, a poke in a pig. COMPOSED ON READING A DIARY. That flesh is grass is now as clear as day, To any but the merest purblind pup; Death cuts it down, and then, to make her hay, My Lady B---- comes and rakes it up. THE PURSUIT OF LETTERS. The Germans for Learning enjoy great repute; But the English make _Letters_ still more a pursuit; For a Cockney will go from the banks of the Thames To Cologne for an _O_, and to Nassau for _M’s_. A REFLECTION. When Eve upon the first of Men The apple press’d with specious cant, Oh! what a thousand pities then That Adam was not Adamant! LAYING THE DUST. After such years of dissension and strife, Some wonder that Peter should weep for his wife: But his tears on her grave was nothing surprising,-- He’s laying her dust, for fear of its rising. ON LIEUTENANT EYRE’S NARRATIVE OF THE DISASTERS AT CABUL. A sorry tale, of sorry plans, Which this conclusion grants, That Affghan clans had all the _Khans_ And we had all the _cant’s_. THE SUPERIORITY OF MACHINERY. A Mechanic his labour will often discard If the rate of his pay he dislikes; But a clock--and its case is uncommonly hard-- Will continue to work, tho’ it _strikes_! PARTY SPIRIT. “Why did you not dine,” said a Lord to a Wit, “With the Whigs, you political sinner?” “Why really I meant, but had doubts how the _Pit_ Of my stomach would bear a Fox Dinner.” LORD B----. ’Tis said of Lord B., none is keener than he To spit a Wild Boar with éclât; But he never gets near to the Brute with his spear, He gives it so very much _law_. TRAITORS’ AIMS. Three traitors, Oxford--Francis--Bean, Have missed their wicked aim; And may all shots against the Queen, In future do the same: For why, I mean no turn of wit, But seriously insist, That if Her Majesty were _hit_, No one would be so _miss’d_. ON A CERTAIN LOCALITY. Of public changes, good or ill, I seldom lead the mooters, But really Constitution Hill Should change its name with Shooter’s! ON THE ART-UNIONS. That Picture-Raffles will conduce to nourish Design, or cause good colouring to flourish, Admits of logic-chopping and wise sawing, But surely Lotteries encourage Drawing! A MORNING THOUGHT.