Should the good Admiral to Town repair, He hoped to see him in St. James’s Square; Or should he some small object have in hand, His little interest was at his Command. The time now pass’d in viewing every Sight, The Dock-yards, Ramparts, and the Isle of Wight. Our Knight, to help his memory, now wrote His observations down, by way of Note. The Lines, and Ramparts his attention takes, } The muddy Ditches, and the slimy Lakes. } Note[28]--‘Guineas I’m sure were here made Ducks and Drakes.’ } Then o’er the Dock-yard eagerly he pores, Surveys around the Barrels, Masts, and Stores. The Anchors, Rope-house, and the Piles of Staves; Note--‘I’m sure these Fellows are a pack of Knaves. ‘Sad Peculation here midst great and small, ‘There’s waste of Hemp enough to hang them all.’ The Shoals of Vessels too, that lay in Ordinary, Our honest Knight considered most extraordinary. While of our Ships, the French did Prizes make, And at our Harbours’ mouth our Vessels take. Note--‘Something here was very much amiss; ‘And were they not our _Friends_, should swing for this.’ Not at this time a word he meant to say, But snugly kept it for some future Day. While Dad was gravely making each remark, John saw his Nags and Baggage safe embark; Saw the dexterity with which they whip The horse with Tackle safely in the Ship. So firmly managed, yet with so much care, Rais’d from the ground, suspended in the air, The astonish’d Animal without a check Is gently lower’d till he gains the Deck. John found the Knight, whose head now chiefly run On the sad way the Nation’s work was done; When having Dined, and o’er the social Glass, He said--‘Dear Boy, strange things may come to pass, ‘’Tis right, as now our Party has the sway, ‘All must be right they do, and all they say. ‘But, should the Minister get his dismission, ‘Our Party then will be in Opposition; ‘’Tis then for us to Badger, and to vex ’em-- ‘I’ve got some ticklers here, that will perplex ’em. ‘Interest now tells us it would be absurd ‘Of these vile Rogueries, to say a word, ‘But if they oust us, then without a doubt ‘Our bounden Duty is to tell it out; ‘For should my Friends so shamefully be treated, ‘I’ll let the Nation know how it is cheated.’ Next morn a Midshipman by times brought word That Captain _Newcome_ must repair on Board; The Captain’s compliments, to let him know The Wind was fair, the Ship to Sea must go. The Knight his Son saw ready to depart, Affectionately press’d him to his heart: ‘Adieu! dear Johnny! I shall be in pain ‘Until I see you safe return again; ‘Adieu! dear Son! my happiness enfold you, ‘But pray remember all that I have told you: ‘Write to me, John, whenever you are able, ‘Disguise your meaning, wrap it up in Fable.[29] ‘You understand me, John’--then squeez’d his hand; John in the Boat was quickly row’d from Land--