Here Whitefoord[32] reclines, and deny it who can, Though he merrily liv’d, he is now a _grave_ man: Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun-- Who relish’d a joke, and rejoic’d in a pun; Whose temper was generous, open, sincere-- A stranger to flattery, a stranger to fear; Who scatter’d around wit and humour at will; Whose daily _bon mots_ half a column might fill; A Scotchman, from pride and from prejudice free; A scholar, yet surely no pedant was he. What pity, alas! that so liberal a mind Should so long be to newspaper essays confin’d; Who perhaps to the summit of science could soar, Yet content “if the table he set in a roar;”-- Whose talents to fill any station were fit, Yet happy if Woodfall[33] confess’d him a wit. Ye newspaper witlings! ye pert scribbling folks! Who copied his squibs, and re-echoed his jokes: Ye tame imitators, ye servile herd, come, Still follow your master, and visit his tomb: To deck it, bring with you festoons of the vine, And copious libations bestow on his shrine; Then strew all around it--you can do no less-- _Cross-readings_, _Ship-news_, and _Mistakes of the Press_.[34] Merry Whitefoord, farewell! for thy sake I admit That a Scot may have humour, I had almost said wit: This debt to thy memory I cannot refuse-- “Thou best-humour’d man, with the worst-humour’d muse.” [Illustration] FOOTNOTES: [12] Paul Scarròn, a popular French writer, who died in 1660. [13] Dr. Barnard, Dean of Derry, in Ireland. [14] Edmund Burke. [15] Mr. William Burke, secretary to General Conway. [16] Mr. Richard Burke. [17] Richard Cumberland, author of “The West Indian,” and other dramatic pieces. [18] Dr. Douglas, Canon of Windsor, and Bishop of Salisbury. [19] David Garrick, the actor. [20] An Irish barrister. [21] Sir Joshua Reynolds. [22] An eminent attorney. [23] Thomas Townshend, Member for Whitchurch, afterwards Lord Sydney. [24] Richard Burke had broken a leg, about seven years before this poem was written. [25] Douglas had vindicated Milton from the insolence of Lauder, ingeniously refuted the cavils of Hume, and exposed Bower. [26] The Rev. Dr. Dodd. [27] Dr. Kenrick, who read lectures, under the title of “The School of Shakspere.” [28] James Macpherson, the translator of Ossian. [29] Hugh Kelly, author of “False Delicacy,” “School for Wives,” &c. [30] Mr. W. Woodfall, printer of the _Morning Chronicle_. [31] Sir Joshua Reynolds used an ear-trumpet in company. [32] Mr. Caleb Whitefoord, author of many humorous essays. He was so fond of punning, that Goldsmith used to say it was impossible to be in his company without being infected with the disorder. [33] Mr. H. S. Woodfall, printer of the _Public Advertiser_. [34] Mr. Whitefoord contributed papers on these subjects to the _Public Advertiser_. [Illustration: THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION A TALE]