The Works of Thomas Hood; Vol. 02 (of 11): Comic and Serious, in Prose and Verse, With All the Original IllustrationsHood, Thomas
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The Works of Thomas Hood; Vol. 02 (of 11): Comic and Serious, in Prose and Verse, With All the Original Illustrations
Hood, Thomas
English poetry -- 19th century; English wit and humor; Humorous poetry, English
“We should be loth,” says the Detector, “to impute the late calamity to
any particular party: but we may reasonably inquire what relative stake
in the country is possessed by the Whigs and the Tories. The English
language may be taken as a fair standard. The first may lay claim to
perri-_wig_, scratch-_wig_, tie-_wig_, bob-_wig_, in short, the whole
family of the perruques, with _whig_-maleery. The latter, not to
mention other good things, have a vested right in ora_tory_, his_tory_,
terri_tory_, and vic_tory_. Can a man of common patriotism have a doubt
which side it is his interest to adhere to?”
[Illustration: “WHEN SHALL WE THREE MEET AGAIN?”]
That last paragraph, Davis, is what I call sound argument. Indeed I
don’t see how it is to be answered. You see they are all nem. con.
as to our danger, and decidedly reckon fire an inflammatory agent.
Take care what you read. Very pernicious doctrines are abroad, and
especially across the Western Channel. The Irish are really frightful.
I’m told they tie the cows’ tails together, and then saw off their
horns for insurrectionary bugles. The foundations of society are
shaken all over the world--the Whiteboys in Ireland, and the Blacks
in the West Indies, all seem to fight under the same colours. It’s
time for honest men to rally round themselves--but I’m sorry to say
public spirit and love of one’s country are at a low ebb. There’s too
much Americanism. One writer wants us to turn all our English wheat
to Indian corn, and to grow no sort of apples but Franklin pippins.
We want strong measures against associations and unions. There’s
demagogues abroad--and they wear white hats. By-the-bye, I more
than half suspect that fellow Johnson is a delegate. Take him to the
ale-house, and treat him freely--it may warm him to blab something.
Besides, you will see what sort of papers the public-houses take in.
You may drop a hint about their licenses. Give my compliments to Dr.
Garratt, and tell him I hope he will preach to the times, and take
strong texts. I wish I could be down amongst you, but I cannot desert
my post. You may tell the tenantry, and electors--I’m burnt out and
gutted--but my heart’s in the right place--and devoted to constituents.
Come what may, I will be an unshaken pillar on the basis of my circular
letter. Don’t forget any of my precautions. I am sorry I did not bring
all the plate up to town--but at the first alarm bury it. Take in no
letters or notices; for what you know they may be threatenings. If
any Irishman applies for work, discharge him instantly. All the old
spring-guns had better be set again, they are not now legal, but I am
ministerial, and if they did go off, the higher powers would perhaps
wink at them. But it’s fire that I am afraid of, fire that destroyed
my political roof, and may now assail my paternal one. Walk, as I may
say, bucket in hand, and be ready every moment for a break out. You
may set fire to the small faggot stack, and try your hands at getting
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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