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An Epigram.

DEEP, deep, in Sandys* blundering head, The new Gin project sunk;

"O, happy project," sage, he cried,
"Let all the realm be drunk.

" 'Gainst universal hate and scorn,
"This scheme my sole defence is,
"For when I've beggar'd half the realm,
""Tis time to drown their senses."

* Samuel Sandys, a republican opposer of the Court, was made Chancellor of the Exchequer in the room of Sir Robert Walpole, 1742; but was turned out in less than two years, and made Cofferer and a Baron, and entirely laid aside, on the disgrace of Lord Granville.-W.

SANDYS AND JEKYLL;*

A NEW BALLAD:

To the Tune of "When all was wrapt in dark Midnight." Printed in April 1743.

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"TWAS at the silent, solemn hour,
When night and morning meet;

In glided Jekyll's grimly ghost,
And stood at Sandys' feet.

His face was like a Winter's day,
Clad in November's frown;

And clay-cold was his shrivel'd hand,
That held his tuck'd-up gown.

* Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls, author of the Bill against Spirituous Liquors, which Mr. Sandys got repealed, to increase the Revenue.-W.

Sands quak'd with fear, th' effect of guilt,
Whom thus the Shade bespoke;

And with a mournful, hollow voice,

The dreadful silence broke:

"The night Owl shrieks, the Raven croaks, "The midnight bell now tolls; "Behold thy late departed friend,

"The Master of the Rolls.*

"And tho' by death's prevailing hand, "My form may alter'd be;

"Death cannot make a greater change,
"Than times have wrought in thee.

"Think of the part you're acting, Sands,
"And think where it will end d;
"Think you have made a thousand foes,
"And have not gain'd one friend.

* Sir Joseph Jekyll was, as I have always heard and believed, as nearly, as an individual could be, the very standard of Whig principles in his age. He was a learned and able man, full of honour, integrity, and public spirit; no lover of innovation, nor disposed to change his solid principles for the giddy fashion of the hour.-Burke.

"Oft hast thou said, our cause was good,

"Yet you that cause forsook;

"Oft against places hast thou rail'd,

"And yet a place you took.

"'Gainst these how often hast thou spoke,

"With whom you now assent; "The Court how oft hast thou abus'd, "And yet to Court you went.

"How could you vote for war with Spain, "Yet make that war to cease?

"How could you weep for England's debts, "Yet make those debts increase ?

"How could you swear your country's good "Was all your wish, or fear? "And how could I, old doating fool,

"Believe you were sincere!

"Thou art the cause, why I appear,

"From blissful regions drawn!

Why teeming graves cast up their dead, "And why the church-yards yawn,

"Is owing all to thee, thou wretch ! "The bill thou hast brought in

66 Opens this mouth, tho' clos'd by death, "To thunder against Gin.

"If of good-nature any spark

"Within thee thou canst find ;

"Regard the message that I bring"Have mercy on mankind.

"But, Oh, from thy relentless heart,

"The horrid day I see,

"When thy mean hand shall overturn "The good design'd by me.

"Riot and slaughter once again "Shall their career begin;

"And ev'ry parish sucking babe, 66 Again be nurs'd with Gin.

"The soldiers from each cellar drunk,

"Shall scatter ruin far;

"Gin shall intoxicate, and then,

"Let slip those dogs of war.

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