THE WESTMORLAND GAZETTE, and KENDAL ADVERTISER, January 29, 1820 / REFORM and RADICALS

[Barb Baker]

THE WESTMORLAND GAZETTE, and KENDAL ADVERTISER.
Printed and Published for the Proprietors by J. KILNER, Market-Place,
Kendal; Saturday, January 29, 1820; VOL. III - No. 91.
Price Seven-Pence.
==============================================

 

THE FEAST OF REFORM AND THE RADICALS' ROUT.

 

Come, seize your white hats, and away let us scout

To the Feast of Reform and the Radicals' Rout,

For libellous WOOLER has summon'd the crew,

And the Rebels are now only waiting for you.

 

In Newgate's soft bow'rs, by the side of that street

The felon's last scene, and the Patriot's retreat,

See the 'Friends of the People', the 'Priests of the Press,'

Form an evening assembly to sign an address.

 

And there came CARLILE, with his blasphemous pack,

Who carried the poison of PAINE on his back

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

And their came MASTER HUNT, in his 'plumage of white,' ^

And COBBETT, well arm'd for political fight,

With TOM PAINE (fit companions for CARLILES and HONES !)

And he promis'd that evening to show them ' the bones.'

 

Then a Lancashire Justice advanc'd to the feast,

Who led to the table a Radical Priest,

With a juvenile patriot (say who can it be?)

Who signed himself ' double u, double o, d'.

 

PAINE's coffin their table, and on it was laid

An Examiner-leaf, which the table-cloth made;

Their speeches were various, their promises vast,

And LEIGH HUNT brought his 'teapot' ^ ^ to aid the repast

There, enamour'd of Hampstead, with sorrowful sighs,

The poetical Cockney look'd up to the skies;

While HAZLITT, well pleased such diversion to see,

Applauded his verses, and swallow'd his tea.

 

Then out came CARLILE, with the pious design

Of displaying his pow'rs in the blasphemous line,

Yet he scarce had begun, ere he ended his tale,

And now he is swearing in Dorchester jail.

 

Then HOBHOUSE advanc'd, recommending his plan

Of pulling the ears of each Parliament-man;

He had scarce spoke the words, ere he met with his doom

And retir'd from the feast to the Newgate state-room.

 

In vain for poor HOBHOUSE, SIR FRANCIS ^ ^ ^  appears,

And vows he meant nothing by pulling their ears;

But the House were too angry to change their decree,

For a patriot may turn an assassin when free.

 

Then as evening o'erspread the Republican band,

Their watchman, Disorder, came out with his brand;

So home let us hasten while daylight remains,

Or some kind-hearted patriot may blow out our brains.

                            __________

^       This is, I apprehend, an allusion to HUNT's encounter with MR. MORLEY, "mine host" of the British, who bestowed on HUNT the appellation of "white feather."

 

^ ^    Vide BLACKWOOD's Magazine, passim.

 

^ ^ ^  Vide SIR F. BURDETT's speech on the occasion.

==============================================