Page images
PDF
EPUB

not much sense to discover, as it was drawn, of course, for the edification of all our readers. He made use of very strong expressions, and I took care to work him a little more by some severe hits, and at last he denounced the address as rank treason. Then He acted his usual part,-made a long bad speech-very furious, but shewing the white feather, by recommending some few expressions to be a little altered before it met the royal eye. The whigs that were there supported Byngand after some wrangling, Byng (I think it was) himself proposed, or at least keenly supported, a proposal, that both addresses should be referred to a committee to draw up one out of both-to compound the whig and the treasonable address together; and the result, as you may suppose (for this was one way of covering their retreat) was, that the latter was adopted, with the phrases that might have been actually laid hold of, qualified as whigs know how to do.

This told home against them. They denounced my address as treason, and then they adopted it, having rounded a few sentences, and polished a few uncourtly phrases :-Just as if the sense of the thing was not the same as before, viz. what they called treason; or as if the authors of treason (if they meant anything by denouncing it as treason), ought to be united with loyal whigs, in concerting a loyal address out of a treasonable composition.

What a game for a party to play! Why-even my myrmidons laughed and hooted at them, with

H

"

out even a wink or a nod. The folly and imbécility of the past struck even their own paid shouters. We here got another signal proof, either that the only restraint on the whigs is fear, or that fear will make them do anything. Either motive will answer our purpose.

[ocr errors]

You see how fast I have them on my hook. How far any of our friends at Edinburgh ought, in prudence, to try anything so strong at first-if your whigs enter into the plan of the proposed meetings I must lean very much with you. Probably, as they are hardly yet accustomed to this species of insult and contumely, and the people may not be sufficiently drilled and hardened for this sort of work, it might be hazarding too much to attempt at first any such trial of the lengths to which we can compel them to go, and the disgrace to which we can expose them. But be sure to subject their proudest names to as much mortification as possible, in every step of the business. Exact anything that you can safely try. Let your followers be as unruly-as unorganised as possible; but I could not as yet have any one stand forward, so as to risk a separation. You need not grudge this delay. The thing will work of itself. The whigs will find that they must have these meetings oftener than they now imagine or may find convenient. The taste, if once created, requires constant food, and strongly spiced. They will see the meetings when they do not want them, and when they are not required as leaders.

But as your learned whigs are about to plunge

into scenes for which they are totally unfitted, do not let them be disgusted. Take more than usual pains to extol their eminent services and great moral influence. Let the meeting in your report appear as if in their honour, and as redounding solely to their benefit and glory. This will tickle and humbug them, and will not at all deceive our friends. You may hint something of the exhilirating contrast between the dull, inanimate, formal, and constrained meetings of freeholders, corporations, known individuals, &c. and the hearty, soul-stirring sight of all whom zeal and ardour prompted, pouring into your -circus? was it not in days of yore (would that you could but get them to fix your meeting there!)-rejoicing in the consciousness of the strength of numbers a little impatient, to be sure, and sometimes unruly, as a great multitude will ever be, even when learned and eloquent whigs are speaking of themselves, but still exhibiting the animation and life and vigour of an assembly of freemen-where no magistrates are present to impose constraint, and where no invidious distinctions are observed to create ill-will. Touch the thing up in this way. We shall understand, and the whigs won't see through it. Then, of course, puff the speeches for the satisfaction of those who go to such meetings to make speeches. Throw in applause where that was in vain expected -add point where that was looked for-and when you see what whigs mean to be understood and inferred, though they may be guarded enough in their speeches, be sure in your report not to let the mean

ing evaporate, or the language fall short of your purpose. In short, as the meeting is one for our views, take care to make the report what will best answer our ends.

Yours ever,

T. J. WOOLER.

A SCENE

FROM

RAISING THE WINDS,

OR

A NEW WAY TO GET BREAKFAST.

Multosque per annos

Errabant, acti fatis, maria omnia circum,
Tantæ molis erat Whigganam condere gentem.

At

Nimborum in patriam, loca fata furentibus Austris. Eoliam venit

EPISTOLA.

Insequitur clamorque virum stridorque rudentum. Intonuere poli, et crebris micat ignibus æther

Præsentemque Tories intentant omnia mortem.

« PreviousContinue »