r>i)4 The 'Prentice-boys of Derry. [ APRIL, 



Turns blue, and cries " divide !" as I advance 

 And then the treasury troops all run away. 

 (Hurrahs and laughter.) Thus, ye boys, do I 

 " Flutter the Volscians in Corioli." 



Here the 'Prentices can contain their enthusiasm no longer, but mounting the car, or 

 waggon, insist upon seizing the hero and carrying him in triumph round the town ; which, 

 he respectfully declines, on the score of their not being able. He then resumes his speech. 



Give me, ye men that is, ye boys permission 

 To read to ye just mark your own petition ! 

 Yes, here it is I needn't read it through 

 " We who have fixed our crosses hereunto. 

 Not underminers, no but merely minors ; 

 We having, like the peerage, not yet reached 

 Years of discretion, are the best diviners 

 Of what should now be practised, and what preached. 

 Being quite ignorant of all that passes, 

 We're free from prejudice ; and simply ask 

 Your Majesty to crush the middle classes, 

 And look for help from us in every task ; 

 To grant, in reason's and religion's name, 

 The church whate'er it condescends to claim ; 

 To shut your eyes to scenes of wild distress, 

 Your ears to wronged reformers' idle stories, 

 Your mouth, when throne-addresses vow redress, 

 Your heart to all except your faithful Tories ; 

 To raise the pensions, and increase the taxes, 

 And give the earth a more convenient axis ; 

 To make the Horse- Guards keep the land in peace ; 

 To stop the rushing ocean on its way, 

 And let the rivulets have proper play ; 

 In short to make your people, all police ; 

 Let Derry have the seals, dismiss Lord Grey, 

 And your petitioners will ever pay." 



Tumultuous delight, manifested by the medium of shouts and shilalaghs. The 'Pren- 

 tices rend the air with their cries, as far as they can ; and again insist upon carrying 

 their hero in triumph but he assures them that he merely wishes them to carry the petition 

 ~-which is done. In the confusion the speaker resumes 



This to the King shall be forthwith preferred ; 

 I'll then repeat the speech you all have heard. 

 And now, ye glorious 'prentices, all hark ! 

 Let every lad amongst ye make his mark. 



A flourish of sticks. Everybody makes his mark where he can ; but as the blows of 

 the combatants are principally directed to the head, little mischief is done. Three cheers 

 are given for the Hero, three for the Boroughmongers, and three thousand for the Queen. 

 The Marquis makes his escape with only a few affectionate bruises, and the Derry 

 choristers break out into their opening chaunt 



Green grows the Marquis, oh ! 



The oddest sums that e'er were spent 



Were spent upon the Marquis, oh ! 



Old Nature hears O'Connell's jeers, 

 And people near and far quiz, oh ! 

 Her 'prentice han' she tried on DAN, 

 And then she made the Marquis, oh. 



Here the 'Prentices, in a state of delirium unprecedented even in Derry, all fall down 

 to a boy ; and then the 



CUKTAIN FALLS. 



