LAY OF THE WANDERING ARAB. 245 



done away with those ^punishments which would have 

 been peculiarly well adapted to correct this evil, such 

 as Pillories, Ducking stools, Stocks, &c., I have had 

 some thoughts of dutifully recommending to His Ma- 

 jesty the institution of a Screech Owl society or order, 

 wherein degrees should not be conferred by the king, 

 but by his vicegerents, the judges and justices of our 

 land. And since birds of this description are to be 

 found in all classes of society, so would I have the 

 different class of the order distinguished as the Cleri- 

 cal, Legal, Medical, Martial, Operative, and Female. 

 The members should be obliged to wear, when in pub- 

 lic, the medals of their order, bearing on their faces 

 " the ill-omened bird/' and on the reverse the inscrip- 

 tion " Prophet of evil ; " and to their names should be 

 appended the initials of their class, viz., S. O. C., 

 " Screech Owl Clerical," or any other initial of the 

 class of which it is intended to be descriptive. 



I think it follows, from what has been said, that it 

 is the duty of every person to preserve the public mind 

 in a state of contentment, as much as is in his power; 

 and that it is the interest of all conditions of the people 

 to do so ; but more especially and essentially of the 

 labouring classes, who derive their support from their 

 daily occupation ; because it has been shewn how 

 much their welfare is affected by the public mind not 

 being in a state of agitation but in one of tranquillity 

 and repose. 



I am, Mr. Editor, your well wisher, 



TOM. HOPEFUL. 

 No. 1, Prospect Row. 



LAY OF THE WANDERING ARAB. 



"Away away, rny barb and I," 

 As tree as wave, as fleet as wind, 



\Ve sweep the sands of Araby, 



And leave a world of slaves behind ! 



'Tis mine to range in this wild garb, 

 Nor e'er feel lonely, though alone ; 



I would not change my Arab barb, 

 To mount a drowsy Sultan's throne ! 



