914 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



Altho' he might, as sure most men do, 



Knock down a man ' se defcndendo,' 



Who, but for that, had beat his eyes out, 



Yet ne'ertheless, is first that cries out — 



Happy, who, safe from fears like these, 



Praises but acts not with, O. P.'s ; 



No hired bludgeonists astound him; 



His smiling family around him 



Impart a more delightful charm 



Than all the mimic melo-drame. 



Which fumes, struts, fiddles o'er the stage, 



Disgrace and scandal of the age — 



Happy, who, far from trash and rotos, 



Enjoys a cl>eerful, quiet house, 



Preserves unshock'd his common sense, 



Keeps safe hh persofi and h\s pence. V/. M. 



LORD CASTLEREAGH AND SIR WILLIAM CURTIS. 



[From the same.] 



[Many persons of sensibility were much affected at the parting inter- 

 view between Lord Castlereagh and Sir William Curtis, when the 

 worthy Alderman sailed with the Expedition. Since Gay's '< Black- 

 eyed Susan." there has scarcely occurred a more pleasing subject for 

 Lyric Poetry, and a Parody on that beautiful composition has been 

 prettily attempted by Mr. Dent.] 



A' 



LL in the Downs the fleet wasmoor'd, 

 The streamers waving in the wind, 

 When Castlereagh appear'd on board, 

 " Ah ! where shall I my Curtis find ? 

 " Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, 

 " If my fat William sails among your crew ?" 



William, who high upon the poop, 

 Rock'd by the billows to and fro, 

 Hear'd, as he supp'd his turtle soup, 

 The well-known Viscount's voice below. 

 The spoon drops greasy from his savoury hands. 

 And quick as lightning on the deck he stands. 



So Isaac Hawkins Brown at prayer 



Shuts close his hymn-book to his breast, 

 If Perceval's shrill note he hear. 

 And drops into the Treasury nest. 

 The noblest biscuit-baker in the fleet. 

 Might envy William's ear that call so sweet. 



'O 



