LINES ON A CONTESTED ELECTION TO A FELLOWSHIP OF THE MANCHESTER COLLEGIATE CHURCH.
I
Sirs, I've no Taste for a contesting Pother
The Church on one Side, and the Town o' th' other.
If any Meeting on one Side could bring
Both to agree, it were another Thing;
But I'm afraid that Zeal, in a One-sider,
Will only tend to make the Diff'rence wider.
II
You would have Clayton carry this Election.
So would I too, if there be no Objection,—
None strong enough, in Justice, to cashier
A Chaplain serving in his eighteenth year,
Who should succeed, if “cæteris” be “paribus”
By all the Laws of “Propria quæ maribus.”
III
If any Doubts arise about the Matter
Apply Solution, but without a Clatter!
Urge all the Reasons that you have, but still
With proper Temper and down-right Good-will!
For Pow'r to think, as far as I can see,
Belongs to all, as well as you and me.
IV
“They don't think right, if they reject his Claim.”—
That may be true; but Choice is still the same,
When once 'tis past,—the same to all Intent,
Tho' they themselves should happen to repent.
Since what is vacant is a Fellow's Stall,
The Fellows must supply it, after all.
V
As to their Taste,—if one may here disclose
The Secrets, Sirs, which ev'ry Body knows:
Put Ashton heartily desirous down
To serve the Church, and to oblige the Town;
And hope that him two Fellows, whom he chose,
Will not be fond of Reasons to oppose.
VI
Moss is for Parker, as you all agree;
I tell you this, because you told it me.
But, whether Youth, with an ingenuous Fame,
Will change for Heats of a contested Claim
An Independence likely to do well,—
That I don't know; because you did not tell.
VII
Foxley is disengag'd, entirely free
But to the right, that right appears to be.
Your Jealousy supposes that the Two
Have laid their Scheme;—perhaps, it is not true.
Do not proceed, as if the Town or Church
Were really hurt by an imagin'd Lurch!
VIII
Perhaps both Foxley, in this Case, and Moss
Really and honestly are at a Loss;
Have certain Matters fairly to discuss
Not quite so proper to be told to us.
“Why can't they tell 'em?”—Why, perhaps they may;
But 'tis their Time that you and I must stay.
IX
Your End, methinks, is sooner brought about
By friendly Force, by Reason, than by Rout,
On such an offer'd Season to begin
And bring the ancient, constant Custom in;
For, till of Late, the Chaplains (as they tell us)
From the Foundation have been chosen Fellows.
X
If they regard experienc'd Ashton's Voice,
As Griffith was their own applauded Choice,
Good-natur'd Warden, Fellows all agreed,
Chaplains that do their Duty to succeed,
The People to be pleas'd, and Peace ensue.—
This I conceive to be the Point in View.
