The Age Reviewed A Satire: In two parts: Second edition, revised and corrected [by Robert Montgomery] |
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II. |
![]() | The Age Reviewed | ![]() |
Who ape the vice and fashion of the town;
Ye who would strut so fiercely fine and grand,
And ship our peasants from their native land,
You'd lag at home, with wealth and luxury crown'd,—
Know, of all mimics of the mean and base,
Of brutish vanity, and vile disgrace,—
A half-born, half-bred farmer is the worst;
Mock'd by the rich, and by the poor man curst;—
False to his country, foe to her moral growth,
Ruined by wealth, and rotting in his sloth,—
Nor wise nor good, nor generous nor brave,—
A fop, a fool, a tyrant, and a knave!
Transport our poor peasanty!!—well, that sounds political. At any rate, we should have more room in that case to receive imported beggars; for whiskered Italians, and Gallic footmen, dressed up for French teachers. Perhaps, Mr. Sharon Turner's observation will not be criminally introduced here. “The more population tends to press upon the quantity of subsistence in any country, the more it also tends to increase it. As the pressure begins, the activity and ingenuity of mankind are roused to provide it.” We all know the “ingenuity of the Malthusian disciples.” Would that the country were relieved of a few of its political scribblers! We can spare to transport a few of them instead of the labourers. Every peasant is worth fifty government grubs.
![]() | The Age Reviewed | ![]() |