The Age Reviewed A Satire: In two parts: Second edition, revised and corrected [by Robert Montgomery] |
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That e'en when beggar'd helms a world beside;
As mean in talent, as in moral vile.
What! shall the knave and blockhead dare to sit,
Where Pitt and Sheridan once flashed their wit?
How will Britannia look to rival states,
When varlet W---, or E--- legislates!—
How must her Constitution's glories bloom,
Through jobbing E---e, and piratic H---?
Her Senate's genius rivalled pristine Rome;
And tongues unchained by dullness or by hire
Proclaimed the patriot with Athenian fire:—
There is an eloquence in Canning's eye,
And classic verdure in his rich reply,
A thoughtful vigour in perspicuous Peel;
But how will raggamuffins speak or feel,
That, job-inspired, to Stephen's mansion flock,
To turn the Parliament a jointed stock?
Quintillian says, no man can be an orator without he is a good man. “Oratorem autem instituimus illum perfectum, qui esse, nisi vir bonus, non potest.” Look over our Parliamentary list for the present session, and when was England so degraded? How will it read hereafter, that
“Earth's dictatress, Ocean's mighty queen”was partly legislated by a brood of huckaback merchants, brokers, and
“Ambiarum collegia, pharmacapolæ,Mendici, mimæ, balatrones; hoc genus omne?”
It certainly matters not what that man's former condition was who has made himself competent to represent his country; but more than half of the present members are utterly unqualified; they have crept into Parliament, bribed and bribing. But “M. P.” is somewhat convincing at the end of a name; for instance, “John Wilks, Esq. M. P.,” &c. &c. And what do the field-bred clouts perform in Parliament? Why, wear out their leathern breeches by a few hours' fidgets, and scribble franks for cousins and Co.!
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