University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore

Collected by Himself. In Ten Volumes
  

expand sectionI, II. 
expand sectionIII, IV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI, VII. 
collapse sectionVIII, IX. 
expand section 
expand section 
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
PROPOSALS FOR A GYNÆCOCRACY.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 1. 
 2. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
expand sectionX. 


77

PROPOSALS FOR A GYNÆCOCRACY.

ADDRESSED TO A LATE RADICAL MEETING.

------ “Quas ipsa decus sibi dia Camilla
Delegit pacisque bonas bellique ministras.”
Virgil.

As Whig Reform has had its range,
And none of us are yet content,
Suppose, my friends, by way of change,
We try a Female Parliament;
And since, of late, with he M. P.'s
We've fared so badly, take to she's—
Petticoat patriots, flounc'd John Russells,
Burdetts in blonde, and Broughams in bustles.
The plan is startling, I confess—
But 'tis but an affair of dress;
Nor see I much there is to choose
'Twixt Ladies (so they're thorough bred ones)
In ribands of all sorts of hues,
Or Lords in only blue or red ones.
At least, the fiddlers will be winners,
Whatever other trade advances;

78

As then, instead of Cabinet dinners,
We'll have, at Almack's, Cabinet dances;
Nor let this world's important questions
Depend on Ministers' digestions.
If Ude's receipts have done things ill,
To Weippert's band they may go better;
There's Lady ---, in one quadrille,
Would settle Europe, if you'd let her:
And who the deuce or asks, or cares,
When Whigs or Tories have undone 'em,
Whether they've danc'd through State affairs,
Or simply, dully, din'd upon 'em?
Hurrah then for the Petticoats!
To them we pledge our free-born votes;
We'll have all she, and only she
Pert blues shall act as “best debaters,”
Old dowagers our Bishops be,
And termagants our Agitators.
If Vestris, to oblige the nation,
Her own Olympus will abandon,

79

And help to prop the' Administration,
It can't have better legs to stand on.
The fam'd Macaulay (Miss) shall show,
Each evening, forth in learn'd oration;
Shall move (midst general cries of “Oh!”)
For full returns of population:
And, finally, to crown the whole,
The Princess Olive , Royal soul,
Shall from her bower in Banco Regis,
Descend, to bless her faithful lieges,
And, mid our Unions' loyal chorus,
Reign jollily for ever o'er us.
 

A personage, so styling herself, who attained considerable notoriety at that period.