The Independent Statesmen, and Liberal Landlord or a respectful tribute to T. W. Coke, M.P. for the County of Norfolk

Excerpt

A RESPECTFUL TRIBUTE
to
T. W. COKE, ESQ. M. P.

In this candid address, Sir we beg to express,
Our concern in observing the kingdom’s distress;
In the senate we know sir you are never afraid,
Our country’s foes to expose or upbraid;
Upbraiding them now appears of no use,
For a well-tim’d remark they denote as abuse.
Our yeomen of Norfolk most loudly complain,
Of present taxation and low prices of grain;
Your tenantry find to their sorrow and grief,
No efforts are made to afford them relief:
His Majesty speaks of their present distress;
Yet points out no method to render it less.
You set an example to those of the state,
By giving assistance before ’tis too late;
You drop your rentals, the disease for to cure,
They shou’d cause a reduction in expenditure,
By lopping of branches that injure the vine,
They tell us such method wou’d cause a decline.
The weather was fickle, the time did not suit,
That ’twou’d injure the stem and sicken the root.
To find out improvements so long they delay,
Tho’ they know that the root is in daily decay;
For the suckers so much of its virtue late drew,
To remove it is better and plant one anew,
Such, such is the case I fear of the nation,
Was we to remove those now in high station;
It’s just like a bankrupt who often ’tis found,
His assets a shilling wont give to the pound:
When you ask him the cause he’ll reluctantly say,
The money is spent and my books thrown away.
Should a bankruptcy happen to this nation at large,
’Tis not likely we ever the debt can discharge,
What a pretty account wou’d our ministers give,
Cou’d they say ’twas our plan to live and let live.
They’d tell you that ministers know how to carve;
For his M--- well, tho’ his good subjects starve.
I will return to a more pleasing strain,
And speak of your tenantry Sir, once again;
So good are their crops, that it plainly foretell,
They try hard to equal if not to excel;
Their neighbours they find are as knowing as they,
Can produce as much barley, good wheat or hay.
As they themselves do off an acre of land,
Yet neighbourly are, and will go hand in hand,
To find out new methods the soil to improve,
Or what is found hurtful to quickly remove;
Sir your tenants are farmers who handsomely live,
Who love wine themselves and will free a glass give.
Attention to business they most strictly do pay;
Not one of your tenants wastes his time away
In fruitless amusements, yet happy to yield,
A space from the cares of the world to the field.
What adds to delight and what banished care,
A good landlord’s presence enlivens them there.
On your word they at all times can strictly rely,
When assistance is needful, you do not deny
To render them service that’s apprent in view,
Your sanction they gain ere they bid you adieu.
At each public meeting it plainly is seen
You felt as a man for our ill fated Queen;
It was lucky for her there were many like you,
Who exerted themselves for to bring full in view,
Both art and deception you plainly cou’d find,
Were employ’d for to make every briton inclined,
To treat our lov’d Queen with mark’d disrespect;
But thank God her cause you did never neglect,
To espouse in a manner that plainly foretold,
You thought the Italians were cited by gold;
To say, or unsay, or devise any thing,
At the critical moment, a censure to bring.
On a female as chaste as the best of her sex,
Their aim was to injure, disgrace, and perplex;
Behind the grand curtain an agent display’d
A signal for slander, tho’ he was afraid;
A generous nation wou’d it’s colours hurl down,
Convinc’d that such signals dishonour’d the crown;
Our monarch I’m certain and really believe,
Desires from his heart our woes to relieve;
For reasons too plain, his advisers insist,
No decrease shall take place in the old civil list;
Or rather a new one I ought to have said,
It’s very much alter’d I am much afraid:
For our comforts, or interests, or even our peace,
Our burthens arise as the list shall increase;
Let the King live in splendour, yet this I may say,
Too much is allowed when so much is to pay;
For interest for millions and millions we owe:
The snug little sum our grave ministers know,
And so do we all, or the people at large,
’Tis said our whole kingdom wou’d not it discharge,
If brought to the hammer and very well sold,
That’s certain the case I suppose and am told....