The Press. — London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

MARCH 3, 1855. If e'er about Reform or corn The mob should raise a riot, I laughed their clamour all to scorn— The troops could keep them quiet. For it was then my firm belief The Whigs would ne'er have sway, sir, And only with a Tory chief Had I a chance of pay, sir. When "open-question" Liverpool Appeared to rule the nation, I plodded on, a patient tool, And lauded moderation. For it was then my firm belief Whatever folks might say, sir, That be must he the fittest chief Who gave me place and pay, sir. When Peel and Canning came to blows I stood a while divided ; But Canning iu the ascendant rose, And that my choice decided. For it became my firm belief Tories had had their day, sir, And only a "juste-milieu " chief Would give me place and pay, sir. But though the Tory camp I fled I feared the coming storm, sir, And loudly cheered when Canning said He'd still oppose Reform, sir. For it was then my firm belief (Which later years gainsay, sir) Reform, whoe'er might be the chief, Would risk my place and pay, sir. When Goody came in Canning's room I felt the ground was hollow, And quickly left him to his doom, Old Huskisson to follow. For it was then my firm belief, And is so to this day, sir, That insecure, with such a chief, Was either place or pay, sir. To Tory ranks returned once more, To Wellington we hurried; To Peel eternal friendship swore, And past resentments buried. And it became my firm belief That, though we'd gone astray, sir, We now, at length, had found a chief T' insure us place and pay, sir. But Husky soon was bundled out, Nor could his words recal, sir ; The Iron Duke would have no doubt 'Twas no mistake at all, sir. For it was always his belief That they must still obey, sir, Who chose to follow him as chief. And take from him their pay, sir. Two mortal years expelled from place An outcast sad I wandered ; And o'er my melancholy case In deep dejection pondered. And this became my fixed belief, Confirmed by long delay, sir, That of all human ills the chief Is loss of place and pay, sir. When Europe's thrones were shaken all By threats of revolution, It seemed the time to overhaul The British Constitution. And it became my firm belief That Wellington for Grey, sir, Must soon make room, and he as chief Would give mo place and pay, sir. THE VICAR OF BRAY. In good old Doctor Sidmouth's days, When Church and King no harm meant, A Tory out and out I was, And so I got preferment. For it was then my firm belief The Whigs would ne'er have sway, sir, And only with a Tory chief Had I a chance of pay, sir. But, Tory as I still had been, The ousted Whigs I mocked at, And " New Whig Guides," with satire keen, Young Peel and I concocted. For it was then my firm belief I ne'er should see the day, sir, When I beneath a Whiggish chief Should finger place and pay, sir. THE PRESS. A youthful Whig I then appeared, Than me could none be stouter ; At bit-by-bit reforms I sneered— Myself an out-and-outer. For it became my firm belief The Bill would win the day, sir, And mobs maintain in power the chief Who gave me place and pay, sir. ~~-..: Grey, Melbourne, Russell, came and went, While I retained my station ; And duly kept the Continent Jn ceaseless irritation. For Liberalism, 'twas my belief, Was now the game to play, sir, And Rads at home would hail me chief Aud gladly vote my pay, air. When Peel to office came once more, Towards him my heart relented, But he perhaps some malice bore, And left me discontented. But still I kept my firm belief, With spirits light and gay, sir, That, if not ho, some other chief Would give me place and pay, sir. When Peel, by Irish famine seared, His former friends disgusted, And Tories found themselves ensnared By him they once had trusted, The hungry Whigs, with glad belief, Foresaw the coming prey, sir, And I foresaw that any chief Must give me place and pay, sir. Protection then at once became A vile abomination ; By laws it was a burning shame To fetter navigation. Free trade was now, in my belief, The watchword for the fray, sir, And, stepping o'er its prostrate chief, We took his place and pay, sir. When Johnny gave me once the sack, I veiled my indignation, But soon with interest paid him back, And forced his resignation. For I had then a fixed belief (Conviction I may say, sir) That he should never long bo chief Who should withhold my pay, air. When Derby took the chief command I failed with him to arrange, sir, But still held out a friendly hand, In case the times should change, sir. For it was then my firm belief That 'tis the prudent play, sir, To keep on terms with every chief Who has the power to pay, sir. In friendly chat with Bedford's Duke, When Peelites sly were seen, sir, The joyful hint I quickly took, And lauded Aberdeen, sir. For it became my firm belief I now should have my way, sir, Or, if not so, with him as chief, At least receive my pay, sir. The road I saw, with instinct true, To gain my old position, Foreswore the Derby-Dizzy crew, And shouted " Coalition !" For principle, 'tis my belief, Is ever in the way, sir— Of all impediments the chief To keeping place and pay, sir. So Whigs and Peelites soon were seen, A glorious band of brothers, With antiquated Aberdeen, The kindest, best of mothers. I wished I had a firm belief That thus we long could stay, sir, For, though I loved not much my chief, I loved my place and pay, sir. Patient I bore repeated rubs, As if in friendly part meant, Patient, beneath Newcastle's snubs, Gave up the War Department. My comfort was my firm belief, While Aberdeen had sway, sir, Whoe'er of war affairs was chief, Would hardly make them pay, sir.