The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-09 00:00:00

SIR BENJIE.

On what foundation stands the purist's pride.
How blest his hopes let " Dockyard HALL" decide !
From Hensoll's " Halls," in twofold sense, he came,
And simple BENJAMIN was once his name;
That name served him as it had served his sire
Till restless envy taught him to aspire—
Taught him, for aids his upward course to steer.
The patriot swagger and the platform sneer ;
And so engaged him in each factious art,
Till fortune flung to him the title " Bart."

Curst by the gift—from that unhappy hour,
Curst and deceived by fortune's luckless dower,
Henceforth a coronet beyond his grasp
Lures him to labour with plethoric gasp—
To carry, puffing up preferment's slopes,
His poor pretensions and inflated hopes ;
Henceforth, as seen in each ambiguous act,
Mayfair and Marylebone his thoughts distract ;
To gain a Cabman's vote or Duchess' smile,
He alternates with coarse or coaxing wile ;
Scents or affects to scent the secret job,
Feels or affects to feel the full-blown nob;
And, for his public or his private game,
Plays many parts, but yet those parts the same—
A wheedling blusterer,—a touting brave,—
A courtier demagogue,—a captious slave.

But all in vain ! A nation's Fates deride
The paltry efforts of provincial pride ;
Amazed they see a Vestryman debate—
A spoilt Churchwarden aping airs of state,
And so consign thee to the Limbo dread
Of those who rush where angels fear to tread.
Fortunate HALL ! hadst thou thy function known,
And when thy case was well left well alone !
Thine were the goats upon a thousand hills,
Thine overflowing barns, cash,—credit,—bills,—
Metals (exclusive of thy brass) ; and thine
The darkest diamonds of Glamorgan's mine.
These thou forsakedst in an evil day,
To get both in thy own and England's way.
Else would Glamorgan's pundits now revere
Parochial talents in their proper sphere ;
Or, gravely looking for the wisdom, see
At least the spectacles of a J. P.
Then might thy proper destiny prevail,
And thy bold brows, when other glories fail,
Adorn some signboard for indifferent ale.

NEW

APPOINTMENT.

Lord Jolts RussaLL has beon appointed Invalid-General to the
Aberdeen Administration. In undertaking the responsibilities of
this arduous post it becomes his Lordship's duty to be absent from
indisposition when inconvenient questions are anticipated, ordamagiug
debates are threatened by the notice paper. It is said that Lord
JOHN was convinced of the necessity of " putting on an sager " by the
Member for Kidderminster, and that this is one of the "low dodges "
for which the latter takes credit—having bequeathed it to his pupils
at Oxford.

CARLOW ELECTION.
Mr. SADLEIR has been returned for the borough of Carlow; by 149 to
1.15. Lord ABERDEEN has beat me by FOUR, said Lord PALMERSTON.

THE " Silent Secretary" of the Admiralty spoke, without leave, on
Tuesday night. The countenance of Sir JAMES GRAHAM was very
peculiar, as he listened to the break-down of his all-sufficient sub.
Impudence has not always the advantage of moving an adjournment,
and of preparing in the interval its ready Joe Millerisms. The brazen
fluency of Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE quite deserted him ; he endeavoured
to make up for his hesitation by extra impertinence, but the failure
was recognised by both sides, and, though the occasion was one of
great excitement, the most violent partisan could not applaud him.

JULY 9, 1853.