The National Register.
London, England, 1821-06-25 00:00:00

A satirical poem has just appeared under the title
of " My Note Book, or Skekhes from the Gallery of'
St. Stcpken's"—Otir readett, doubtlz'ss remember,
a work of extraordinary genius and ability, entitled
" The Rejected Addresses" in which the style of
the living writers was admirably imitated, and we '
think " My Note Book" abounds with equal point.
It is from the pen of a gentleman, who is attached'
to one of the daily papers as a parliamentary re-
porter, and-none but a gentleman accustomed as he
is to the manners of the different members, could
have so faithfully *pourtrayed them. We may be
allowed a momentary digression from the immediate
subject of our observation to allude to the qualifi-
cations necessary to form a good parliamentary re-
porter.—ln the first place, nature must have been
lavish to him mentally and corporeally—his percep-
tion must be correct—his ear and eye quick—and
his constitution of such power as to enable him to
endure the privation of sleep,by night, frequently
for weeks together—his education Amid have been
la
liberal, and his clasical acquitemen xtensive—as
to a perfect knowledge and practice . tenography;
though necessary, it is of to minori portancc as
to scarcely deserve mention. We ve thus di-
gressed for the sake of enabling our readers properly
to estimate the character, and acitirements of a
class of laborious members of society to whom the
lovers of a newspaper are incalculably indebted—
but to return to My Note Book—of which the least
praise, is not, that its author appears to have exer-
cised a degree of political impartiality that is really
astonishing-4n his preface he says " I have seen
enough of Tories, Whigs, and Radicals, to make
me reject the opinions on which they advance their
respective claims to constitutional purity"—and he
has followed up this declaration, by an equality of
ridicule levelled at all parties—it is with much plea-
sure we perceive from the " FINIS pro tern," that
we arc likely to be again delighted by his pen—
and we now proceed to give a few extracts, prentis-
ing—that if we did not thiuk it unfair to the Au-
thor, we believe we should please all classes of our
readers by continuing them, till we had copied the
whole book. The following debate is supposed to
take place on the presentation of a petition, (com-
plaining of the Milan Commission) from Coventry,
by the wot thy member for that city.
A DEBATE.
HESE shall I now by prejudice unsway'd,
The slave of none in politics who trade,
Describe the doughty senatorian fight,
Which called forth all the formidable might
Of fierce opponents, never known to lag
When urg'd by P.:-r, or provok'd by B-ggc.
The theme inspires ; lot l'-t-r in his place
Displays the volume of his ample face,
And shows an index„-what shall be my rhyme ?-
A country clock that " takes no note of time,"
E'en such a face displays to public view,
To prove the works inside are never true.
With parchment roll soon on the floor he's seen,
The ditunthas champion of his injur'd Queen :
His wig awry, his fists inflicting blows
To shake the table under Dyson's° nose.
Yet warmer still he waxes while he reads
• labotir'd list of C-st-r-gh's misdeeds,
bent up from Coventry his seal to prove,
lie talks of motions, W-ls-nt cries out " moon !"
lie swells, he tiaims, impatic:it for debate,
Fly whining KAN protrudes his powder'd pate;
M bile irons the bench, where W.,.4b-f-rce and Co.
Their saintly pates in meek seclusion skew,
A sidelong glance he casts, but to descry
A stupid scowl from P-t-r's stupid eye.
l'-t-r proceeds resistless in his course:
P.st-r is checed-he raves, till he gets hoarse ;
In vain to order does 1/c-k M-t-a rise,
So D-c-k sits down, and Pat-r still defies
All interruption, v:11 de the Sp -r bland
In accents mild gives him to understand
No breach of order yet had taken place ;
-" I'm sure, (says l'-t.r, standing near the mace,
And looking most complacently at 1)-c-k,)
I'd be the last against the house to kick :.-(a laugh.)
But language now, sir, cannot be too bold,
The hone,t truth is now what must be told;
I'll let it out the nuttier I'll not mince,
I'll make a lase administration wince.
I know some facts,—yes, that I do, I'm sure,-_
The noble Lord may think himself secure,
But all his actions, soon, must come to light,
And, gtakintss gracioos, what a horrid sight I
Who stilt out 1.-ch ? who sent out C-It and 0--wn,
And l'-w.l, too, to take the falsehoods down,
Which ev'ry wretch in Italy could bring?
The ministers have done the very thing."
A moment's pause, and now dues Patsr's throat
Resume its croaking will, an alter% note;
In elegiac tendamtss he melts;
Thus hail disiolvra, when hail no longer pelts.
•• at fnentl," he cries, " whose 10., we all deploie;
My dear lamented friend, who', now no more-
Poor Sheridan (here P—r !ook, so droll,
:1 giui lit; wrenches from old W.—,ley a—le,)