THE
PROFLIGATE SON.
A DREAM.

By the Author of the “ Acts of Adonis the Great.”

Geo. IV.

RUMINATING on the days which have long past over me,
on those hours in which my country was first upon the list of
fame, was the champion of truth, of justice, and of freedom,
I fell into a slumber, and a vision of the night came over me.
I thought I was a courtier, it was in a late reign; there was an
elderly good farmer-looking man with a crown on his head, I
thought I was his confidant; there was a sadness on his brow

which made me anticipate some unfortunate disclosure, at
length he beckoned me, and with a voice peenliariy sad, said,
“See you not in yon circle of noble youths one above his com-
panions in grace, in elegance, and in demeanour, and would
you not conceive him the pride of his parents?”—I answered in
the affirmative. “No:” replied the aged monarch, and I saw
a tear in his eye. “No, he is the bane of my repose; the viper

[Turn over.]

Price 3d. coloured,—2d. plain,

who has stung the bosom that fostered him, yet I know not
half his errors, but a small portion of his vices; you I depute
to observe his conduct, and from this moment to watch his
movements in the walks of vice." I bowed assent, and pro-
ceeded on my new occupation. Methought I was in his com-
pany in the midst of his companions, they nicknamed him the
Prince of Whales, they were the flat fish, most of them wanted
plaice; they were dissipated revellers, he was the stock fish of
the company. I saw him enter the gambling house of a well
known black-leg, he entered a minor and he left it minus; he
was ungartered, " Honi soit qui mal y pense," the play was
against him, the balls were over-shot, the powder was exhausted
—not a shot in the locker, it was low water with the Prince of
Whales, and he left the bank on which he had foundered. I
saw him enter the brothel of the notorious Mrs. W—r, his
purse had been replenished from the treasury of an industrious
people; I saw its contents wasted on the lowest of the low. I
saw the hard earnings of the labouring man paid as the wages
of harlotry, I saw the guinea earned by the sweat of the brow
thrown into the hand of abandoned debauchery. He threw
away crowns as though they were baubles. I thought to myself
if you trifle thus with the crown of the people thine own will
be the sufferer in days to come. I found this was his amuse-
ment every night.

He was nicknamed the *royal nightman*; he was a *lord of the
led-chamber*, the *vice-chamberlain* or *chamberlain of vice*. He
left the abode of licentiousness for the race-course, his *stakes*
were high, he lost—and his *chops* were fallen, the odds were
against him, he was an odd fellow; yet he lost with good *grace*
although all men of wisdom declared him *graceless*, most said
it was a *disgrace* that he played high and bowed low; he
certainly played *high*, but it was to *low* company; he bowed
*low* but it was to high company. He was by turns the asso-
ciate of men of *rank* and of *rank men*, of members of the
House of Commons, and of *members* of common houses, he
associated with the guards but they were those of a sable hue,
he was frequently in company with officers, but they were of
Bow Street and its cotemporary departments; they were *civil*

officers, but their *staves* were far from being harmonious, they
affected the *head*, and had great weight on the senses; all
men of *tender feelings* carefully avoided them, they *pitched*
them rather too *high*, and by *lowering* them suddenly occa-
sioned an unpleasant *swelking*.

He left the race course for the tavern, he was in high spirits
and high spirits were in him, he was *cordial* to all around him,
a *compound* of folly and generosity—but he mixed *bitters* with
it, and all his *draughts* were spoiled by becoming the property
of sharpers; his *time* and his *money* were alike *ill-spent*; he
was the joke of the companions of his revels, yea the "black.
joke" of the despicable and the base. I saw the *duns* hover
around him, and I thought he was *done up*. The butcher's
heart was *steeled* against him, the wine-merchant made a *butt*
of his debtor, the money-lender swore he had no *principle*,
and seemed to take great *interest* in his affairs; the brothel-
keeper, Mother W—r, said it was not *fair* treatment, for
though he had brought his *orders* into the house he had left
nothing but *disorders* behind him. The baker swore he de-
served a *roll* and appeared very *crusty*; he was the *flower* of
the creditors. The master of the wine vaults thought it a
*rum* concern, he had made him *out of spirits*; he like the baker
was grieved he had trusted him a single *quartern*. The
tailor declared it did not *suit* him to wait for his money, he
was no goose, but as sharp as a needle; he wished his debtor
in hell without *cabbage*, and seemed unwilling to sheer off; he
looked at the fashionable frock he had made, he swore it was a
*waste-coat*, and he thought his customer had acquired very *bad
habits*. I saw all the *duns* besieging the luckless spendthrift,
he was *aghast*; on one side was the *fleet*, he feared it was too
fleet for him, *whales* are averse to *fleets* of all descriptions,
On the other side was the sign of the three balls, the owner of
which was the only person who took an *interest* in his mis-
fortunes, the others were devoid of *principal*. I saw him com-
pletely chop-fallen—he was on the stool of repentance. I
saw the creditors rush forward—I saw a host of bailiffs—I
saw—I saw the—day breaking through the window, and—I
awoke.

Just Published,
THE FOLLOWING DREAMS:

(By the same Author.)

1. THE DEPRAVED HUSBAND.—2. THE CONSPIRATORS.—3. THE DEGRADED KING.

*With appropriate Cuts.*

Printed and Published by J. Turner, 170, Aldersgate Street, London.