M 330

Dating: The earliest date for the composition of the poem is 22 May 1792, as Dr. Douglas, Bp of Salisbury, who was elected that day, is included; the fact of his being the first member mentioned may indicate that the poem was written on or soon after that date. Note that the D. of Leeds, elected on 8 May 1792, leads the other peers. The reference to Ld Macartney's appointment to the mission to China sets Sept 1792, when he departed, as the other limit to the poem. But JB was absent from London on his jaunt to Cornwall from 17 Aug until the end of Sept. So it is probable the poem was written before 17 Aug. In *Life* i.479 JB gives a list of the members exactly like that in the poem, and dates it June, 1792. FAP suggests that he may have written the poem after compiling that list, using it as a check-list.

"There's Q in a corner" (line 3, p.2): I found a letter to the Printer of the *London Chronicle* signed this way; the letter was about political usage. (*London Chron.* 24/26 Oct 1769, vol. 26, p.408); "Q in the Corner", used as a pseudonym, *Public Advertiser*, 25 Nov 1778;

*but Gibbon, Steevens, Jos. Warton, and Sir Wm Hamilton are omitted from the poem* (cont.)

M 330

The prelates: Thomas Percy, Thomas Barnard; John Hinchliffe, John Douglas, Richard Marlay (1792)

John Douglas, Bp. of Salisbury = Salisbury Jack (elected 22 May 1792)
("And other grave Prelates he rattles off quick

As John Thomas smart [or] gay Tom and tumbledown Dick")

This line should be punctuated: As John, Thomas, smart Tom and ...
"John" is John Hinchliffe, Bp. of Peterborough (elected 27 Mar 1792

"Thomas" must be Thomas Percy (JB would not venture a nickname)

"Smart (or gay) Tom" would be Thomas Barnard (he sometimes worried
JB by his levity)

Richard Marlay, Bp. of Clonfert, = "tumbledown Dick"

For JB's style in making "Q's" see e.g. *Tour*. Papers Apart, p.2; also
P 85, p.7.