Anticipation 9780231878371

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A N T I C I P A T I O N

A N T I C I P A T I O N BY

RICHARD

TICKELL

Reprinted from the

First Edition, London, i 778 W i t h an

Introduction, Notes

a Bibliography

of Tickell's Writings

BY

L. H .

BUTTERFIELD

NEW

YORK

King's Crown Press, Morningside Heights 1942

Introduction,

Xotes,

and Bibliography

L. PRINTED

IN

THE

H.

copyright

1942

by

BUTTERFIELD

U N I T E D STATES

OF

AMERICA

KZ-I9-VB-5OO

King's Crown Press is a division oj Columbia University Press organised jor the purpose of making certain scholarly material available at minimum cost. Toward that end, the publishers have adopted every reasonable economy except such as would interjere with a legible format. The work is presented substantially as submitted by the author, without the usual editorial attention oj Columbia V fiiversity Press.

To C.J. F. B.

FOREWORD

Some years ago a literary investigator came into my office and inquired whether he could find a copy of Richard Tickell's Anticipation

in our

library. He was thinking of sending to the British Museum for a photostatic copy, in case we could not supply his need. W e were able to reply that we had sixteen editions of this book—ten of them printed in the year 1 7 7 8 alone. N o w publishers do not re-issue a book unless someone is reading it. T h e number of reprints induced me to read the book, and I found it one of the best of eighteenth-century satires on the ponderous serio-comic addresses delivered in what is still pleased to call itself the M - t h - r of P-rl--m-nts. T h o u g h M r . Butterfield has restrained himself in the matter of drawing parallels between the bumbling follies of that legislative conclavc, then and now, yet the writer of a foreword may be permitted to do so. In the summer of 1 9 4 1 , I received in the mail a pamphlet, in an envelope which bore a Chinese postage stamp and the postmark of Shanghai. T h e pamphlet was one of the familiar blue-covered fascicles which we all recognize as the format of the Parliamentary

Debates.

This particular

fascicle purported to contain the debate for August 1 5 , 1 9 4 1 , and was typographically exact, even to the reproduction of the arms of H-s Br-t-nn-c M-j-sty on the cover. A n examination revealed it to be the twentieth-century parallel of Tickell's Anticipation—a

satiric report of

the debates in the H--s- of C-mm-ns as of 1 9 4 1 . It was obvious German propaganda, but so well done typographically that I found some of my learned colleagues had read a part of it before it dawned on them that the whole thing was analogous to Tickell's Anticipation.

But let no A m e r -

ican be complacent about the failure of the H - - s - of C-mm-ns to progress during the intervening one hundred and sixty-three years. L e t him dip into our own C-ngr-ss--n-l

R-c-rd.

M r . Butterfield and the publisher could have chosen no more appropriate time than the present at which to issue the twentieth-century edivii

vm

FOREWORD

tion of this book. It ought to be read by all students of American history — e l e m e n t a r y and advanced. RANDOLPH G. ADAMS T h e \ V . L. Clements Library A n n Arbor

E D I T O R ' S

T h i s is the

first

F O R E W O R D

r e p r i n t since 1 8 2 2 of a politico-literary satire t h a t

d e l i g h t e d a g e n e r a t i o n of r e a d e r s d u r i n g a n d a f t e r the A m e r i c a n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e . I t has s e e m e d to the e d i t o r , a n d to o t h e r s w h o c o u r a g e d the p r o j e c t , t h a t the n e g l e c t of Anticipation

War en-

has b e e n due less

t o its w a n t of interest t h a n t o the w a n t of a p r o p e r l y edited r e p r i n t . T h e m e r e presence in it of so m a n y n a m e s w i t h d e l e t e d letters has discoura g e d l a t e r r e a d e r s . * T h e p r e s e n t v o l u m e p r o v i d e s an a c c o u n t of the a u t h o r a n d of the s e t t i n g a n d reception of Anticipation,

an a c c u r a t e t e x t ,

e x p l a n a t o r y notes, a n d a b i b l i o g r a p h y of T i c k e l l ' s w r i t i n g s . Anticipation

w a s w r i t t e n a n d p r i n t e d h a s t i l y ; a n d the spelling ( e s p e -

cially of p r o p e r n a m e s ) , t h e p u n c t u a t i o n , a n d s o m e t i m e s e v e n the g r a m m a r are erratic. B u t since it has p r o v e d impossible to distinguish the c a r e lessness of the p r i n t e r f r o m t h a t of the a u t h o r , I h a v e f o l l o w e d the first issue literally e x c e p t w h e n c o r r e c t i o n s w e r e available in the

following

later ones: " T h e T h i r d E d i t i o n , C o r r e c t e d , " w h i c h appeared within a w e e k of first p u b l i c a t i o n ; " T h e T e n t h E d i t i o n , C o r r e c t e d , " 1 7 8 0 , w h i c h w a s the last published d u r i n g T i c k e l l ' s l i f e ; a n d " A N e w E d i t i o n , C o r r e c t e d , " 1 7 9 4 , a re-issue o c c a s i o n e d , p r o b a b l y , by T i c k e l l ' s death and set f r o m n e w type. T w o o r t h r e e f o r " B o u i l l e " at p. 5 9 )

flagrant

e r r o r s ( e . g . , the n a m e " B o n i l l e "

a n d a f e w t y p o g r a p h i c a l absurdities ( s u c h as

q u o t a t i o n m a r k s w i t h o u t m a t e s ) r e c u r in all the L o n d o n issues. T h e s e I have corrected without w a r r a n t from any text. * In the present text deleted letters are supplied within square brackets. Originally the use of blanks and asterisks in names of persons was a means of avoiding libel actions. One should never print a man's name out at length, said Swift in The Importance of the Guardian Considered, 1 7 1 3 ; "but, as I do, that of Mr. S t — l e : so that, although everybody alive knows whom I mean, the plaintiff can have no redress in any court of justice." This was such an easy way to add piquancy to defamation that it became conventional in satire. In 1778 the reviewer of an antiministerial poem called The Conquerors observed that the work seemed "designed for the perusal of astronomers; there are more stars in it than the galaxy contains" (The Critical Review, X L V , 150). iz

EDITOR'S

X

FOREWORD

It should be stated that in the Introduction I have usually not cited sources for dates and other biographical details when the sources are correctly given in W . Fraser Rae's article on Tickell in The of National Biography.

Dictionary

Unless otherwise indicated, the place of publica-

tion of all works cited is London. A great manv friends have contributed to the making of this book, and almost as many librarians in the United States and England have aided my researches for it. Some special debts I wish to record here. Randolph G . Adams, Director of the William L . Clements Library at Ann Arbor, Julian P

Boyd, Librarian of Princeton University, and

Professor George Sherburn of Harvard have read my manuscript and given me helpful advice. W . S. Lewis, Esq., of Farmington, Connecticut, kindly allowed me to quote from notes written by Horace Walpole in a copy of Anticipation

now in M r . Lewis' collection of Walpoliana;

Richard Eustace Tickell, Esq., of London, sent mc useful material from the Tickell family papers; Mrs. Flora V. Livingston and Mr. William Van Lennep, curators, respectively, of the Widener Collection and the Theatre Collection in the Harvard College Library, allowed me to quote from manuscript letters in their charge; the New Y o r k Public Library gave me permission to reproduce the title-page that precedes the text. For aid in preparing the Bibliography of Tickell's Writings I am most indebted to M r . John D . Gordan of the New York Public Library, who read and ably criticized it; to Miss Anne S. Pratt of the Yale University Library, and M r . Frederick R . Goff of the Library of Congress, who answered numerous bibliographical inquiries; to the Union Catalog in the Library of Congress and its staff; and to the admirable Bibliotheca Americana,

begun by Joseph Sabin, continued by Wilberforce

Eames, and then completed by R . W . G . Vail, New Y o r k , 1 8 6 8 - 1 9 3 7 . T h e services of Herbert B. Anstaett, Librarian of Franklin and Marshall College, have been so various, constant, and indispensable that they deserve my most sincere thanks. No thanks, however, can be adequate for the devoted work and interest bestowed on the preparation of this book, from beginning to end, by my wife. I am grateful also to the following publishers for permission to quote from the books named: T h e Clarendon Press, Oxford, for Life of Johnson

BoswclPs

edited by George Birkbeck Hill, revised and enlarged

E D I T O R ' S edition by L . F . P o w e l l ; The

Letters

P a g e t T o y n b e e ; and Satirical liam Mason

with Notes

F O R E W O R D of Horace

Poems

by Horace

edited by M r s .

Anonymously

From

New

by W a l t e r Sichel. H e n r y H o l t and C o m p a n y

A Biography

by

and

Original

for

Sheridan:

by W . Eraser R a e . T h e H u n t i n g t o n L i b r a r y for The

ican Journal

of Ambrose

Serle,

Secretary

Wil-

edited by P a g e t T o y n b e e .

C o n s t a b l e and C o m p a n y , L t d . , for Sheridan: Material

Walfole

Published Walfole

XI

to Lord

Howe,

Amer-

1776—1778,

edited by E d w a r d H . T a t u m , J r . Hutchinson and C o m p a n y , L t d . , for The

Farington

Diary

by Joseph

Farington,

R.A.,

G r e i g . J o h n L a n e , the Bodley H e a d , L t d . , for The Horace

Walpole

during

the Reign

of George

III

edited by Last

James

Journals

from

1771—1783

edited by A . Francis Steuart. T h e M a c m i l l a n C o m p a n y for The ings of Benjamin for Private

Letters

Franklin

of Edward

Gibbon

by C l e m e n t i n a B l a c k . T h e

Papers

of Jamrs

Writ-

edited by A l b e r t H e n r y S m v t h . J o h n M u r r a y (1753—1794)

edited by R o w l a n d

E . P r o t h e r o . M a r t i n Seeker and W a r b u r g , L t d . , for The Bath

of

Bo swell from

Linleys

V i k i n g Press, I n c . , f o r The

Malahide

Castle

of

Private

as originally published

in a limited edition by W i l l i a m R u d g e and to be published in an unlimited edition by T h e

V i k i n g Press, I n c . , under the editorship of

Professor

F r e d e r i c k A . Pottle. L. L a n c a s t e r , Pennsylvania March

1941

H.

B.

CONTENTS

PACE

FOREWORD by Randolfh G. Adams EDITOR'S FOREWORD INTRODUCTION

NOTES TO T H E I N T R O D U C T I O N

vii ix 3

I 7

ANTICIPATION

21

NOTES

67

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TICKELL'S WRITINGS

85

HE WAS THE HAPPIEST of any occasional writer in his day: happy alike in the subject and in the execution of i t . — I mention with pleasure Anticifation,

the Wreath

of

Fash-

ion, &c. &c. &c. and I wish to preserve the name and remembrance of such a man as M r . Tickell. Poets and ingenious men, who write on occasional subjects with great ability, are too often lost in the most undeserved oblivion. But we must recollect, that even such a poem as " T h e Absalom and Achitophel" of Dryden himself (perhaps his greatest production) was but occasional} and written for a farty. The Pursuits of Literature,

5th edition, 1 7 9 8

I N T R O D U C T I O N / £ARLY IN 1 7 7 8 a new satirical poet.caused a flutter in the polite circles of L o n d o n . Within a f e w weeks of one another t w o poems, The and The

Wreath

of Fashion,

Project

w e r e issued by Becket, the bookseller of

the Adelphi in the Strand. T h o u g h anonymous, their author was soon k n o w n to be a young barrister named Richard T i c k e l l . The

Project

treats of a scheme overlooked by the A c a d e m y of Projectors which Captain G u l l i v e r visited in the course of his third voyage. I n deft octosyllabics the satirist proposes applying Montesquieu's discovery of the effect of climate on character to the problem of the parliamentary O p position : Suppose the T u r k s , w h o now agree It wou'd fatigue

them to be free,

Should build an ice-house, to debate M o r e cooly on a f f a i r s of state, M i g h t not some Mussulmen be brought, T o brace their minds, nor shrink at thought? Surely the philosophers arc right w h o have reasoned that

England's

northern air is accountable f o r Englishmen's love of liberty, and many a question has been lost by Administration f r o m Parliament's meeting in cold weather. A n obvious solution would be to alter the season of meeting: But ah, what honest squire would stay T o make his speech, T h e Beaux

instead of

hay?

would scarcely think of l a w ,

T o give up Scarborough A n d say ye sportsmen, Attend St. Stephen's

or

Spa':

w o u ' d a member in September?

T h e poet's more feasible plan is a better mode of heating the Parliament buildings. He suggests that in each House, replacing the table 3

4

ANTICIPATION

where votes, journals, and mace are laid, a vast "Buzaglo" that is, an open fire of intense heat, over which a Fire

' be set up; Committee

should preside with a fuel supply of seditious tracts—Junius,

Common

Sense, and the works of T u c k e r and Price. Such a device will mollify the most inveterate foes of Administration: F r o m bench to bench, in spite of gout, T h e soften'd Chatham " M y good Lord

moves about:

Sandwich,

how d' ye dor

I like the speech; 'twas penn'd by you. America has gone too f a r ; W e must support so just a w a r . " T h e reviewers were delighted with the poem, so distinguished by its good nature and wit amid the current tide of party polemics. T h e connoisseur in Horace Walpole was stronger than his Whiggism, arid he found The

excellent. J D r . Johnson, who disapproved of

Project

flippancy in politics, dissented. A t a dinner party at Sir Joshua Reynolds' on the 25th of April, D r . Samuel Musgrave, the learned editor of Euripides, read the new poem. Johnson was not amused. " A temporary poem always entertains u s , " urged Musgrave. " S o , " replied Johnson, "does an account of the criminals hanged yesterday entertain us."

3

R a t h e r ungratefully, Tickell followed up his reception as a poet in the circles of ton with a satire on one of society's most conspicuous foibles. The said The

Wreath

Critical

of Fashion,

Review

or, the Art

of Sentimental

Poetry,

in its notice, "is levelled at the same vice in

the poetical world, at which the School for Scandal was aimed in the theatrical and moral worlds,—at the present fashionable strain of sentimental w h i n i n g . " 4

It was an age of rhyming peers. Tickell

de-

clared in the preface that he was prompted to write his satire bv reading a recent volume by a noble author ( whom he did not name but who w a s the E a r l of Carlisle, Byron's " L o r d , rhymester, petit-maître, pamphleteer") containing one ode on the death of M r . G r a y and two on the death of his lordship's spaniel. In The Wreath

of Fashion

Tickell

deplored, with Sheridan, the vogue of tearful comedies and gently rebuked the inanities of newspaper poets. His chief ridicule was reserved for the poetic salon of Mrs. " C a l l i o p e " Miller at Batheaston, where the quality f r o m Bath wrote bouts-rimes

about buttered muffins and the

INTRODUCTION

5

like, dropped them into a classic vase, and applauded the winners crowned by Mrs. Miller with wreaths of myrtle. 5 Over these rites of poetic sensibility, said the satirist, the goddess Fashion presides, and thus she must be supplicated: On a spruce pedestal of Wedgwood

ware,

Where motley forms, and tawdry emblems glare, Behold she consecrates to cold applause, A Petrefaction, work'd into a Vase: T h e Vase of Sentiment!—to this impart T h y kindred coldness, and congenial art. . . . With votive song, and tributary verse, Fashion's gay train her gentle rites rehearse. What soft poetic incense breathes around! What soothing hymns from Adulation sound! The

Wreath

of Fashion went through a half-dozen editions. David

Garrick wrote a puff for it in The Monthly

Review

in which he ven-

tured to prophesy that "elegant poetry, refined satire, and exquisite irony" would be revived by the new author;

6

and Samuel Rogers,

belated Augustan that he was, always remembered The Wreath as an early favorite. 7

2 TFHO was the new poet? T h e turn of his couplets and the delicate barbs of his satire suggested a poetic school then growing outmoded. There were those who, when they learned his name, remembered his grandfather, Thomas Tickell, a poet of Queen Anne's day and the particular friend of M r . Addison. Thomas Tickell ( 1 6 8 5 — 1 7 4 0 ) served as Addison's Under-Secretary of State and retained his post under Craggs and Carteret. In 1 7 2 4 , when Carteret became Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, Tickell was sent to Dublin as Secretary to the Lords Justices. There were cordial relations between Dublin Castle and the Deanery of St. Patrick's, and a circle of friends that included Swift, the Delanys, Lord Orrery, and Dr. Sheridan maintained in Dublin an outpost of Augustan literary society. In this propitious atmosphere John Tickell, eldest son of Thomas and father of Richard, our poet, was born in 1 7 2 9 and grew up to take his place among the Dublin virtuosi. But he had a volatile

6

A N T I C I P A T I O N

c h a r a c t e r a n d fell into a train of m i s a d v e n t u r e s and difficulties. I n he m a d e a r u n a w a y m a r r i a g e with E s t h e r

(or Hester)

1748

Pierson, and

children to the n u m b e r of six f o l l o w e d in rapid succession. 8 A t l e n g t h he became disastrously i n v o l v e d in A n g l o - I r i s h politics while s e r v i n g on the court side as a m a g i s t r a t e a f t e r the D u b l i n riots in D e c e m b e r 1 7 5 9 . " His conduct on this occasion, t h o u g h its precise nature is not c l e a r , excited such indignation that he w a s obliged to leave D u b l i n . I n 1 7 6 5 , a c c o r d i n g to i n f o r m a t i o n in the T i c k e l l f a m i l y papers, his m o t h e r p u r c h a s e d f o r him a civil a p p o i n t m e n t at W i n d s o r C a s t l e ; but some y e a r s later, like other indigent E n g l i s h m e n at that period, he w e n t to live on the C o n t i nent and disappeared f r o m sight. R i c h a r d , the second son of J o h n T i c k e l l , is usually said to h a v e been born at B a t h in 1 7 5 1 , but neither the place nor the date can be v e r i f i e d . H e and his c i d e r brother T h o m a s w e r e briefly at W e s t m i n s t e r School ( f r o m 1 9 J u n e 1 7 6 4 ) ; w h e n their f a t h e r w e n t to W i n d s o r C a s t l e , they w e r e t r a n s f e r r e d to E t o n

(29 May

1765);

three years later

Richard

proceeded to the M i d d l e T e m p l e ( 8 N o v e m b e r 1 7 6 8 ) . " ' H a v i n g in due time been called to the b a r , he w a s , about the beginning of 1 7 7 7 , appointed by L o r d C h a n c e l l o r B a t h u r s t a commissioner of bankrupts. H o w e v e r , as a c o n t e m p o r a r y biographer r e m a r k e d , l a w w a s not to T i c k e l l ' s taste; " h i s disposition w a s too volatile and desultory f o r that s t u d y . " " I n A p r i l or M a y 1 7 7 8 he w a s r e m o v e d f r o m his post. Doubtless his c o u r t ship of the m u s e s had been at the expense of the l a w , f o r his f e l l o w commissioners had complained of his absences. T i c k e l l t u r n e d in his distress to his m o s t influential f r i e n d , D a v i d G a r r i c k , w h o at once interceded f o r him w i t h the L o r d C h a n c e l l o r , by w a v of L a d y B a t h u r s t . 1 ' ' G a r r i c k obtained f r o m B a t h u r s t a promise of reinstatement, but in J u n e B a t h u r s t w a s succeeded by E d w a r d T h u r l o w , and G a r r i c k had to begin all o v e r a g a i n . His f u r t h e r attempts met w i t h no success. " I a m s o r r y w e w e r e both so u n s u c c e s s f u l in o u r S c h e m s with the present C h a n c e l l o r , " G a r r i c k w a s i n f o r m e d by L a d y B a t h u r s t on the 2 5 t h of J u l y ; " I do assure you I did m y p a r t f o r M 1 T i c k l e but I find he has enemies w h o w a t e r on m y solicitations."

13

flung

cold

T h e n e w s p l u n g e d T i c k e l l into despair.

B u t F o r t u n e is capricious, a n d at this m o m e n t T i c k e l l m a d e the acquaintance of o n e w h o w a s even closer than G a r r i c k to the springs of p a t r o n a g e . T h i s w a s W i l l i a m B r u m m e l l , w h o s e only claim to r e m e m brance today is the fact that he had a very f a m o u s son, but w h o appears

I N T R O D U C T I O N

7

in late eighteenth-century memoirs as an able backstairs politician and private secretary to L o r d North. Brummell, we are informed by the Biographia

Dratnatica,

"conceived a strong friendship for our author,

and patronised him with a generosity and warmth that did him h o n o u r . "

14

W i t h the approval and perhaps at the instigation of L o r d N o r t h , T i c k e l l W a s at once set to work on a secret and important project. O n the 7th of N o v e m b e r he wrote Garrick pleading to be excused f r o m writing a prologue that had been requested of him: Y o u may be assured M r . Garrick's wishes shall always have the force of commands with m e ; but when I acquaint you that at present . . .

I am employed in a work that may make or mar m y

fortune, I can scarcely think you would wish to interrupt m y attention to it. 15 O n M o n d a y the 2 3 r d of that month, three days before Parliament met for the n e w session, Becket announced the publication of a w o r k entitled "ANTICIPATION,

Containing

most gracious Speech to both H

y's

the Substance of his M s of P

1, on the Opening

of the approaching Session. T o g e t h e r with a full and authentic account of the Debate in the H

of C

, that will take place on the m o -

tion for the address and a m e n d m e n t . " O n T u e s d a y night E d w a r d G i b bon wrote his friend Holroyd: Y o u sometimes complain that I do not send you early n e w s ; but ycu will now be satisfied with receiving a full and true account of all the parliamentary transactions of next T h u r s d a y . I n t o w n w e think it an excellent piece of humour (the author is one T i c k e l l ) . B u r k e and C . F o x are pleased with their o w n Speaches, but serious Patriots groan that such things should be turned to farce. 1 6 Horace Walpole, though unable to deny the wit of Anticipation,

was

among those who thought its jocularity ill-timed. Said he: T h e drollery of the pamphlet was congenial with the patron: a very unprosperous and disgraceful civil w a r , just heightened by a bloody proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton, and accompanied by a w a r with France, was not a very decent moment for joking!

17

ANTICIPATION

8

3 3 \ o one in any party w a s disposed to deny the seriousness of the m o ment. T h e preceding twelve months, as some were then a w a r e , had proved the turning-point in the w a r with America. T h e threat of F r e n c h aggression following B u r g o y n e ' s defeat had transformed Britain's w a r of subjugation into one of defence. A f t e r a comfortable winter in Philadelphia, without having struck a blow at the inferior American forces at Valley F o r g e , Sir W i l l i a m H o w e was ordered to evacuate that city lest it be cut off by a F r e n c h fleet. Englishmen at home could still cling to the official v i e w , held by G e o r g e I I I and expressed by L o r d North in

Anticipation,

that most Americans, if given a chance to choose, would

prefer conciliation with E n g l a n d to an upstart democracy and an " u n natural connection" with F r a n c e . But those on the spot saw that the hope of a f f o r d i n g A m e r i c a n s such a chance was now dashed. A t Philadelphia Admiral L o r d H o w e ' s secretary wrote in his journal on the 2 2 n d of M a y : I now look upon the Contest as at an E n d . N o man can be expected to declare f o r us, w h e n he cannot be assured of a Fortnight's Protection. E v e r y m a n , on the contrary, whatever might have been his primary Inclinations, will find it his Interest to oppose & drive us out of the C o u n t r y . ' 8 T w o days later G e n e r a l H o w e set sail for E n g l a n d and left Sir H e n r y Clinton to evacuate the troops in J u n e . T h e incompetence or treachery of an A m e r i c a n officer, Charles L e e , saved Clinton's regiments from severe losses as they crossed N e w Jersey. A f t e r their arrival within the fortifications around N e w Y o r k , the British held not a square mile elsewhere on the mainland of the northern and middle colonies. T h e summer was occupied with raids bv British irregulars on the Pennsylvania and N e w Y o r k frontier and a series of inconclusive feints and chases between A d m i r a l s H o w e and D ' E s t a i n g . I n September

Howe

resigned his c o m m a n d and followed his brother home to E n g l a n d . Deeply disgruntled with Administration, the Howes joined G e n e r a l B u r g o y n e in efforts to obtain satisfaction f r o m Parliament. T h e W h i g s , hoping for disclosures embarrassing to the government, at once took up the cause

I N T R O D U C T I O N

9

of the commanders; while the ministers, with equal determination, resisted every move for a court-martial or inquiry. D u r i n g this year the T o r y government had been as hard pressed at home as the K i n g ' s forces had been abroad. T h e news of Saratoga, received early in D e c e m b e r 1 7 7 7 , struck a staggering blow to the ministers, w h o at once adjourned Parliament for six weeks and endeavored to open indirect and secret negotiations with the American commissioners in Paris. W h e n Parliament reconvened, F o x ' s motion in the C o m m o n s " t h a t no more of the O l d Corps be sent out of the k i n g d o m " produced a suddenly swollen minority. T h e r e was a cry throughout the country for C h a t h a m . North had lost his zest for the w a r and would willingly have retired in f a v o r of C h a t h a m , but the K i n g refused to consider such a move. In a desperate effort to counteract American negotiations with F r a n c e , North then introduced, 1 7 February 1 7 7 8 , his conciliatory bills, which o f f e r e d the repeal of the acts that had offended the colonists and conceded all but the name of independence. W h i l e the House was recovering f r o m its amazement Charles F o x rose and said that he was glad Ministers had at last concurred with the long-standing views of Opposition. B u t had not their repentance come too late? Did not Ministers k n o w that a c o m m e r cial treaty between F r a n c e and America had already been signed?

19

"Acts

of Parliament have made a w a r , " Walpole wrote Sir Horace M a n n three days later, "but cannot repeal o n e . "

O n the 1 3 t h of M a r c h the F r e n c h

ambassador in London announced the treaty of friendship between F r a n c e and the United States. T h e r e a f t e r no one in either party expected much of North's commission to treat with America. Detained in E n g l a n d until mid-April, the commissioners arrived in the D e l a w a r e a whole month after Congress had ratified the treaty with F r a n c e and, to their great chagrin, just in time to take part in the retreat from Philadelphia. O n e member of the commission, G e o r g e Johnstone, after futile private overtures to members of Congress, quarreled with his colleagues and returned in a huff to vindicate himself and criticize ministers and commanders before Parliament. O n the whole, the commission did little more than a g gravate the ill-feeling on both sides. O n the 7th of April, after a long absence, L o r d C h a t h a m , wrapped in flannels and supported bv his sons, took his seat in the House of L o r d s . Rising for the second time in the debate to speak on the American w a r ,

10

A N T I C I P A T I O N

he w a s s t r u c k d o w n by an a p o p l e x y f r o m w h i c h he n e v e r r e c o v e r e d . H i s d e a t h , o n the I i t h of M a y , w a s believed a n d said by m a n y to be a p o r t e n t of d o o m to the E m p i r e . M e a n w h i l e t h e specter of a F r e n c h invasion caused the K i n g late in M a r c h to c o m m u n i c a t e to P a r l i a m e n t his intention of o r d e r i n g the militia " t o be d r a w n o u t a n d e m b o d i e d , a n d to m a r c h as occasion shall r e q u i r e . " F i v e e n c a m p m e n t s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d ; peers a n d M . P . ' s , W h i g a n d T o r y alike, h a s t e n e d to raise r e g i m e n t s ; a n d by J u n e G i b b o n c o u l d tell H o l r o y d that " T h e chief c o n v e r s a t i o n at A l m a c k ' s is about tents, d r i l l - S e r j e a n t s , subdivisions, f i r i n g s , &c."

A l l s u m m e r a n d a u t u m n the c o u n t r y

"

was

f u l l of m a r c h i n g a n d c o u n t e r m a r c h i n g for the edification of a n x i o u s r o y a l t y . I n the n e w s p a p e r s a p p e a r e d a d v e r t i s e m e n t s for " m a r t i a l

balsam,"

r e c o m m e n d e d f o r those afflicted by t o o t h a c h e f r o m exposure to d a m p c a n vas a n d m a t t r e s s e s . E v e n t h e a t e r business w a s depressed by the r a g e f o r visiting t h e e n c a m p m e n t s .

S h e r i d a n , e v e r r e s o u r c e f u l , dashed o f f as a

c o u n t e r - a t t r a c t i o n his e n t e r t a i n m e n t of The

Camp,

w i t h a musical a r -

r a n g e m e n t by T h o m a s L i n l e y , a p r o l o g u e by T u k e l l , a n d to the n e w s p a p e r n o t i c e s )

(according

" a perspective R e p r e s e n t a t i o n of the GRAND

CAMP at COXHEATH, f r o m a v i e w t a k e n by M r . de L o u t h e r b o u r g a n d e r e c t e d u n d e r his d i r e c t i o n . " A l l this w a s d i v e r t i n g , but: in m i d s u m m e r o c c u r r e d an i n c i d e n t that b e t r a y e d to the n a t i o n the s m o l d e r i n i ; a n t a g o n i s m b e t w e e n ministers a n d c o m m a n d e r s . I n the p r e v i o u s M a r c h A d m i r a l K e p p e l , a s t a u n c h w h o had

r e f u s e d to s e r v e against A m e r i c a , had been p r o m o t e d

Whig com-

m a n d e r of the C h a n n e l fleet. H e f o u n d , c o n t r a r y to the A d m i r a l t y ' s repeated a s s u r a n c e s in P a r l i a m e n t , that ships a n d equipment w e r e w o e f u l l y i n a d e q u a t e f o r his c r u c i a l task of d e f e n d i n g the coasts. A t l e n g t h

rein-

f o r c e d , K e p p e l o n the 2 7 t h of J u l v e n g a g e d the Brest fleet o f f U s h a n t . I n c o m m a n d of the British r e a r w a r d s q u a d r o n w a s Sir H u g h Palliser, a T o r y M . P . a n d a L o r d of the A d m i r a l t y . F o l l o w i n g a short a n d i n d e cisive a c t i o n , K e p p e l g a v e o r d e r s for a n e w line of battle, but Palliser did not o b e y until a f t e r d a r k . B y m o r n i n g the F r e n c h had escaped. K e p p e l did n o t r e p o r t P a l l i s c r ' s i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n , but account? of the action appeared in the p a p e r s , a n d b e f o r e the o p e n i n g of P a r l i a m e n t the incident had b e c o m e a h e a t e d party issue, w i t h K e p p e l exalted as a popular hero a n d Palliser c o n d e m n e d as the a g e n t of a n e g l i g e n t a n d s c h e m i n g m i n istry.

INTRODUCTION

4 AFFAIRS stood in this critical posture when Parliament was summoned in the last week of November. Fearing defection in the T o r y ranks, North called a private meeting of his friends beforehand to consult on strategy. He was himself there taxed with negligence, and extraordinary steps were taken to secure attendance in the government seats. Now a favorite parliamentary weapon of North's had always been hum o r — o r , as his opponents styled it, "buffoonery." His motto, said W a l pole, ought to have been "Aut dormitabo, ticipation

aut ridebo."

21

And when An-

appeared, it was widely believed that North himself had had

a hand in its composition. 23 T h e very favorable reception of the pamphlet must have surpassed the hopes of both author and patron. F o r some days the papers printed eulogistic notices and long extracts. Representative is the commcnt in The Morning

Chronicle

on the day the session opened:

T h e literary piece of mimickry published on Monday last, under the title of Anticipation,

is beyond compare one of the ablest sketches

ever hit off by a man of fancy and talents. Mimicks in general distort the features of those they affect to imitate; the author of tion, on the contrary, has preserved the vrais-semblance

Anticipaof each of

the objects of imitation with wonderful correctness, and it is a question whether he deserves most applause for the humorous conceits with which he has dished out the oratory of his heroes, or the striking likenesses (in point of order, argument, imager}-, and diction) which he has drawn of each speaker. Lord G [ r a n b ] y ' s harangue is, to those who have not been in the House of Commons on the first day of a session, a perfect example of Opposition oratory on such an occ a s i o n . — M r . T . L [ u t t r e ] l l ' s speech need not have had his name prefixed to it; no member, T . L [ u t t r e ] l l excepted, could possibly shew so much learning to so little purpose. . . . Anticipation

I n a word,

is one of the best pamphlets the publick have been fa-

voured with for years, and though it has in some measure a political tendency, . . .

it serves, contrary to the effect of most political

pamphlets, to put all parties in good humour. T h e good nature of the parody was remarked by all who spoke of it. C e r tainly the pleasantest circumstance of the whole episode is the fact that

12

ANTICIPATION

some of the victims of Tickell's mimicry enjoyed the humor of it; though w e learn f r o m W a l p o l e that Welbore Ellis, "another justly and humourously d r a w n , proved how justly. He said, 'It is well written, but I perceive the author takes me for a dull man.' " A c c o r d i n g to a tradition that is not implausible, North and his friends took copies of Anticipation pensed them gratis.

25

into the House on the opening day and dis-

A n apparent consequence of this was T i c k e l l ' s luck-

iest satirical stroke, by virtue of which Anticipation

lived on in the memory

of anecdotists. W a l p o l e , w h o was on the spot, reported that C o l . Isaac B a r r é , an Opposition stalwart, " n o t having seen this pamphlet, the first day of the Session cited a foreign G o v e r n o r with whom he was acquainted, exactly in the m a n n e r here ridiculed, and he also translated a F r e n c h expression."

26

T h i s episode g r e w appreciably in the telling. I n 1 8 2 3 J o -

seph Tekyll told T o m M o o r e ( w h o wrote down everything he heard) of the laughable e f f e c t on the House of Col. Barre'» speech; he being the only one ( h a v i n g just arrived from the country) ignorant of the pamphlet, and falling exactly into the same peculiarities which the pamphlet quizzed, particularly that of quoting French words and then translating them. A t every new instance of this kind in his speech there w a s a roar of laughter from the House, which B a r r é , of course, could not understand/ 7 B u t this was not the last refinement. T h e progress of the story, from contemporary witnesses to J e k y l l and M o o r e and finally to " S e n e x " writing his recollections in Blackwood's

in 1 8 2 6 , is an illustration and a w a r n -

ing of the w a y s of anecdotists. T h e humorous success of

Anticipation,

wrote " S e n e x , " I well remember. . . . T h e style of the speeches was so well imitated, and the matter in many cases so happily forestalled, that, like V u l c a n a m o n g H o m e r ' s gods, it caused inextinguishable laughter. W h a t gave much zest to the joke was the ignorance of most of the usual speaking members that any such pamphlet existed. T h e i r great surprise at the loud mirth excited by speeches intended to make a very different impression, and the frequent cries of "Spoke, S p o k e ! " the meaning of which they could not possibly comprehend, may be eas-

INTRODUCTION

13

ily conceived. One of its effects was to shorten the debate, for, as the joke soon spread, many were afraid to address the House for fear of involving themselves in the predicament of those who had been so humorously anticipated.28

5 *Anticipation had a great run. Such was the popular demand that a "Fourth Edition" was advertised by Becket within a week of first publication. Five more London editions and a Dublin reprint appeared before the end of the year. As soon as copies reached America, Anticipation

was

reprinted at both the British headquarters in N e w Y o r k and the American headquarters in Philadelphia. In announcing his N e w Y o r k reprint, James Rivington stated, with what degree of exaggeration the reader is free to guess, that "such was the reception given to this novel and immensely admired piece, that more than Forty in a few days."

20

cation, Deliberation, MDCCLXXIX,

Thousand

copies were disposed of

In London a rash of imitations broke out at once. Anticipation

Continued,

The Exhibition,

Anticipation

for the

or a Second Anticipation—all

appeared within a year. As late as 1 8 1 2 appeared Anticipation: Prize

Address;

which

vuill be delivered

at the Opening

AlterYear these

or,

of the

The New

Drury Lane Theatre, a squib inspired by the same circumstances that gave rise to the celebrated Rejected

Addresses

of James and Horace Smith.

And there were others. But, as Dr. Johnson remarked of The

Splendid

Shilling, "the merit of such performances begins and ends with the first author."

30

T h e r e was another result of the publication of the satire that, to T i c k ell, was perhaps the most gratifying of all. T h e author was right, observed The London

Magazine

in its review, in predicting a majority for A d -

ministration in his mimic debate; "and we verily believe he might have added by way of note at the end—'This will get me a place or a pension.' "

31

This impertinence was justified by the event. O n the 6th of

December Richard Rigby, Paymaster and general factotum in North's cabinet, wrote David Garrick a short but meaningful note: " I have had a meeting with Anticipation,

and like him very much; I wish to have

some further discourse with you upon that subject. Could you call here to-morrow morning about eleven?"

12

T h e subject was unquestionably a

ministerial reward for services rendered. About this time Tickell was

i4

ANTICIPATION

granted a pension of 200/. fer annum..33 Soon afterward an anonymous poet of the Batheaston circle returned good for evil in praising Tickell while attempting to recall him to virtue: Some writers be of an amphibious race, A n d prose and verse their elemental place. Such he, whose wit made wond'ring senates roar, A n d those to blush that never blush'd before. Anticipation

gave him sterling fame,

The Wreath of Fashion a poetic name. A n d Nature gave, and at the gift repines, A t pension'd wit and prostituted lines. Be your's, O Tickell,

to correct this vice,

T h a t deals out praise or censure at a price, A n d in one grand example prove to men, How weak is W i t , when Party holds the pen; A n d while you glow with more than virtue's flame, A n d all admire from whence such virtue came, Each literary Swiss shall dread thy rage, Dismiss their weapons, and no more engage.' 14 But man cannot live by wit alone. In the next two years Tickell wrote two more satirical tracts for the ministry, which, though not dull, were scarcely inspired; and in August 1 7 8 1 he was appointed a commissioner of the Stamp Office. Here, with other beneficiaries of ministerial generosity and a salary of 500/., he stayed. A year earlier ( 2 5 J u l y 1 7 8 0 ) he had married Miss M a r y Linley, a charming and witty young lady if less renowned than her sister Elizabeth ( M r s . Richard Brinsley Sheridan). In September 1 7 8 2 , doubtless through the good offices of Lord North, they settled in an apartment in the Gold Staff Gallery at the top of Hampton Court Palace. 35 Tickell's talents were useful in the Linley-Sheridan family enterprise of Drury Lane Theatre. He served in the capacity of M r . Puff as " a Practitioner of Panegyric" in the newspapers, refurbished old plays, and tried his hand, with mild success, at composing librettos. When F o x and North formed their coalition government (of unhappy memo r y ) , Tickell's political allegiance was transferred to the Whigs. T h a t he had long had a preference for W h i g society appears from the satiricalaffectionate picture of Brooks's Club in his Efistle

from the

Honourable

INTRODUCTION

15

Charles Fox, Partridge-Shooting, to the Honourable John Townshend, Cruising, 1 7 7 9 . T h e devoted but sharp-tongued Mrs. Tickell informed her sister in a letter of 1 7 8 5 : "So I find the election has taken a happy turn at last and I am to congratulate myself with being the wife of a member of Brooks's. . . . T . is delighted; the great point of his ambition is gained." 36 T o which she added, at the thought of her husband's increased opportunities for conviviality: "Farewell, a long farewell to all my comforts." 37 From the many fragments of Mary Tickell's spritely letters that have been printed here and there, it is impossible not to give at least one representative passage showing both husband and wife in character. In an undated letter from Hampton Court she wrote: T h e men stayed last night or rather this morning till four or five tho' I entreated T . to think of to-night's fatigue for me and let them go, but 'twas all in vain, for the moment my back was turn'd off they march'd into the other room with their Bottles and Glasses and order'd Stephen to bring the fire after them—so at least they had the grace to think of not disturbing me, for you are to know since the cold wether we dine and sup in the Drawing Room. However unfortunately my ears were quick enough to reach to Stephen's Pantry where I heard every cruel Pop of that odious five shilling claret which entirely hindered my closing my eyes, so here I am at half past one just after breakfast and thinking of my evening's dissipation. Don't you think that I should cut a figure in the great world? 38 As a member of the glittering Whig fraternity that moved about Fox, Sheridan, and the Prince of Wales, Tickell became a large contributor to the great collective (and perennial) satire known as The Rolliad, a shilling edition of which, George Saintsbury once remarked, if properly annotated, would keep one amused from London to York. He also produced a number of more or less serious pamphlets attacking Pitt's government; and during the regency crisis of 1 7 8 8 - 8 9 he worked feverishly with the other Foxites in the expectation of a Whig triumph. But the King recovered, the Whigs' hopes were dashed, and Tickell never obtained his expected seat in Parliament.39 Mary Tickell died in July 1 7 8 7 . T w o years later Tickell eloped with the daughter of a captain in the East India Company's service, Miss Sarah

i6

ANTICIPATION

L e y , a reigning beauty w h o w a s for a time the rival of E m m a Hamilton as R o m n e y ' s model. 4 " She was very young, very extravagant, and without any fortune. I n a year or two her husband, who was chronically i m provident and w a s n o w deprived of M a r y Tickell's common sense, f o u n d himself o v e r w h e l m e d with debts. I n M a y 1 7 9 3 he appealed to W a r r e n Hastings for a loan of 500/. and obtained it. 41 Hastings w a s a friend of the L e y family, but that an intimate of the Fox-Sheridan circle and a contributor to

The Rolliad should

have turned to him for help is an indi-

cation of T i c k e l l ' s desperate straits. T h e loan was evidently not sufficient tor his needs. O n the 4th of N o v e m b e r his lifeless body w a s found below the parapet outside his Hampton C o u r t apartment. T w o days later J o s e p h Farington recorded in his

Diary:

"Distressed circumstances and an ap-

prehension of being arrested, it is said, is the cause of this momentary phrcnzy."

4J

6 i i $ a successful parody of parliamentary proceedings and eloquence at the time of the A m e r i c a n Revolution,

Anticipation

retains historical in-

terest. O n e r e v i e w e r w e n t so far as to say that a comparison of the actual debate with T i c k e l l ' s anticipated version would show that between the t w o " t h e difference as to the material grounds of disputation is trifling."

43

This is scarcely an exaggeration, though, as it turned out, the House w a s less full and the debate less animated than had been expected f r o m the presence in town of so many generals and admirals known to be at odds with one another and the ministers. A s a parodist, however, Tickell w a s less concerned to present the substance of a particular debate than the idiosyncracies of those w h o spoke frequently in the House, whether f r o m Opposition or Administration benches. T h e verisimilitude of his subjects' accents, attitudes, and hobby-horses of theme was unanimously a c k n o w l edged and praised by contemporaries.

Anticipation

is in short a speaking

picture of that House of C o m m o n s in which, as well as in America, a bitter conflict was in progress. Here are Burke's rumbling periods on the decline of the British E m p i r e , and F o x ' s skilful arguments to show that neither an offensive nor a defensive w a r can be successfully continued in A m e r i c a . David Hartley the younger quotes the recent sentiments of his friend Benjamin Franklin in Paris, and a radical Member from the City praises Washington and threatens ministers with the T o w e r and the block.

INTRODUCTION

17

Other Whigs attack profiteering army contractors, false news in the Gazettes, and the employment of Indians to butcher the colonists; others demand parliamentary inquiries that government officials suggest deferring until "about six months after Christmas." Late in the evening Lord North rises and, after invoking the mighty shade of Chatham, takes up his secretary's notes on speeches by the Opposition and urges upon an unruly House the need of unanimity. It is a vivid and authentic picture, and it is also an entertaining one. Though parody is a minor genre, it has its masterpieces. But they should be read rather than talked about. Let the last opinion on Anticipation be that of George I V , who was a person of discernment in these matters. J . W . Croker recorded in his diary that at a royal dinner-party in January 1822 the talk had turned to Tickell. The King spoke of Anttcifation "con amore and quoted some of the speeches." He promised to have a copy looked out for Lady Conyngham, who had never read it. " T h e events and the pieces were gone by," said the King; "but the wit and pleasantry of it never could fade." 44

NOTES

TO

THE

INTRODUCTION

1. A certain A. Buzaglo, who had a shop in the Strand, opposite Somerset House, frequently advertised in the newspapers in 1 7 7 8 . His warming-pans, for curing the gout, were highly recommended to the nobility. 2. Letter to Mason, 1 8 A p r i l 1 7 7 8 ( T h e Letters Mrs. Paget Toynbee, O x f o r d , 1 9 0 3 - 0 5 , X, 2 2 2 ) . 3. Boswell's

Life

of Johnson,

of Horace

Walfole,

ed.

ed. G . B. Hill and L. F. Powell, Oxford,

1 9 3 4 — , HI, 3 1 8 . 4. X L V , 1 7 7 8 , 3 1 0 . 5. See Ruth A. Hesselgrave, Lady Miller and the Batheaston Literary Circle, New Haven, 1 9 2 7 . 6. LIX, 1 7 7 8 , 1 4 5 . Garrick acknowledged his authorship of this review in a letter to Hannah More, misdated 1 7 7 7 , in W i l l i a m Roberts, Memoirs of . . . Mrs. Hannah More, 3rd ed., 1 8 3 5 , I, 1 1 6 . 7. The Farington Diary, ed. James Greig, New York, 1 9 2 3 - 2 8 , I, 1 8 6 ; Recollections of the Table-Talk of Samuel Rogers [ed. Alexander D y c e ] , New York, 1 8 5 6 , pp. 7 1 - 7 2 .

ANTICIPATION

i8

8. Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, new ser., I I , 1 8 7 7 , 4 7 3 ; Sir [ J o h n ] Bernard Burke, Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain is Ireland, 9th ed., 1898, II, "Ireland," p. 4 4 1 ; Richard Eustace Tickell, Thomas Tickell and the Eighteenth Century Poets, 1 9 3 1 , p. 1 7 3 and " T i c k e l l Pedigree." 9. A long letter from John Tickell to the Duke of Newcastle, 26 August 1 7 6 7 , alludes to these circumstances and appeals to Newcastle's generosity (Newcastle Papers, British Museum Add. MSS. 32,984, f. 3 5 0 ) . 10. G . F. R. Barker and A. H . Stenning (compilers), The Record of Old Westminsters, 1 9 2 8 , II, 9 1 g ; R. A. Austen-Leigh (ed.), The Eton College Register, 1753-1790, Eton, 1 9 2 1 , p. 5 1 7 ; John Hutchinson, A Catalogue of Notable Middle Templars, 1902, p. 242. 11. David Erskine Baker, Isaac Reed, and Stephen Jones (compilers), Biographia Dramatica, 1 8 1 2 , I, 71 3. 12. Tickell to Garrick, 11 May 1 7 7 8 (Private Correspondence of David Garrick [ed. James Boaden], 1 8 3 1 - 3 2 , I I , 304). 13. Unpublished letter in the Theatre Collection, Harvard College Library.

14. I, 713-714.

15. Garrick, Private Correspondence, II, 3 1 7 . 16. Private Letters of Edward Gibbon, ed. R. E . Prothero, 1896, I, 348. 17. Last Journals during the Reign of George III, ed. A. Francis Steuart,

1910, II, 2o6n.

18. The American Journal of Ambrose Serie . . . 1776-1778,ed. Edward H. Tatum, J r . , San Marino, California, 1940, p. 296. 19. Walpole, Last Journals, II, I I 7 ; Fox, Speeches, 1 8 1 5 , 1 . 116-118. 20. Letters, ed. Toynbee, X , 195. 21. Private Letters, I, 3 3 8 . 22. Last Journals, II, 11511. In a debate on the navv estimates, 2 December 1 7 7 8 , Temple Luttrell said of North: Whenever the noble lord found himself closelv pressed in argument, or fact, it was his known practice to get rid of the question by a joke. His manner was no less curious than his matter; when he was half asleep, or seemingly quite asleep, he collected a store of wit and humour, from /£sop, Phxdrus, or Joe Miller, or some other book equally distinguished for such species of drollery; and, instead of reasoning, was sure to treat the House with a laugh (The Parliamentary History of England . . . to the Year 1803 [compiled by William Cobbett], 1806-20, X I X , 1388). 23. John Taylor, Records of My Life, 1 8 3 2 , I, 144. 2 4 . Last Journals, II, 206. 2 5 . Altercation; Being the Substance of a Debate . . . on a Motion to Censure the Pamphlet of Anticipation [ 1 7 7 8 ] , p. 1 0 ; The Pamphleteer, XIX,

1822, 310.

INTRODUCTION

19

26. M S . note in Horace Walpole's copy of Anticipation. 27. Thomas Moore, Memoirs, Journal, and Correspondence, ed. Lord John Russell, 1 8 5 3 - 5 6 , IV, 34. 28. "Reminiscences.—No. IV. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, &c.," Blackwood's Magazine, XX, 209. 29. The Royal Gazette, 17 March 1779. 30. Though Johnson had disapproved of The Project, he thought Anticifation "a mighty fine thing." So Boswell told Tickell at a dinner-party in April 1779 ( P r i v a t e Papers of James Boswell from Malahide Castle, ed. Geoffrey Scott and F. A. Pottle, Mount Vernon, N.Y., 1928-34, XIII, 232). 31. XLVII, 1778, 566. 32. Garrick, Private Correspondence, II, 322-323. 33. Biographia Dramatica, I, 714. 34. Hobby-Horses. Read at Batheaston, 1780, pp. 1 3 - 1 4 . 3 5. Ernest Law, The History of Hampton Court Palace, 1 8 9 0 - 9 1 , III, 318, 464. 36. W . Fraser Rae, Sheridan, New York, 1896,1, 357. 37. Walter Sichel, Sheridan, 1909, I, 442n. 38. Clementina Black, The Linleys of Bath, 1911, p. 162. 39. Thomas Moore, Memoirs of . . . Sheridan, 2nd ed., 1825, II, 62. 40. See Romney's diary, as given in Humphry Ward and W . Roberts, Romney, 1904, II, 1 5 7 - 1 5 8 . Romney painted three portraits of the second Mrs. Tickell, the best-known of which is reproduced in Sichel's Sheridan, II, facing p. 264. 41. British Museum Add. MSS. 29,194, f. 1 5 2 ; 29,173, f. 44. 42. I, 13. There is a circumstantial account of Tickell's death and the conduct of his widow in [ W i l l i a m Smyth] Memoir of Mr. Sheridan, Leeds, 1840, PP- 53-5543. The London Magazine, XLVII, 1778, 566. 44. The Croker Papers, ed. L. J . Jennings, 1884, I, 245-246.

ANTICIPATION: Containing- the Subftance c f

H I S M-

Y's

Moft Gracious Speech TO

H

BOTH

S of P — L ON

T,

T HX

Opening of the approaching

SESSION,

T O C E T H I R

W i t h a f u l l m d authentic A c c o u n t o f the DEBATE w h i c h WILL take P l a c e in the H — E o f C

s,

o n t h e M o t i o n f o r t h e ADDRESS, a n d t h e A M E N D MENT.

With

N

O

T

E

S

.

" So Jball my Anticipation Prevent your Difeovery"

L

O

N

D

HAMLET.

O

N

:

Printed for T . BECKE T, the Corner o f the A d e l p h i , in the Strand.

Reduced

1778.

from the original by one

third

ADVERTISEMENT.

SEVERAL reasons concurred to urge the Editor to this publication. T h e critical situation of public affairs seemed to require an extraordinary diffusion of political knowledge; yet, in the common course, but few of the millions, who are so deeply interested in the result of parliamentary debates, can be admitted to an audience of them. Sometimes, the Members shut their galleries against the intrusion of any of their Constituents; and it is always a standing order, from the opening of the session, to prohibit the publication of their debates. Under these circumstances, an authentic account of the first day's debate, put forth at this date, will clearly avoid any breach of that order, and, without exposing the Constituents to crowding in the gallery, to furnish them with their Representatives Speeches, taken down with the strictest fidelity, cannot but afford them some amusement, and indeed real use. Besides, the first day's debate is generally a kind of outline of the debates of the whole session; so that a critical observer, by contemplating the buds and seedlings of this early eloquence, may calculate what degree of radical strength they possess, how far they will expand and bloom, and whether they are hardy enough to stand the winter. T h e Editor cannot but seize this opportunity to thank those Gentlemen who have furnished him with the most authentic

materials

for some of the speeches, which, they will immediately see, he has copied verbatim

from their manuscripts—and he sincerely hopes,

their having appeared in print bejore they are spoken, will not deter the several Gentlemen from delivering them with their usual appearance of extemfore

eloquence.

November 2 3 , 1 7 7 8 .

21

THE Gentlemen trading to the East-Indies, West-Indies, and other parts, who intend taking or sending thither any pamphlets this season, are hereby informed, that this work is authentic, faithful, and strictly impartial; and as the nice and discerning eye of the British islands and settlements near us, must feel an interest in these matters, good allowance will be given for taking quantities.—Also the best Dutch wax, and stationary wares.

ANTICIPATION,

&c.

Dom. Comm. Jovis. 16 Nov.

die.

Anno ig° Georgii III Regis, 1 7 7 8 . SIR Francis M [ o l y n e u ] x , gentleman-usher of the black rod, having, with the usual solemnity, at half past two o'clock, given three admonitory raps at the door of the H [ o u s ] e of C [ o m m o ] n s , and being thereupon admitted, and having proceeded towards the table, with three progressive bows, acquainted the S[peake]r,* that his M [ a j e s t ] y commanded their immediate attendance in the H [ o u s ] e of L [ o r ] d s , where soon after his M [ a j e s t ] y delivered his most gracious speech to both Houses; which we should give at length, having an accurate copy now before us, but that many reasons concur to induce us rather to give a general sketch of it. It is scarcely necessary to say, that respect to that great personage is the principal of those motives: It is also universally felt, that the merit of those speeches consists much less in the composition than in the delivery. Besides, as an authentic black letter copy of this speech will infallibly appear, we have too high a respect for our good friends Messrs. the Hawkers and Criers of this great metropolis, to rob them of any part of the fruits of their annual eloquence on this occasion T h e speech began by saying, T h a t the situation of public affairs induced him to call them thus early together, that they might more fully enter into the various and important concerns which would naturally engage their attention. T h a t he had reason to hope that the schemes which the natural enemies of this country, in conjunction with their unnatural allies, had meditated against us in the West-Indies, notwithstanding some * It was observed the S [ p e a k e ] r was remarkable civil to the new Att [ o ] r n [ e ] y G [ e ] n [ e ] r [ a ] 1, as supposed upon his succeeding to that great object of his wishes, which leaves Sir F [ l e t c h e ] r some chance of a Chief Justiceship and a Peerage. 23

24

ANTICIPATION

appearance of success, might, under Divine Providence, fail in the object of distressing the commercial interest of his people, which, it gave him satisfaction to observe, had hitherto continued to flourish amidst the calamities of w a r , while that of the enemy had received the most material injuries. T h a t he could not but behold with particular pleasure the zeal and ardour shewn by all his subjects on this emergency, which had fully secured the safety of this country, and convinced our enemies that every attempt against the internal prosperity of G r e a t Britain must prove ineffectual. T h a t he continued to receive the most friendly assurances of the pacific dispositions of the other powers of Europe. T h a t his desire of re-establishing the general tranquility could not be doubted; and as he had not been the first to disturb the peace, so he should embrace the earliest opportunity of putting an end to the horrors of w a r , whenever that desirable end could be effected, consistently with the honour of his crown, and the interest of his subjects, which he should ever be careful to preserve. T h a t his faithful C [ o ] m m [ o ] n s might depend on the proper officers immediately laying before them the estimate for the expences of the ensuing year. T h a t he lamented that the present situation of affairs should oblige him to call upon his faithful subjects for any additional supplies, but T h a t his faithful C [ o ] m m [ o J n s might depend on the strictest ceconomy on his part, in the application of such sums as they should judge necessary for the public service, and he doubted not they would see the expediency of providing for such contingencies as might arise f r o m the continuance of w a r , and the measures necessary to be taken for the re-establishment of peace upon an honourable and permanent foundation. I t concluded with relying on the wisdom and unanimity of Parliament; on the good conduct of his Generals and A d m i r a l s ; on the valor of his Fleets and A r m i e s ; and on the zeal and spirit of all his faithful subjects.

ANTICIPATION

25

Upon the return of the C[ommo]ns to their House, the speech having been read as usual from the chair, a motion for an Address, conformable to the several sentences in the speech, and expressive of the firmness and unanimity of the House at this important crisis, was made and seconded by two young Members; the particular phraseology of which leading speeches we shall not retail, it being universally admitted that the rhetoric applied to these occasions, is not very replete with originality. Our readers will easily imagine the proper quantity of tropes and metaphors, apologies for inexperience, elegant timidities, graceful blushes, studied hesitations, army safe at N e w - Y o r k , fleets likewise safe, individuals enriched, perfect content at home, nothing wanting but unanimity in council, &c. &c. &c. which ornamented and enriched these anniversary panegyrics. W e shall hasten therefore to the more material part of the debate, which commenced by the following speech from Lord G [ r a n b ] y proposing the amendment. Lord

G[rati\by.

Conscious of my own inability, and sinking

under the sense of my little knowledge or experience, totally unprovided with any ideas for the present occasion, and absolutely ignorant not only of the forms but even the modes of proceeding in this house, may I , Sir, in this state of imbecility, be permitted to take the lead on this first and most important day of the session? May I, Sir, all unequal to so arduous a task, be allowed to dictate, if not to the whole house, at least to this side of it, the proper and only constitutional method of compelling ministers to furnish us with the means of discovering some errors in their conduct; and to enable us to demonstrate to the nation at large their total incapacity for filling the places which they now hold?—There was a time, Sir, when this side of the house would not tamely acquiesce in so dangerous a precedent as any minister's retaining his office for the unconstitutional duration of seven years. Have we forgot, Sir, the great name of Pulteny? Pulteny, Sir! the virtuous Pulteny! Pulteny, the wonder of the age! Pulteny, that steady * E x e m p l i g r a t i a , f o r w h e t h e r it is his Lordship's Speech, or L o r d J . C [ a ] v [ e ] n d [ i ] s h ' s , or S i r W . M [ e ] r [ e ] d i t h ' s , or S i r G . Y [ o u ] n g ' s , & c . the subject matter and stile, w i t h a f e w exceptions, is of coursc much the same.

Lord G[ran]

26

ANTICIPATION

Patriot, whose H e r c u l e a n eloquence overcame the H y d r a of corruption! or have we forgot, Sir, that inestimable character of o u r o w n times, whose virtues compelled the admiration of this profligate age; whose m e m o r y excites the veneration of every patriot mind? L e t it not be objected that these illustrious characters were dazzled by the splendour of a coronet: I will not answer such frivolous r e m a r k s : — S i r , I w a n d e r f r o m the question: Y e t let me remind this House, that those great patriots were ever foremost in taking t h a t part which now falls to my lot. T h e y , Sir, were ever ready to awaken the fears, and rouze the apprehensions, of the C o u n t r y G e n t l e m e n ; and that, Sir, is my o b j e c t : — T h e y , Sir, compelled A d m [ i ] n [i]str [ a ] t [ i o ] n to disclose the inmost recess of official iniquity; and that, Sir, that is also my intention. Sir, with

this

view, I shall humbly move you, that in place of the present A d dress, which I cannot but consider as the selfish panegyric of A d m [ i ] n [ i ] s t r [ a ] t [ i o ] n , immediately after the general expressions of respect for his M [ a j e s t ] y , the following words may be substituted, in order to our acquiring that full and comprehensive knowledge of public affairs, which is so indispensably necessary at the opening of this interesting and important session of P [ a ] r l [ i a ] m[e]nt. " Y o u r faithful C [ o ] m m [ o ] n s , deeply impressed with a sense of your M [ a j e s t ] y ' s unwearied anxiety to promote the dignity a n d glory of G r e a t Britain, cannot but lament the many unhappy circumstances which have conspired to disturb your M [ a j e s t ] y ' s happiness, and to prejudice the interests and honour of this country. W h e n we find that the most liberal supplies for our naval equipments have as yet produced none of those happy effects which might reasonably have been expected to be derived from so powerful an a r m a m e n t , particularly under the direction of an officer of experienced conduct and courage, we cannot but express our serious apprehensions of some fatal misconduct, either on the part of A d ministration, by f o r m i n g indecisive and contradictory instructions f o r the direction of the Navy, or, in the particular department for naval affairs, of some misapplication of those liberal supplies, which, if wisely and faithfully applied, could not have failed, under divine

ANTICIPATION

27

providence, and your M [ a j e s t ] y ' s wisdom, of obtaining the most salutary effects. F o r these reasons, w e , your M [ a j e s t ] y ' s most faithful C [ o ] m m [ o ] n s , most humbly intreat your M [ a j e s t ] y to order the proper O f f i c e r s to lay before the House, copies of the secret instructions f o r the conduct of the F l e e t commanded by A d m i r a l K [ e ] p p [ e ] l —estimates of the quantity of ballast used in the several ships of the division of the fleet commanded by A d m i r a l K [ e ] p p [ e ] l - - b i l l s of parcel of the number of square yards of sail-cloth, together with samples of ditto, intended to be used in the division of the Fleet commanded by Vice A d m i r a l Sir H [ u ] g h

P[a]ll[i]s[e]r—succinct

accounts of the quota of biscuits, and ratio of salt-beef distributed in the F l e e t — f a i t h f u l transcripts of the several L o g - B o o k s of each vessel—abstracts of all letters, notes, and messages that passed and repassed, off U s h a n t , between the A d m i r a l s and P h [ i ] l [ i ] p S t [ e ] v [ e ] n s , Esq. during the course of last s u m m e r — a n d ,

finally,

minute copies of all accounts unsettled or passed, open or closed, paid or unpaid, between the Commissioners of the N a v y , and all sorts of M a n u f a c t u r e r s , Sailors, Contractors, &c. &c. & c . employed by them for these twenty years last past

I t is f r o m a minute

investigation of these important papers, that your M [ a j e s t ] y ' s most faithful C [ o ] m m [ o ] n s can alone derive just grounds for censure or exculpation. A n d , h o w e v e r laborious this investigation may prove, w e , your M [ a j e s t ] y ' s most faithful C [ o ] m m [ o ] n s , beg leave to assure your M [ a j e s t ] y , w e shall most readily devote our utmost attention to so salutary a study, in order to promote a quick dispatch of public business at this momentous and a w e f u l crisis, and to give vigour and effect to those measures which your M [ a j e s t ] y , in your great wisdom, may think necessary to secure the safety, interest, and honour of G r e a t B r i t a i n . " Such, Sir, is the a m e n d m e n t which I have the honour to o f f e r to the consideration of this house. It will immediately strike you, Sir, that in the accounts which I propose to have submitted to the investigation of P [ a ] r l [ i a ] m [ e ] n t , I /lave avoided asking for one scrap of paper s that is not absolutely necessary to be seen and thoroughly studied by the House. Should it, h o w e v e r , appear necessary

28

ANTICIPATION

to G e n t l e m e n to add to the list of these official documents, I am sure I shall not oppose such an improvement to the motion, to whatever quantity it may extend. Mr.

G[eo]rg[e]

5[w]«[o]w

seconded

the motion

for the

amendment, beginning with a similar acknowledgement of his incapacity, his inexperience and ignorance of P [ a ] r l [ i a ] m [ e ] n t [ a ] r y affairs; declining therefore to enter into any further argument, the subject having been discussed in so full and able a manner by his most noble cousin. M r . IV [e\lb[o\re

Ell[i\s,

in reply, threw out many sagacious

and novel observations. He said that he highly commended the caution and circumspection of the noble Lord, but, that in his opinion, a more proper time would arrive, about six months after Christmas, for entering into the details proposed by the A m e n d m e n t ; as, at that period, Administration would certainly have more leisure for furnishing the papers now called for. He very properly observed, that selecting these few curious articles of political intelligence from a variety of miscellaneous papers, would require some short time, together with no small degree of discernment, not to mention several thousands of extra clerks. He said, he had taken the trouble to make a most serious investigation into the Journals, the Votes, the Debates, and all the P [ a ] r l [ i a ] m [ e ] n t [ a ] r y Records of this country; and he was free to say, that notwithstanding it might at first appear rather a novel idea, yet it was his opinion, that The Address on the first day was a matter of compliment. N a y , touching the matter before him, (and weighty and powerful indeed it w a s ) after the most mature and serious deliberation, daily and nightly, he would for once venture to hazard a rhetorical, a figurative expression, to wit, that the Address was an eccho, as it were, a complimentary cccho, of his M [ a j e s t ] y ' s most gracious s p e e c h . — H e hinted, that, if anv Gentleman wished for particular enquiries, he would, as an old Member, long conversant with the forms of the House, tell him, that certainly a Committee might be appointed to carry on any public enquiry; and he believed such Committees were not u n f r e q u e n t . — A n d here he remarked, that, from all his researches, it appeared to him, that the constitution of this country was of a triple n a t u r e — K [ i ] n g — L [ o ] r d s

A N T I C I P A T I O N —and

C[o]mm[o]ns—that,

29

these three opposite a n d

repelling

p o w e r s , reciprocally b a l l a n c e d a n d c o u n t e r a c t e d e a c h o t h e r ; a t t h e s a m e time t h a t t h e y c o n t r i b u t e d to the p r o p o r t i o n a n d

harmony

of t h e w h o l e . — H e t o o k occasion to o b s e r v e , t h a t f r e e d o m of D e bate w a s c l e a r l y a P [ a ] r l [ i a ] m [ e ] n t [ a ] r y p r i v i l e g e , a n d he w o u l d p l e d g e himself to p r o v e that e v e r y M e m b e r in t h a t H o u s e w a s a representative of his constituents. F o r these reasons, he c o n c l u d e d w i t h dissenting f r o m the A m e n d m e n t as trite, abstruse, d a n g e r o u s , a n d f r i v o l o u s . D\_a\v[t\d

H[a\rtly,

E s q . * o b s e r v e d , t h a t these w e r e n o t i m e s

f o r flattery a n d e m p t y a d u l a t i o n . — F o r his p a r t , he s h o u l d e n t e r at l a r g e into the rise a n d o r i g i n of all C o l o n i e s , a n c i e n t a n d m o d e r n , into the history of T a x a t i o n , a n d its e f f e c t s o n e v e r y state t h a t h a d e x e r c i s e d it o v e r its c o l o n i e s ; a n d then r e v i e w t h e c a u s e , c o m m e n c e m e n t , a n d c o n d u c t of the w h o l e A m e r i c a n w a r . H e f e l t h o w a r d u ous, h o w c o m p l i c a t e d a task this m u s t p r o v e to h i m s e l f , a n d

how

difficult f o r the H o u s e to u n d e r s t a n d . T h a t , t o lessen t h a t d i f f i c u l t y , both to the H o u s e a n d to h i m s e l f , he w o u l d a d o p t the m o s t l o g i c a l m e t h o d to g i v e clearness a n d perspicuity to s u c h a m u l t i t u d e

and

diversity of i d e a s ; a n d f o r t h a t purpose, he b e g g e d G e n t l e m e n to take n o t i c e , t h a t he should divide his speech into f o u r a n d t w e n t y g r a n d divisions, e a c h of w h i c h should c o n t a i n as m a n y subdivisions, w h i c h subdivisions should also be separately discussed in e q u a l n u m ber of sections, e a c h section to be split also into the s a m e n u m b e r of heads;

so t h a t w i t h g r a n d

divisions, sub-divisions,

sections,

and

heads, the n u m b e r of distinct propositions w o u l d a m o u n t to s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d s ; but t h a t G e n t l e m e n , by a t t e n d i n g c l o s e l y , a n d c o r r e c t l y t a k i n g d o w n the n u m b e r of a n y particular a r g u m e n t , s h o u l d h a v e an i m m e d i a t e explicit a n s w e r to a n y q u e r y t o u c h i n g t h a t i n d i v i d u a l n u m b e r : a n d he flattered himself this n u m e r i c a l l o g i c a n d a r i t h m e t i c of e l o q u e n c e w o u l d g r e a t l y t e n d to c l a r i f y their u n d e r s t a n d i n g s . * Here Mr. B [ a ] m b [ e ] r G [ a ] s c [ o v ] n e

headed the dinner troop,

which followed him with great precipitation—at the same time

de-

parted Sir John I r w [ i ] n and M r . S [ c ] l w [ y ] n , with his Honour M r . B r [ u ] d [ e ] n [ e ] l l , of whom great enquiries were made, respecting the present arrangements of the O p e r a . — N o r were there wanting cries for the question.

many

D[a]v[i]d H [ a ] r t l y Esq.

3

o

ANTICIPATION T o follow this g e n t l e m a n t h r o ' even one of his g r a n d divisions,

w a s a task m u c h beyond the u t m o s t rapidity of a s h o r t - h a n d w r i t e r . I n d e e d the noise f r o m all parts of the house w a s so excessive, d u r i n g the several h o u r s w h i c h he engrossed in this laborious h a r a n g u e , t h a t it w a s totally impossible to catch up any t h i n g beyond the mutilated f r a g m e n t s , a n d ruins of his o r a t o r y . A t l e n g t h h o w e v e r the house sunk into a s u d d e n c a l m , upon the disclosure of a fact, which seemed to startle even the wildest zealots of f a c t i o n . — F o r , a f t e r every o t h e r a r g u m e n t w a s exhausted to so little purpose, inflamed by disa p p o i n t m e n t , a n d h u r r i e d , as w e are willing to suppose, by the violence of patriotism, the H o n o u r a b l e G e n t l e m a n a v o w e d to the H o u s e , t h a t o n e of his g r o u n d s for d e n o u n c i n g ruin to his c o u n try w a s his -private knowledge that head*

of

DR.

FRANKLYN'S

sentiments

on

" D r . F r a n k l y n ( h e e x c l a i m e d ) the C r o m w e l l of his

age, D r . F r a n k l y n , A m b a s s a d o r Plenipotentiary f r o m A m e r i c a to F r a n c e , is m y m o s t intimate a n d most cordial f r i e n d ! "

He

w e n t o n by declaring, he had passed g r e a t part of the s u m m e r at Paris, w i t h D r . F r a n k l y n , in the most u n r e s e r v e d c o m m u n i c a t i o n of s e n t i m e n t s a n d f a c t s ; a n d he concluded with repeating, as the joint result of his o w n a n d D r . F r a n k l i n ' s deliberation, t h a t the glory of E n g l a n d w a s destroyed for e v e r !

T h i s extraordinary-

confession p r o d u c e d h o w e v e r no violent e f f e c t . Ministers seemed to receive it with a c o n t e m p t u o u s pity, not u n m i n g l e d with ridicule,f w h e n Mr.

W[ilke]s,

f i n d i n g the little success of serious treason,

rose, a n d indulged himself in the m o r e ludicrous stile of it. * Here Sir G R [ E ] Y C [ O O ] P [ E ] R caught at a pen, and began to take notes. f Probably, from supposing the first origin of their connection to have arisen (at least on the part of Dr. Franklvn) from a philosophical rather than a political curiosity. And certainly, no two projectors in Scicnce were ever more strikingly contrasted: the one, like a modern Prometheus, collecting fire from vapour to inflame the terrestrial mass by its pernicious infusion: the other employing his magic -plates to freeze its ardour and quench its malignity.—Happy for this country, if these professors had shifted their pursuits! as the former, could his inclinations have been propitious to the peace of mankind, might then have become a powerfull Extinguisher, while the other, however malignant his intentions, must always have been acknowledged an innocent Incendiary.

ANTICIPATION Mr.

\V\ilke\s

31

* adverted with some degree of humour to the

inference of victory and triumph which might be deduced from the return of our Generals and our Admirals, and one of our commissioners too. T h e y found (he said) that being on the spot interrupted their manoeuvres, and he supposed they were come three thousand miles off to act cooly. T h a t , the object they were sent to accomplish was confessedly a great o n e ; and it is well k n o w n , that objects of a certain magnitude are best contemplated at a distance. Probably, their optics were too tender to distinguish with accuracy amidst the smoak and confusion incident to actual engagements; or perhaps, they reflected on the more imminent dangers of domestic invasion, and hastened home from pure patriotism to guard their native count r y . — A t any rate, he must compliment their discernment in pursuing a line of conduct, which could not fail of conciliating the good opinion and sympathetic regard of the Noble L o r d , w h o presided in the American department. If therefore, M r . Speaker, by any miraculous change, I w e r e , this day, to become the Advocate of Administration, I should mark the inutility of recurring to the written evidence, which the A m e n d m e n t calls for, at a moment w h e n w e are so copiously provided with viva voce testimony. Y e t , Sir, I do not think, upon reflexion, that Ministers will adopt this ground for rejecting the noble L o r d ' s A m e n d m e n t . T h e y , Sir, will more boldly tell y o u — y o u shall have n e i t h e r , — f o r , in these times, it is the fashion for all modern Statesmen, first to tell their o w n story, and then protest solemnly against being c r o s s - e x a m i n e d — o r directly y or indirectlyy answering

questiony query, or otherwise.

I be-

lieve I am accurate in my q u o t a t i o n . — I am not indeed surprized at these declarations of obstinate s i l e n c e — t h i s is Scottish p o l i c y — the example was set by my good old friend, the E [ a ] rl of B [ u ] t e — for therein I am orthodox in my faith, that the Son is equal to the F a t h e r ; and I am sure I may add with Athanasian zeal, the father is incomprehensible, and the Son is incomprehensible, yet there are not t w o incomprehensibles, but one incomprehensible. ( H e r e a confused cry of order, and the Chaplain reprimanded for laughing.) * T h e E d i t o r was furnished w i t h copies of this speech f r o m the Printers of the respective N e w s Papers, many weeks ago.

Mr. W [ i ] l k [

32

ANTICIPATION There is indeed one North Briton of whom I entertain a better

h o p e . — H e seems to have caught that itch for liberty, which, to our great wonder, broke out in the Highlands last summer. He, Sir, even in the character of his M [ a j e s t ] y ' s Commissi [o]ner, solicited the intimacy of General

Washington.

But indeed, Sir, if ever a

Scotchman can be suspected of loving liberty, it is not when he has recently become a convert to Administration: Washington

there-

fore sent his Excellency, the worthy Commissioner, a flat r e f u s a l . — M r . Laurens

too refused his Excellency the hearing he so gener-

ously solicited by imploring Congress, " n o t to follow the of Br[i]t[ai]n

in the hour of her insolencethe

example

hearing was how-

ever refused, nay even the "sight of the country " and " t h e sight of its worthy patriots" was peremptorily refused. T h e Americans, Sir, think that a Scotchman has neither eyes nor ears for liberty, or, at least, they distrusted the capacity of his Excellency's organs for such an object.—I have a letter, Sir, in my pocket from my honest friend Ethan Allen; I would read it, but I am sure you won't let me: He knows I am fond of scripture quotations, and tells me Congress would have given your Scotch commissioner this hearing, but they knew "he was like unto the deaf adder, who regardeth not the voice of the charmer." Let me then trouble his Excellency with one question; who was it suggested this secret correspondence with the enemy r was it not the Scottish secretary of this wise commission, D r . Adam Ferguson? It must have been one of Sir John Dalrymple's associates in literature. T h e Scotch, if they can get no Englishman to act, as they pretend to say the great Sidney did, will make even their own countrymen treacherous in one age, to furnish some literary assassin of the next with the foul vouchers of treachery and baseness. A t all events, Sir, I shall heartily give my vote for the amendment, as the only means to convict the M [ i ] n [ i ] s t r y of what I know they are guilty, weakness, incapacity, ignorance, obstinacy, baseness, and treachery. Governor

/ [ o ] A « i [ c > ] « * now rose, and said every thing that

a Gentleman in his melancholly situation could be supposed to urge. * Gentlemen were here desired by the Sp[ea]k[e]r to take their seats, and the Serjeant to clear the bar—places! places! was repeated with great vehemence.

ANTICIPATION

33

Spoke much of the want of candour in putting a false construction on his actions, which he could assure the House, upon his honour, were all dictated by the best intentions; that he should not undertake to enter into a full defence of his conduct at present, as it was a very delicate business, and turned upon a very nice chain of circumstances. One part of the charges against him he would slightly touch upon, his letters, and what he supposed was meant to be hinted at, his attempts of bribery. T h a t the artful policy of France had made it necessary for him to parry her attacks by similar weapons; that he believed it was felt and would be admitted by all parts of that House, that there is no greater spring of public actions, in all political assemblies, than self-interest.

T h a t he felt himself justified

in his own mind for every step he had taken, for he would venture to affirm, that in every négociation true wisdom and sound policy justified the moral fitness of secret articles, and the honourable expediency of powerful temptations. A s to the failure of success, on the part of the commissioners, various causes had concurred to occasion it. T h e y were sent to treat of peace with a retreating army. Philadelphia, the chief residence of the moderate men, and most friendly to their négociation, was evacuated by the army, on the Commissioners arrival. A little after they had got to N e w - Y o r k , Mons. D'Estaign was upon the coast. These circumstances gave spirits to a declining cause; and America, in this hour of her insolence, refused to treat, unless her independence was specifically acknowledged. What followed afterwards is a very serious business, indeed; but I trust I shall be pardoned by a noble Lord opposite to me, high in character, and in the esteem of his country, if I freely say, as my opinion, that Monsieur D'Estaign's fleet ought to have been attacked by the B r [ i ] t [ i ] s h at Rhode-Island, as soon as the French came out of the harbour to fight them. And I will further say, considering the spirit, the gallantry, and the heroism of the British Seamen, the inequality of the force of the fleets was not sufficient to justify the not attacking the French fleet, without waiting a length of time to gain the weather guage, and trusting so long as the E n g l [ i ] s h fleet did there to an unruly element. Sir, in the actions in the West-Indies, between the English and French fleets, last war, where the former were greatly inferior both in number and

34

ANTICIPATION

weight of metal, the French were beat off and obliged to fly for it. So, in the case of the Monmouth, the Dorsetshire, and several other instances, inferiority in the outset of the contest proved victorious in the end. I will not, however, dwell upon matters which merely depend upon opinion, and upon which the best officer in the world may be mistaken. But, Sir, after the tempest at Rhode-Island, when the Noble L o r d returned to N e w - Y o r k to refit, was not time lost? the very time that might have been employed in separating D ' E s taign from Boston harbour?

I might say, Sir, in the defeat of

D ' E s t a i g n ; for, after the arrival of some of B [ y ] r [ o ] n ' s squadron, the Noble L o r d was superior to him.

It is a very unpleasant

task to speak out, but I cannot avoid giving my opinion as a seaman, and as one upon the spot, acquainted with the delays in this business. Upon the whole, Sir, my opinion, in a very few words is this: T h e violent and impolitic measures of the M [i]n [i]stry of this country first lost America regained it

the B r [ i ] t [ i ] s h army might have

and our fleet has lost more than one opportunity

of crushing that of France, upon which American resistance chiefly depended for protection and support. Lord H [ o ] w e .

Lord H[o~\we and Mr. R \_i\gby now rose; but the house appearing inclined to give the former an immediate opportunity to reply, M r . R [ i ] g b y sat down, and L o r d H [ o ] w e , in very modest yet pointed terms, remarked on the unfairness which, he must say, the Honourable Gentleman w h o spoke last, had discovered both in the design and manner of his speech. T h a t , first, to avoid entering into the motives and principles of his own conduct, as being more proper objects for a particular committee of enquiry, and then to launch out into vague and desultory accusations of any other person, was inconsistent, and, he was sorry to add, illiberal. T h a t whatever prejudices those reflections were intended to create against his conduct, he would not then interrupt the business of the day, and the more general subjects of the present debate, but trust to the candour of the house for suspending their opinion, until the whole of his conduct might be minutely investigated by a committee appointed for that purpose; which committee, he himself should be the first man in that house to solicit, nay demand.

ANTICIPATION Mr. R [i]gby.

35

1 should not, Sir, have troubled the house on

Mr. R[i]gby

this first day, but that I felt it the indispensable duty of private friendship, to express my feelings on the happy return of our worthy Commissioner, who has given you, Sir, so full and satisfactory an account both of his principles and conduct.

1 shall not trou-

ble you long, Sir; I rise only for that purpose.

1 am sure

there is no Gentleman in this house, who more heartily congratulates the worthy Commissioner on his unembarrassed countenance and his good looks. He certainly has passed the summer very profitably—the voyage seems to have improved his stock of spirits—I think, I never saw him appear to more a d v a n t a g e — I own, however, I sincerely regret the unpoliteness of his American friends. A f t e r such condescending invitations of himself, it was not very civil of those Gentlemen to send excuses—If he had been admitted to their society, I have no manner of doubt of the wonderful effects his eloquence would have wrought. Even if they had allowed him a sight of the country, a man of his taste would have brought us home some curious American memoirs: but, alas! he was not only disappointed in that wish, but in one of a still gentler kind. I mean, Sir, a Flirtation

Treaty,

which he attempted to negotiate with a

celebrated female politician, the Messalina of Congress.

I say at-

tempted, Sir; for unfortunately even there too his Excellency met with as cold a reception. Unfortunately! for, had the Lady indulged him with a hearing, or even a sight, what surer line to lay the foundation of a more lasting conncctionr But, in short, Sir, whether from fate or insufficiency, the affair dropt, and the Flirtation Treaty

fell to the ground

Sir, I trouble the

house very seldom, and with as few words as possible

my opin-

ion continues to be what it invariably has been, with respect to America—this country may be deprived of its interests, its dignity, and its honour; but, as I never can give my assent to a voluntary surrender of them, I most heartily agree in the support which the address proposes to afford to his M [ a j e s t ] y . M r . T.

T[o]u/ns[e]nd

rose, and with great vehemence ar-

raigned the levity of the Right Honourable Gentleman who spoke before him; he thought it highly indecent, at this important crisis, when the very existence of this country is at stake, that any Gentle-

Mr. T . T[o]wns[e]nd

36

A N T I C I P A T I O N

m a n should e n d e a v o u r to raise a l a u g h , a n d turn the m o m e n t o u s deliberations of that day into ridicule. U n d e r such c i r c u m s t a n c e s , in his opinion, j o c u l a r i t y w a s flagitious, a n d w i t b e c a m e b l a s p h e m y . H e had, h i m s e l f , sat in three P [ a ] r l [ i a ] m [ e ] n t s , a n d he appealed to the c a n d o u r of that house, w h e t h e r in that length of time he had once raised a l a u g h , or on any occasion intentionally distorted the muscles of a n y H o n o u r a b l e M e m b e r :

" N o Sir, the true design of

o u r m e e t i n g here, is f o r f a r other purposes than those of c a l l i n g f o r t h the risibility of H o n o u r a b l e G e n t l e m e n : a risibility at any time highly improper f o r this house, but particularly so at this t r e m e n dous, this d i s g r a c e f u l m o m e n t . — I t

is w i t h the highest astonish-

m e n t that I n o w see G e n t l e m e n shifting their places, as if a l r e a d y tired of public business, o r a f r a i d to look into the deplorable a n d calamitous situation of this c o u n t r y : n a y , so g r e a t is their inattention to their duty in P [ a ] r l [ i a ] m [ e ] n t , that, upon m v rising, I f i n d the house almost c l e a r e d — w h e r e are the M e m b e r s ? — I a m a f r a i d — a t d i n n e r ! I s this a time f o r revelling in t a v e r n s , w h e n the d i g nity of the I m p e r i a l C r o w n of this c o u n t r y is violated, a n d m u c h h a r m done to our m e r c h a n t s ? — I s this a time f o r r e v e l l i n g , w h e n the g l o r y of B r i t a n n i a , Sir, I say, is sullied, a n d w h e n , Sir, the F r e n c h are riding on y o u r n a r r o w s e a s . "

H e then entered into

a copious detail of the blunders of A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , w i t h respect to F a l k l a n d ' s I s l a n d s , the M i d d l e s e x E l e c t i o n , C o r s i c a , a n d the m a s s a cre in St. G e o r g e ' s F i e l d s , G i b r a l t a r , and M r . H o m e ' s imprisonm e n t ; t o g e t h e r with cursory observations on the illegality of i m pressing, the bad policy of L o t t e r i e s , the fatal e x a m p l e of the J u s t i t i a , a n d the t r e m e n d o u s perils to this devoted c o u n t r y f r o m the f r e q u e n t exhibition of the B e g g a r ' s O p e r a .

A t l e n g t h , r e t u r n i n g a lit-

tle closer to the question, he again a n i m a d v e r t e d on the surprising inattention of the H o u s e : " Y e t Sir, ( h e e x c l a i m e d )

b e f o r e I sit

d o w n let m e ask Ministers a f e w q u e s t i o n s — I do not expect a n y a n s w e r f r o m t h e m , yet I will ask them

Is D o m i n i c a the only

one of o u r W e s t I n d i a Islands n o w in the possession of

France:

A r e w e to g o on f o r e v e r w i t h the A m e r i c a n w a r : — W h o are o u r a l l i e s ? — I s O m i a h to pay us a n o t h e r v i s i t ? — W h e r e is Sir H a r r y Cl[i]nt[o]n?

How

is the

D ' E s t a i g n do a f t e r C h r i s t m a s :

Czarina

affected?—What

will

W h e r e will the B r e s t fleet be

ANTICIPATION next summer?

37

If Ministers will not, and I know they dare

not, answer these questions, then Sir, how, in G o d ' s name, can they refuse the papers called for by the noble Lord's Amendment? F r o m those papers, I pledge myself to the house, the whole of these nefarious proceedings will be brought to light—discouraged, as I well might be, from again pledging my person, (having been the constant and unredeemed pledge of this House, for one thing or another, for these one and twenty years last past,) I repeat it, Sir, I will pledge the reversion of myself, that these papers will furnish us with all necessary and constitutional i n f o r m a t i o n . — A n d , for these reasons, Sir, the Amendment meets with my most hearty concurrence. M r . V[y]n[e]r

professed himself to be one of the independant

Country Gentlemen, and took occasion to inform the house, that five Indiamen arrived in the River T h a m e s about six weeks ago. — H e said he embraced this earliest opportunity to repeat his offer of fifteen shillings in the pound, if Ministers would but seriously go on with the war, which, for his part, he now considered in a new point of v i e w — f o r , as a great statesman had once boasted to have conquered, in his time, America in G e r m a n y , so he would hope and believe, that we, in our days, might conquer France in A m e r i c a . — A n d here, from regretting the loss of that great statesman, he fell into a train of melancholy thoughts, which led him insensibly to a pathetic eulogy on the memory of his dear departed friend, the well-known M r . Van.—"A

long course of

congenial studies (he exclaimed, with torrents of tears and frequent sobs) had entwined our hearts in political sympathy

we

had but one idea between u s ! — Y e s , Sir, I repeat it, but o n e — W e l l therefore may I say with the Poet, In infancy our hopes and fears W e r e to each other k n o w n , A n d friendship in our riper years, Had twined our hearts in one." Here he broke off, oppressed with a flood of tears, while a confused noise of encore and order resounded from several parts of the

Mr. V [ y ] n [ e ] r .

38

ANTICIPATION

house. A t length, when the uproar began to subside, and Gentlemen became collected enough to proceed on business, Hon. T . L[u]ttr[e]l.

Hon.

T. L[uttre]l

rose, and with great solemnity, addressed

himself to the chair in the following words:

Notwithstand-

ing the general silence, which, I find, it is the fashion for Ministers of this day not only to hold themselves, but likewise to encourage in others, on the important subject of maritime affairs, I cannot, Sir, acquiesce in so culpable a silence, nor content myself with sitting still, until the close of the debate, to be numbered with the tacit votes in its disfavour. Sir, the Navy, I have ever considered not only as the true and constitutional safe-guard of this insular territory, but as the very spirit and soul of all traffic, the quintessence of merchandize, and indeed, I may say, the palladium of commerce. With this view, Sir, my studies have ever tended to the investigation of the origin of that stupendous piece of mechanism, a ship. Noah, Sir, was, in my opinion, the first circumnavigator—(I beg to be understood, I mean no reflection on the memory of Sir Francis D r a k e ) — h e was therefore, Sir, justly entitled to the highest situation in the naval department of that early period—take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again—though, in truth, there are traits in his character not totally dissimilar to some leading features of the noble E a r l who is now at the head of that department— But it is not for me to draw the parallel. Sir, T h e Phoenicians

I t was a custom also among the Chaldeans and the Nazareens

ANTICIPATION Recollect, Sir, when news was brought to the Persians

So the Macedonians

In like manner the Lacedemonians, and the Athenians

Thus too the Carthagenians

Here let me call your attention to the Romans and Syracusians

Need I remind you of the northern hive, or trouble you with the Goths and Vandals?

,

ANTICIPATION

So too, Sir, the Chinese

At length, M r . S p [ e a ] k [ e ] r , the Danes, Dutch, Swedes, Venetians, Neapolitans,

Spaniards,

French,

Portuguese,

Muscovites,

T u r k n , Saracens, a n d others, that I skip over to avoid tediousness

A n d to bring it home to our feelings, the ancient Britons, hardy W e l c h , Milesians, wild Irish, Saxons, Picts, Normans, English, and Regattaites

rush upon our mind, and

F r o m this historical deduction, I cannot but think, Sir, navigation highly necessary, highly favourable to liberty. I f , Sir, I wanted any additional reason for opposing the address, it would best arise f r o m the shameful neglect and inattention to those brave and h u m a n e F r e n c h officers, (particularly the Captain of the Licorne,) lately on their parole at Alresford, half of w h o m , indeed, ministry have cruelly suffered to run away. Besides, Sir, let us advert to the wretched deficiency in our late naval equipments.

1 have it, Sir, from undoubted authority, that the

several ships crews laboured under a total deprivation of Tobacco. T o b a c c o ! that staple commodity of our once flourishing subjects, n o w , alas, our avowed enemies, in Virginia, and the Southern col-

A N T I C I P A T I O N

41

onies.--Sir, not o n l y the quota of G i n w a s miserably but adultery, so c o n g e n i a l to the Noah

retrenched,

of this day, pervaded every

k e g in the R o y a l N a v y . - - S i r , I myself k n o w it for a fact, that the speaking t r u m p e t of the A l b i o n w a s sent out in so w r e t c h e d a c o n dition, that, in haling a

fishing-boat,

( I believe a c o d - s m a c k ) o f f

Scilly, the second mate cracked his pipe, and half the c r e w have been hoarse e v e r s i n c e - - s o m e of your ships, Sir, w a n t e d their c o m plement of C h a p l a i n s : - - a n d in others, I will not say that I k n o w there w e r e not surgeons, but I will say, I do not k n o w that there w e r e . Sir, m o r e neglect of

fatal consequences have arisen f r o m a strange

vegetables--Potatoes,

radically

rotten ¡ - - C a r r o t s , dia-

bolically dry ¡ - - T u r n i p s , totally t o u g h ¡ - - P a r s n i p s , pitifully putrid! S c u r v y , Sir, S c u r v y , like the a n g r y D s m o n of Pestilence, has lighted up everlasting bon-fires in the blotched b r o w s and cicatracious cheeks of y o u r scarified s e a m e n ; so that every c r e w has flashed

c o n t a g i o n , and reeked like a floating Pest-house, with the

b a n e f u l exhalations of d i s e a s e . - - A n d

n o w , Sir, that I ' m on

my

legs, a w o r d or t w o to t r o w z e r s - - S u c h is the pitiful ccconomy of A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , such the paltry treachery of C o n t r a c t o r s , that, w h a t f r o m an original coarseness of y a r n , w h a t , f r o m the more pernicious and slovenly t e x t u r e of the w o r k m a n s h i p , not a t r o w z e r but gaped with lacerations, w h o s e expanded apertures discovered w h a t the P [ a ] r l [ i a ] m [ e ] n t [ a ] r y d e c o r u m of this house, forbids me to reveal. Spurred on by such p o w e r f u l incentives, I take this earliest occasion to g i v e notice to the house, that I shall m o v e , on this day fortnight, for the house to resolve itself into a C o m m i t t e e , in order to take into consideration the several w e i g h t y grievances, the o u t line of w h i c h I have just n o w had the h o n o u r to give you a rude s k e t c h . - - W h e n , I shall also m o v e y o u , Sir, that the several M a l t sters, Distillers of G i n , V e n d e r s of T o b a c c o , T r a d e r s in T r o w z e r s , Retailers of R u m , Picklers of P o r k , and P u r v e y o r s of Potatoes, together w i t h their several servants, f o l l o w e r s , apprentices and retainers, be o r d e r e d to attend this house de die in diem, to a n s w e r all such questions and matters touching the said enquiry, as shall be put to them by the C o m m i t t e e so to be a p p o i n t e d . — I n the m e a n time, Sir, I shall give m y hearty c o n c u r r e n c e to the noble L o r d ' s

42

ANTICIPATION

A m e n d m e n t , as promising to afford some degree of preliminary information, which may tend to illustrate the more important matter in the Enquiry which I have now proposed to set on foot. Mr.P[e]nt [o]n.

M r . P[e]nt[o]n}

in reply, begged pardon for troubling the

house, but hoped they would indulge him in a few words, as he felt himself particularly called on to answer some reflections which the Honourable Gentleman, w h o had spoke last, had thought proper to throw out against that board where he had the honour to s i t . — H e said, that, at the time of the fitting out of M r . K [ e ] p p [ e ] l ' s fleet, he had made it his business to be very much at Portsmouth, w h e r e , though it was a task exceedingly repugnant to his private feelings and taste, he had, however, considered it as an official service incumbent on one in his department, to personally experiment the several provisions and stores prepared for that equipment. T h a t , impelled by such motives, he had, on several occasions, drank the small beer, not unfrequently tasted the gin, and sometimes smoak'd, nay chewed the tobacco; that, in his humble opinion, they were all super-excellent in their several kinds. A n d , as to the imputed delinquency relative to potatoes, he could assure the house, he had bought up several tuns of the same species, for the consumption of his o w n f a m i l y — n a y , he would go further, he w o u l d venture to acquaint that house, that with some of those very identical potatoes, he had lately had the happiness and honour to regale a certain G r e a t Personage, then his guest; a personage indeed of too high a rank to have his name even alluded to, though on so weighty, and so important a business. Mr. B[urke]

Mr.

B\u\rke

1 must confess, Sir, notwithstanding my

long and melancholy experience of the present administration, I cannot hear, without astonishment, the language held forth by the speech, and echoed in this day's debate. T h i s session, Sir, at a period big with horror, pregnant with ruin to this country, is ushered in with the song of triumph; and parliament are bid to rejoice at a time w h e n nothing but the language of despair is to be heard throughout the nation. Surely, Sir, the hour is at last arrived, w h e n humility and moderation ought to take place of pride and confidence; w h e n , instead of launching further into a sea of troubles, w e might be content to try what little can be saved from the

ANTICIPATION

43

wreck of national honour and prosperity. Ministers might at length condescend to tell us, what means are left to avert the gathering ruin; how we are to tread back the mazes of error and folly, through which we have been led; and where are the resources from which one gleam of hope might dawn upon us, in the hour of danger and despair—But, deaf to the solemn call of occasion and necessity, they rejoice in the absence of thought, in the contempt of foresight. Like the wretch who seeks in stupefaction a momentary relief from sorrow, they sink from a voluntary intoxication into a torpid insensibility. T h e illusion, indeed, is not to be confined within the narrow limits of their own minds; its baneful influence must be circulated through every corner of the nation; and, by a shameful perversion, that anxiety for the public welfare, which, in times like these, is, in my opinion, the highest of public virtues, must be amused with the pageantry of domestic warfare, or lulled by the opiate of our American Gazettes. I own, Sir, even on principles of criticism, I cannot but consider the stile of these Ministerial annals, as no very favourable criterion of the present times. In happier days, their characteristic was plain conciseness. Victories were then too rapid, too numerous, to admit of a dilated relation.—Success is seldom tedious, but I am afraid our highest achievements have amounted to no more than the inroads of savages, or the depredations of pyrates. Upon my word, Sir, though we may censure our Officers, our Ministers at least shew some generalship; if they cannot deceive the enemy, they are prompt enough to mislead their countrymen; though they discover but little skill in the arrangement of armies, they have an admirable talent in marshalling G a zettes. T h e y have given celebrity to sheep-stealing, and blazoned, in all the pompous prolixity of ostentatious phraseology, the important depredations a t — M a r t h a s Island—Certainly, Sir, the gallant Commander of that expedition may vie in pastoral achievements with A j a x , with Jason, or at least Don Quixote; and, if he does not obtain a triumph, he is clearly entitled to an

ovation.

Not, Sir, that I mean to cast any reflection on those Officers and Soldiers to whose lot these ridiculous services have fallen—they, no doubt, have effected every thing that the bravery of the British troops in such a situation could accomplish; but the Hand of

44

ANTICIPATION

N a t u r e , Sir, has thrown in their w a y obstacles which it w a s not in the most obstinate valour, in the most consummate wisdom to surmount. It is a w a n t of confidence in the directors of this w a r that has chilled every vein, and slackened every sinew of military enterprize. Besides, Sir, if I may he permitted to indulge a little superstition, there is a certain fatality attending the measures of Administration:

through all their bungling

operations of

war,

through all their wretched plans of peace, the evil Genius, Sir, of this country, seems to haunt their footsteps. He it is that has suffered them to wander on, undismayed by danger, unabashed by reproaches, f r o m one absurdity to another, 'till our blunders and our follies have at length reared that stupendous fabric of American E m p i r e that n o w engrosses the attention, and claims the wonder of mankind. A l l o w me, Sir, to pause for a moment, while I contemplate this phoenomenon of modern ages, this n e w constellation in the western hemisphere; a mighty and extensive empire, not rising by slow degrees and f r o m small beginnings, but bursting forth at once into full vigour and maturity; not cherished in the soft lap of peace and commerce, but shaking off in its outset the long established dominion of a powerful master, and thriving in the midst of carnage and desolation. " A b ipso ducit opes animumq. bello." If w e view them in another light, as completely enthroned in sovereignty, as receiving embassies f r o m distant potentates, as forming leagues with the princes and states of E u r o p e , w e shall find more abundant matter for self-humiliation—I could wish to shut m y eyes on the scene that follows: T h e parent baffled and depressed, imploring pardon of her injured and alienated children, yielding to their successful resistance, what she had denied to their prayers and petitions, and o f f e r i n g every concession short of a total emancipation; but scorned and rejected in her turn, not (as she had rejected t h e m ) with rudeness and insolence, but with

firmness

and with

dignity; and convinced, at length, that the day of conciliation is past, and that the g r o u n d w o r k of peace can only be laid on the broad basis of equality and independance. Is this the unconditional submission the noble L o r d in the A m e r ican department so prodigally announced? T h i s is indeed uncondi-

ANTICIPATION

45

tional submission, but unconditional submission from Great Britain to America. Gentlemen may remember how often my voice has preached peace within these walls; how often it has warned administration to healing measures, while the wounds of America might yet have been closed. I will still repeat it, 'till the echo of this house shall be conscious of no other sound; Peace, Peace, Peace, is still my object. It is now high time, Sir, that Gentlemen should awaken to a sense of our danger, that Parliament should discard those wretched schemes of short-sighted policy, which cannot, in our present situation, afford even a temporary refuge. As yet, we experience only the beginnings of our sorrows; but the storms of adversity are gathering fast around us, and the vessel is still trusted to the direction of Pilots, whose ignorance and obstinacy has been manifest to all the world.

What thanks, Sir, to the vigilance of our Rul-

ers, that we are not already sunk beyond the possibility of redemption? What thanks to them, that the flower of our army and navy, and with them all the hopes of Britain had not withered before the power of a lately dejected but now triumphant enemy? Is it owing to their care that the rich produce of the Western Isles has not flowed into every harbour of France? No, Sir, it is the hand of Providence that wards off for a while the ruin of this declining empire. It is Providence alone that has preserved our gallant Admirals in America, by an almost miraculous interposition.—It is due to Providence alone, that the heartstrings of our commerce are not cut asunder by the sword of our adversaries. I own, Sir, I cannot join in an implicit approbation of such ministers: I must be a little better acquainted with their merits before I can place an unlimited confidence in their wisdom and discretion; that discretion which has led us into a labyrinth of difficulties; that wisdom that cannot find a clue for our deliverance. M r D[u]nn[i]ng

said a few words, which, from the learned

gentleman's being particularly hoarse and uncommonly inarticulate, owing (as has been suggested) to a violent cold, and a multiplicity of business in Westminster-hall, we could not collect with

Mr. D[u]nn[in]g

46

ANTICIPATION

the accuracy that w e wish to observe on every occasion. His language was neat and pointed, though somewhat tinctured with professional pedantry: his arguments seemed ingenious, though perhaps too refined for the comprehension of his auditors. He had much antithesis, much verbal gingle, and many whimsical climaxes. H e talked of the competency or incompetency of the House to the discussion of the present question; of the materiality or immateriality of the proposed amendment; of the responsibility or irresponsibility of Ministers. H e said, he neither asked, nor knew, nor cared to what the present question might ultimately tend; but of this he was confident, that it's propriety was clearly evinced, and it's necessity irrefragably proved by that opposition which purported to baffle it. - - U p o n the whole, his harrangue seemed to be a medley of legal quibble and quaint humour. Mr. S[olicito]r G[enera]l.

M r . 5[O]//[j]774 by Captain Tobias Furneaux of the Adventure. As the first South Sea Islander ever seen in England, Omiah made a stir in fashionable and literarv society, sat for his portrait to the most eminent artists, and was the subject of countless newspaper paragraphs and several pamphlet poems. T h e r e arc well-known lines bv Cowper on Omiah in the first book of The Task, 1 7 8 5 : T h e dream is past; and thou hast found again T h y cocoas and bananas, palms and yams, A n d homestall thatch'd with leaves. But hast thou found T h e i r former charms? A n d , having seen our state, Our palaces, our ladies, and our pomp Of equipage, our gardens, and our sports. And heard our music; are thy simple friends, T h y simple fare, and all thy plain delights, As dear to thee as once? Sir

Harry

Clinton.

Sir H e n r y

Clinton

(I 738 ? - 1 7 9 5 ) ,

K.B.;

Major-

G e n e r a l ; succeeded Sir William Howe as Commander-in-Chief in America, May

1778.

NOTES PACE

75

37

Mr. Vyner. Robert Vyner ( 1 7 1 7 - 1 7 9 9 ) , M . P . for Lincoln. H e was, said Nathaniel Wraxall, a gentleman of large property in Lincolnshire, whose person suggested " t h e portraits of ' H u d i b r a s ' " (Historical and Posthumous Memoirs . . . 1772-1784, cd. H . B. Wheatley, 1 8 8 4 , V, 2 0 3 ) . his offer of fifteen shillings in the found. In a debate on the budget, 3 M a y 1 7 7 5 , Vyner defended the motives of the country gentlemen in supporting the ministers' coercive American policy. H e said, in part: In support of such a cause . . . he was willing to pay not only 4J. but 14s. in the pound: and as he entertained not a single doubt but we should prevail in the contest, we ought to oblige America to pay the expence she had wantonly put us to, and which would likewise enable us to bring back our quondam peace establishment, that of a land-tax of is. in the pound (Parliamentary History, X V I I I , 6 2 5 ) . a great statesman had once boasted, tíc. William Pitt the elder, during the Seven Years' War. Mr.

Van. Charles Van, prior to his death, in April 1 7 7 8 , M . P . for Brecon. PAGE

38

Hon. T. Luttrel. T e m p l e Simon Luttrell (d. 1 8 0 3 ) , third son of the first Earl of Carhampton; M . P . for Milborne Port. A florid orator, Luttrell was always pertinacious in debates on naval affairs. T i c k e l l ' s parody perhaps reflects an interminable speech on the state of the navy, 1 1 March 1 7 7 8 , in which Luttrell described the timber used for ship-repairs as so "singularly spungy and porous" that " y o u r seamen . . . are frequently set afloat in their hammocks, from the water soaking in, over-head, through the planks," related an instance of a seaman's driving his fist, "without much pain to his knuckles," through the hull of a man-of-war, and entered into a detail of the twenty-four invasions of Great Britain and Ireland since the Norman Conquest (Parliamentary History, X I X , 8 7 4 - 8 9 2 ) . the noble Earl who is now at the head 0} that defartment. J o h n Montagu ( 1 7 1 8 - 1 7 9 2 ) , fourth Earl of Sandwich; First Lord of the Admiralty. Sandwich was notorious for the dissoluteness of his private life. PACE

Regattaites.

Not a tribe or nation, but participants in the summer regattas

on the Thames. In The Annual

Register

the new Entertainment, called a Regatta, land,

40

in the Course of the Year 1775,"

for 1 7 7 5 appears " S o m e Account of introduced from Venice

into

Eng-

from which the following sentences

are extracted: Before five o'clock, Westminster bridge was covered with spectators,

76

ANTICIPATION in carriages and on foot, and men even placed themselves in the bodies of the lamp-irons. Plans of the regatta were sold from a shilling to a penny each, and songs on the occasion sung, in which Regatta was the rhyme for Ranelagh, and Royal Family echoed to Liberty. . . . Before six o'clock it was a perfect fair on both sides the water, and bad liquor, with short measure, was plentifully retailed. . . . T h e Thames was now a floating town. A l l the cutters, sailing-boats, Sx. in short, every thing, from the dung-barge to the wherry, was in motion ("Appendix to the Chronicle," pp. 2 1 6 , 2 1 7 ) .

the Captain of the Licorne. T h e Licorne frigate, encountered and detained by Admiral Keppel on the 1 7 t h of J a n e , yielded Keppel information respecting the strength of the French fleet. the wretched deficiency in our late naval equipments. War-profiteering is not of recent origin; in the Eighteenth Century the loose organization of finance and supply in both services gave large opportunities to contractors and commissaries. " Y o u must not think of persuading us that you arc no gainer," Lord Loudoun remarked to Benjamin Franklin when the latter sought reimbursement for outlays in connection with Braddock's expedition in 1 7 5 5 ; " w e understand better those affairs, and know that every one concerned in supplying the army finds means, in the doing it, to fill his own pockets" (Franklin, Writings, ed. A. H . Smyth, New York, 1 9 0 5 - 0 7 , I, 4.30). Satirists frequently exposed this form of parasitism. Samuel Foote produced a comedy called The Commissary in 1 7 6 5 . In Sheridan's The Camp, 1 7 7 8 , the commissary Gage supplied a regiment with lime (which he dug himself, at no expense) instead of hair-powder. It did very well, he reported, while the weather was fine, but when a shower came up the troops' heads were all slacked in an instant. " I stood a near chance of being tied up to the halberts; but I excused myself by saying, they looked only like raw recruits before; but now they appeared like old veterans of service" (I, i ) . PAGE 4 2 Mr. Penton. Henry Penton ( 1 7 3 6 - 1 8 1 2 ) , M . P . for Winchester and a Lord of the Admiralty. a certain Great Personage. On their tour of the militia camps at Winchester and Salisbury in September, the King and Queen "alighted at M r . Penton's house [in Winchester], where they were waited on by the Mayor and Corporation" ( T h e Annual Register for 1 7 7 8 , "Appendix to the Chronicle," P- 2 3 5 ) Mr. Burke. Edmund Burke ( 1 7 2 9 - 1 7 9 7 ) , M . P . for Bristol. T h e dominant theme of Burke's speech, "the ruin of this declining empire" was a favorite one among anti-ministerial orators, pamphleteers, and poets during the Revolution. Soon after the appearance, in 1 7 8 1 , of the second and third volumes of Gibbon's Decline and Fall, Thomas Powys, M . P . for Northamptonshire,

NOTES

77

read extracts from that work in a debate on a motion for putting an end to the American war. Powys ventured to say that the description of Rome in the Fifth Century by M r . Gibbon, whose enrolment in the administration was the only accession of which his Majesty's ministers had to boast, . . . was so strong, so expressive, so applicable, that though it was said to belong to Rome, he could not help thinking that it alluded to a nearer country, and a nearer period (Parliamentary History, X X I I , 805). PAGE

43

the pageantry of domestic warfare. An allusion to the vogue of the militia encampments as places of fashionable resort. important depredations at—Martha's Island. Early in September MajorGeneral Grey, under orders from Sir Henry Clinton, invested Martha's Vineyard and carried off "a considerable and most desirable contribution, consisting of 1 0 , 0 0 0 sheep, and 300 oxen, for the public service at New York" {The Annual Register for 1 7 7 9 , "History of Europe," p. 2 ) . PAGE

45

Mr Dunning. John Dunning ( 1 7 3 1 - 1 7 8 3 ) , M . P . for Calne; the leading Whig lawyer in the House of Commons; cr. Baron Ashburton of Ashburton, 1782. PAGE

46

Mr. Sollicitor-General. James Wallace (d. 1 7 8 3 ) , M . P . for Horsham; succeeded Wedderburn as Solicitor-General, June 1 7 7 8 . PAGE

47

Mr Fox. Charles James Fox ( 1 7 4 9 - 1 8 0 6 ) , third son of the first Baron Holland; M . P . for Malmesbury and leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons. Either out of personal regard for Fox or at the request of Lord North, Tickell does not burlesque Fox's oratory. It is stated in the review of Anticipation in The Tozcn and Country Magazine that Fox's speech actually "was noticed by that gentleman in the house, who, at the same time, lamented his incapacity of making so good an harangue upon the occasion" (XI, 1 7 7 9 , 4 5 ) . According to a note in Horace Walpole's copy of Anticipation, "Charles Fox said, 'he has anticipated many things I have intended to say, but I shall say them nevertheless.' " PAGE

48

General Lee. Charles Lee ( 1 7 3 1 - 1 7 8 2 ) , Lieutenant-Colonel in the British army; appointed Major-General by Congress, 1 7 7 5 ; court-martialed and suspended from service for disobedience to orders and misbehavior before the enemy during the battle of Monmouth Court House, June I 778.

ANTICIPATION

7«

PACE 49 the Prince of Brunswick. Either Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick ( 1 7 2 1 — 1 7 9 2 ) , Commander of the English and Hanoverian forces in the Seven Years' W a r ; or his nephew, Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand ( 1 7 3 5 - 1 8 0 6 ) , Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, who commanded a division in his uncle's army. Clinton served in Germany, 1760—63, acting for a time as aide-de-camp to the Hereditary Prince. the noble Lord who planned above, note to p. 3 1 .

that expedition.

Lord George Germain; see

PAGE 50 Monsieur Vaugelin. be misspelled.

Not further identified. T h e name is unusual and may

Colonel Tujfnell. George Foster T u f n e l l . ( 1 7 2 5 - 1 7 9 8 ) , M . P . for Beverly and Colonel of the East Middlesex Militia. PAGE 51 their Bavarian contest. T h e War of the Bavarian Succession. 1 7 7 8 - 7 9 , occasioned by the extinction of the electoral house of Bavaria upon the death of Maximilian Joseph. Lord North. Frederick, Lord North ( 1 7 3 2 - 1 7 9 2 ) , eldest son of the first Earl of G u i l f o r d ; M . P . for Banbury; First Lord of the Treasury, 1 7 7 0 - 8 2 ; succeeded as second Earl of Guilford, 1 7 9 0 ; see Introduction, passim. PAGE 52 a great Character.

William Pitt, Lord Chatham. PAGE 58

Col. Barré. Isaac Barré ( 1 7 2 6 — 1 8 0 2 ) , M . P . for Calne. Barré, who had served with W o l f e in America, was a devoted friend of the colonists and in Parliament was regarded as a master of invective and the special antagonist of Lord North. North had his revenge in Anticipation; see Introduction, p. 1 2 . the Indians, headed by Col. Butler, began their rapine in Cherry Valley. John Butler ( 1 7 2 5 — 1 7 9 6 ) , Indian agent under the Johnsons in the Mohawk Valley; Lieutenant-Colonel of Militia, 1 7 6 8 ; Major in command of Butler's Rangers, 1 7 7 7 . Under his leadership parties of Loyalists and their Indian allies of the Six Nations systematically harried the back settlements in New York and Pennsylvania during the Revolution. T h e i r raids reached a peak of frequency and destructiveness in the early summer of 1 7 7 8 , the notorious " W y o m i n g Massacre" occurring 3—4 J u l y . None of the settlements mentioned by Barré had been attacked at the time his informant is supposed to have written; but rumors were rife on the frontier as well as at the Poughkeepsie headquarters of the

NOTES

79

Continental Army; and the worst fears of the settlers were realized when Butler's son, Captain Walter Butler, together with the Mohawk chief Joseph Brant, sacked the village of Cherry Valley on the I Ith of November. See Howard Swiggett, War out of Niagara: Walter Butler and the Tory Rangers, New York, 1 9 3 3 , chs. vi—vii. Gen. Carlton. Guy Carleton ( 1 7 2 4 - 1 8 0 8 ) , Lieutenant-General; Governor of Quebec, 1775—78; requested his recall because of differences with Lord George Germain, May 1 7 7 7 ; cr. Baron Dorchester of Dorchester (Oxford), 1786. Miss Macrea. Jane MacCrea, daughter of a Tory clergyman residing near Fort Edward on the upper Hudson, was scalped by a marauding party of Burgoyne's Indian allies, 27 July 1 7 7 7 . This incident, about which a mass of romantic legend soon grew up, proved highly embarrassing to Burgoyne and the Administration. PACE 59 no Secretary of War in this house. " L d Barrington [William Wildman Barrington (1717— 1 7 9 3 ) , second Viscount] was out of Parliament, and no successor was then appointed" (note by Horace Walpole in his copy of Anticipation). Barrington, Secretary at War since 1 7 6 5 , had given notice of his retirement in the previous M a y ; in December Charles Jenkinson was named his successor. Mons. Neckar. Jacques Necker ( 1 7 3 2 - 1 8 0 4 ) , Director-General of Finances in the French government, 1777—81; famous for his fiscal and administrative reforms. Monsieur Bouille. The island of Dominica, ceded by France to Great Britain bv the Treaty of Paris, 1 7 6 3 , was retaken, 7 September 1 7 7 8 , by the French under the command of the Marquis de Bouille (1739—1800), Governor of Martinique. the Facte de Famille. T h e defensive alliance formed in 1 7 6 1 among the Bourbon states of France, Spain, and the T w o Sicilies. Cou?it Almodoz-ar. Pedro Jimenez de Gongora, Marques (later Duque) de Almodovar (d. 1 7 9 4 ) , Spanish Ambassador to the Court of St. James's, 1778— 79Don Francisco Buccarelli. Spanish Governor of Buenos Aires who ordered the expedition against the Falkland Islands that led to the surrender of the English garrison at Port Eginont, June 1 7 7 0 , and aroused great indignation in England; see above, note to p. 36, on Falkland's Islands. Probably a member of the family of Bucareli y Ursua, of Seville, several of whom held high military and colonial posts at that period. Count Cobentzel. This may refer either to Johann Philipp, Graf von Cobenzl ( 1 7 4 1 — 1 8 1 0 ) , Austrian statesman who drafted the Peace of Teschen, 1 7 7 9 ; or

8o

ANTICIPATION

to his cousin, Johann Ludwig Joseph, Graf von Cobenzl ( 1 7 5 3 - 1 8 0 9 ) , Austrian Ambassador to the Court of Catherine I I , 1779—97. Baron Reidesdel. Joseph Herman, Baron Riedesel ( 1 7 4 0 - 1 7 8 5 ) , Prussian diplomat, traveler, and archeologist. Duke de Chartres. Louis-Philippe-Joseph de Bourbon ( 1 7 4 7 - 1 7 9 3 ) , Due de Chartres, son of the Duc d'Orléans, whom he succeeded, 1 7 8 5 ; later known as Philippe Égalité. Monsieur de Sartine. Antoine-Raimond-Jcan-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine ( 1 7 2 9 - 1 8 0 1 ) , Comte d'Alby, French statesman ; Lieutenant-General of Police, 1 7 5 9 - 7 4 ; Minister of Marine, 1 7 7 4 - 8 0 . He was satirized in Tickell's Green Box of Monsieur de Sartine, 1 7 7 9 ; see Bibliography, pp. 88-90. PACE 60 ¡1 alte se volto, iâc. T h i s defies translation. Tickell perhaps deliberately garbled Barré's Italian. Alderman Oliver's Utter. Richard Oliver ( 1734.? — 1 7 8 4 ) , Alderman of Billingsgate Ward and M . P . for the City of London; remembered for his defiance of the House of Commons in the case of the printer Millar, for which he was committed to the T o w e r , 1 7 7 1 . On 6 September 1 7 7 8 Oliver wrote a letter, soon published in the papers, declining nomination as Lord Mayor and quitting his seat in Parliament in view of a prospective visit to his property in Antigua, W . I . , which he feared stood in danger of seizure by France; The Annual Register for 1 7 7 8 , " C h r o n i c l e , " pp. 2 0 0 - 2 0 1 . Mr. H. Stanley. Hans Stanley ( 1 7 2 0 ? - ! 7 8 0 ) , M . P . for Southampton, Governor of the Isle of Wight, and Cofferer of the Household. He had lived for some years in France and was regarded as an authority on the affairs of that nation. Mr. Byng. George Byng ( 1 7 3 5 - 1 7 8 9 ) , nephew of the third Viscount T o r rington; M . P . for Wigan. An ardent supporter of Fox, he here acts in the role of party whip. Mr. Robinson. John Robinson ( 1 7 2 7 - 1 8 0 2 ) , M . P . for Harwich and 2 Secretary of the Treasury. A favorite of George I l l ' s , Robinson managed the Treasury boroughs and served as the King's personal agent in Parliament. In The Castle of Infamy, 1 7 8 0 , an anonymous satirist describes how Rob[in]son's quick Eye Controll'd the pension'd, flac'd, expectant Fry. . . . At his shrewd Look, his pregnant Nod, or Wink, T h e Spirits of all Parties rise or sink. PAGE 61 the Fermeurs Généraux. T h e Fermiers-Généraux were the body of French officials who, under the Ancien Régime, leased as a concession the collecton of taxes.

NOTES

8i

Gen. Conway. Henry Seymour Conway (i 7 2 1 — 1 7 9 5 ) , second son of the first Baron Conway; M . P . for Bury St. Edmunds; General; Governor of Jersey; cousin and correspondent of Horace Walpole. PACE

62

Admiral Barrington. Samuel Barrington ( 1 7 2 9 - 1 8 0 0 ) , fifth son of the first Viscount Barrington; Rear-Admiral ; Commander-in-Chief in the West Indies until superseded by Byron in January 1 7 7 9 . Count Broglio. Victor-François, Duc de Broglie ( 1 7 1 8 - 1 8 0 4 ) , Marshal of France; appointed Commander-in-Chief on the Coasts on the Ocean, May 1 7 7 8 . Mr Sawbridge. John Sawbridge ( 1 7 3 2 ? — 1 7 9 5 ) , Radical M . P . for the City of London; an intimate of John Wilkes', and active in founding the Society of the Supporters of the Bill of Rights. Sister Macauly. Catharine Sawbridge Macaulay ( 1 7 3 1 - 1 7 9 1 ) , afterwards Mrs. Graham, sister of the foregoing; republican bluestocking; wrote The History of England from the Accession of James I to That of the Brunswick Line, 1763—83, much praised and damned in its day for its republicanism; visited America and stopped with Washington for ten days, 1 7 8 5 . Dr. Johnson took satisfaction in having exposed her principles by once desiring her to invite her footman to sit at table with her; Boswell's Johnson, ed. Hill and Powell, I» 447Warley-Common.

In Essex, where one of the militia camps was situated. PAGE

63

a majority of 261 to 148. T h e motion for the amendment to the address was rejected on the opening day of the session by a vote of 226 to 1 0 7 , an indication that the House was less crowded than had been expected. Mr Charles Townshend. Charles Townshend ( 1 7 2 8 - 1 8 1 0 ) , nephew of the third Viscount Townshend; M.P. for Yarmouth; cr. Baron Bayning of Foxley, 1797Mr Charles Turner. Charles Turner ( 1 7 2 6 ? - 1 8 0 3 ) , M . P . for York; cr. a baronet, 1782. He was a staunch Whig and according to Nathaniel Wraxall "one of the most eccentric men who ever sat in Parliament" (Historical and Posthumous Memoirs, II, 2 6 7 ) .

B I B L I O G R A P H Y OF T I C K E L L ' S W R I T I N G S

BIBLIOGRAPHY

OF

TICKELL'S

WRITINGS T H E entries in this bibliography, with a f e w necessary exceptions, are arranged as follows: a. a transcript of the text of the title-page of the first edition; b. a collation of the first edition by pages; c. locations of copies of the first edition that I have used and have had reproduced or consulted for m e ; d. a list of later editions, variant issues, and reprints. U n d e r c a complete census has not been attempted, and not every copy located may be assumed to be perfect. U n d e r d sufficient information is given to identify the various editions, but differences in title, text, and collation are not recorded unless they are essential for identification. T o give complete descriptions of all the issues of Tickell's writings would require from two to three times the space of the present bibliography. The

symbols for locations should

Athenaeum, BM =

be expanded

British Museum, BP =

Library of Congress, HC =

thus: BA =

Boston

Boston Public Library, c

Harvard College Library, HEH =

=

Henry E .

Huntington Library, JCB = John Carter B r o w n Library, LHB = the present editor, NEWB — Newberry Library, NYP = WLC = William L . Clements Library, v u =

N e w Y o r k Public Library, Y a l e University Library.

A s stated earlier, the place of publication, unless otherwise indicated, is London. i T h e Project. A Poem. Dedicated to D e a n T u c k e r . V e r u m , ubi, tempestas, et caeli mobilis humor Mutavere vias, et Jupiter uvidus Austris Densat erant qua? rara modo, et qua; densa, relaxat; animorum; Strand. M D C C

Vertuntur species

Virgil. L o n d o n : Printed for T . Becket, Adelphi, in the LXXVIII.

4to. P. [ i ] , title, verso blank; pp. [iii-iv], " D e d i c a t i o n " ; pp. text. Copies: BM, HC, LHB.

85

[i]-i2,

86

B I B L I O G R A P H Y Fifth

Edition,

Becket, 1 7 7 9 . Sixth Edition, Becket, 1 7 8 0 . Reprinted in The New

Second, T h i r d ,

Found-

ling Hosfital

and

for

Wit.

Fourth . . .

A

Editions, New

Becket,

Edition.

. . .

D e b r e t t , 1 7 8 6 , I , 3 0 7 - 3 1 7 . Reprinted in Bell's Fugitive

British Library, 1 7 8 9 - 9 4 , I V ,

Poetry,

1778.

In Six

Volumes,

J.

Classical Arrangement

of

[92]-IOI.

ii T h e W r e a t h of Fashion, or, the A r t of Sentimental Poetry. D e m e t r i , teq; T i g e l l i , Discipularum inter jubeo plorarc cathedras. Horace. London:

Printed

for T .

Becket,

Adelphi,

in

the

Strand.

M

DCC

L X X V I I I . [Price O n e Shilling.] 4to. P . [ i ] , title, verso blank; pp. [iii]-iv, " A d v e r t i s e m e n t " ; pp. 1 4 , t e x t ; p. [ 1 5 ] , advertisement of The

Project,

[1]-

Second Edition, verso

blank. Copies: BM, HC, LHB. Second, T h i r d ,

and

Fourth

Editions,

Becket,

1778.

Fifth

Edition,

Becket, 1 7 7 8 or 1 7 7 9 ( I have traced no c o p y ) . Sixth Edition, Becket, 1 7 8 0 . D u b l i n : W m . W i l s o n , 1 7 7 9 . Reprinted in The Hosfital

for Wit.

. . .

A New

Edition.

. . .

brett, 1 7 8 6 , I , 295—306. Reprinted in Bell's gitive Poetry,

In Six

New Volumes,

J.

De-

of

Fu-

British Library, 1 7 8 9 - 9 4 , V , [ 7 6 ] — 8 5 . Reprinted in

The

School for Satire: or, A Collection ing the Present

Reign,

Classical Arrangement

Foundling

of Modern

Satirical Poems

Jacques and C o . , 1801

Written

dur-

(sometimes 1 8 0 2 ) , pp.

143-159iii Prologue to the C a m p . W r i t t e n by Richard T i c k e l l , Esq. T h i s entry is f r o m The

London

Chronicle,

23 O c t o b e r 1 7 7 8 . T h o u g h

printed in several magazines at the time of the production, the Prologue seems first to have accompanied the text of the play in John M u r r a y ' s edition of Sheridan's Works, The Camf,

1821, II, 161-162.

"a musical entertainment," was first performed 15 October 1778, at

Drury Lane Theatre; it was first printed, without publisher's name, London, 1795. Sheridan's authorship was universally accepted by the press of the time and in the early biographical notices of Sheridan; see R . Crompton Rhodes' edition of Sheridan's Plays and Poems, New Y o r k , 1929, II, 1 7 1 . T h e first to question it was Tate W i l kinson, who asserted that Sheridan "never wrote a line" of this "catchpenny for the

BIBLIOGRAPHY time" ( T h e Wandering wise thought The Camp

Patentee,

87

Y o r k , 1795, IV, 1 2 4 ) . Later, T h o m a s Moore like-

" u n w o r t h y " of Sheridan's genius and declared, on the evi-

dence of a rough copy in T i c k e l l ' s hand, that T i c k e l l was the author (Sheridan, 2nd ed., 1825, I, 2 6 4 ) . F o l l o w i n g Moore, some editors have omitted it from editions of Sheridan. Library catalogues and recent bibliographies, apparently f o l l o w i n g W a l t e r Sichel (Sheridan,

I, 4 4 3 ) , whose statements on these matters are sometimes merely

conjectures, generally assign The Camp to T i c k e l l as "revised" by Sheridan. A rough copy in T i c k e l l ' s hand is very inconclusive evidence of his authorship. In view of known "catchpenny" w o r k by Sheridan, the alleged inferiority of

The

Camp is still less conclusive. T i c k e l l may of course have contributed to the dialogue, as he later did in many of the Drury Lane productions. But there are no adequate grounds for denying the contemporary attribution to Sheridan.

iv Anticipation: Containing the Substance of His M cious Speech to both H

s of P

1

y's Most G r a -

1, on the Opening of the ap-

proaching Session, together W i t h a full and authentic Account of the Debate which will take Place in the H

e of C

s, on the Motion for the A d -

dress, and the A m e n d m e n t . W i t h Notes. " S o shall my Anticipation Prevent your Discovery." Hamlet. L o n d o n : Printed for T . Becket, the C o r n e r of the Adelphi, in the Strand. 1 7 7 8 . 8vo. P . [ i ] , half-title, verso blank; p. [in], title, verso blank; pp. [ v ] — vi, " A d v e r t i s e m e n t " ; p. [vii], " T h e Gentlemen trading to the East-Indies . . . , " verso blank; pp. [ 1 ]—74, text. ( T h e last leaf of the text is signed L , and it is likely that a blank leaf should follow as the conjugate. In all the copies I have seen and in all but one of those consulted for me by librarians, this final leaf is wanting. Miss A n n e S. Pratt reports a copy in the Mason-Franklin Collection at Y a l e that, though closely bound, appears to have been issued with this final blank leaf.) Copies: BA, BP, c , HC, HEH, JCB, NEWB, NYP, WLC, YU. Sabin # 9 5 7 8 8 . Second, T h i r d , Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth E d i tions, Becket, 1 7 7 8 . A l s o a variant "Second Edition," with the same imprint and date but with a different number of blanks in the words containing deleted letters in the title and with different collation: p. [ i ] , title, verso blank; pp. [iii]-iv, " A d v e r t i s e m e n t " ; pp. [ 5 ] — 6 7 , text; p.

[68],

blank. T e n t h Edition, Becket, 1780. A N e w Edition, Becket, 1 7 9 4 . D u b lin: Byrn and Son, 1 7 7 8 . Philadelphia: T . Bradford, 1 7 7 9 ; called " T h e Sixth Edition." N e w Y o r k : James Rivington, 1 7 7 9 (no copy traced; an-

BIBLIOGRAPHY

88

nounced as published in Rivington's Royal printed in The Pamphleteer;

Gazette,

17 M a r c h ) .

Dedicated to Both Houses of

Re-

Parliament,

A. J . Valpy, X I X , 1 8 2 2 , [ 3 0 9 ] " 3 4 5 Of the numerous continuations and imitations that appeared in the next few years, none except Common-Place sition Mornings:

with

Betty's

Arguments, Remarks,

and Laing ( D i c t i o n a r y of Anonymous

1 7 8 0 (no. viii, b e l o w ) , is by Tickell.

Oppo-

J . Wilkie, 1 7 7 9 , is assigned to him in Halkett and Pseudonymous

burgh, 1 9 2 6 - 3 4 , I V , 2 6 5 ) , in Sabin ( # 9 5 7 9 7 ) ,

Literature,

new ed., Edin-

and in library catalogues gen-

erally. Not made by earlier bibliographers, this attribution is probably based on a conjecture in The

Monthly

Review

that Opposition

Mornings

might be an inferior

work by Tickell ( L X , 1 7 7 9 , 4.73). T h e tract makes use of several of Tickell's satirical devices of the kind easily borrowed. But there is no good evidence that he wrote it, and the lack of a spark of wit in the whole performance is strong evidence to the contrary.

v La Cassette Verte de Monsieur de Sartine, Trouvée chez Mademoiselle D u T h é . Ipse dolos tecti ambagesque resolvit. Virgil. (Cinquième Edition revue & corrigée sur celles de Leipsic & d'Amsterdam.) A La Haye: Chez la Veuve Whiskerfeld, in de Platte Borze by de Vrydagmerkt. M , D C C , LXX.IX. 8vo. P. [i], half-title, verso blank; p. [iii], title, verso blank; pp. [ i ] 4, "Avis au Lecteur"; p. [ 5 ] , "Avant Propos," verso blank; pp. [ 7 ] —71, text; p. [ 7 2 ] , blank. Copies: HEH, NYP, YU. Sabin # 9 5 7 9 3 . Sixième Edition, with identical title (except for change in number of edition), identical imprint and date; the text is set largely from the same type but extended by new matter to p. 76, and there is no blank page at the end. T h e Cinquième Edition described above may be safely regarded as the editio princeps; there were, however, at least three variant issues, two of which are easily confused with the original edition. One of these corresponds exactly in imprint, pagination, and signatures with the regular Cinquième Edition but is set from different type, has a different title-page border, and uses less elaborate printer's ornaments throughout; it may be at once distinguished from the original by the fact that the words " M o n sieur de Sartine" in the title are printed, not in red as in the original, but in black; copies in BA, NYP. A second variant has the same imprint as the regular Cinquième Edition, but the title-page has a still different bor-

89

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

der, no rubrication, and the w o r d " C i n q u i è m e " is erroneously printed w i t h a n acute instead of a g r a v e a c c e n t ; the pagination is the same as that of the regular Cinquième Edition, but the variant is a smaller octavo, the type ]2, B - K 4 ;

is not the same, nor are the signatures ( r e g u l a r : [ [

2

8

variant:

4

] , B - E , F ) ; copies in N Y P , Y U . T h e r e is, finally, in the Y a l e

versity L i b r a r y an issue called the " C i n q u i è m e [sic]

Uni-

édition," with a title-

page border different f r o m any in the preceding issues, with the same pagination as the regular Cinquième Edition, but f r o m different type, w i t h J1, B8, C - I 4

signatures [

p u z z l i n g date " M . D C C .

(half-title doubtless w a n t i n g ) , and with the

LXXXII."

La Cassette verte is a political and bibliographical hoax. T h e text purports to be secret papers found in a dispatch-box belonging to M . de Sartine, French Minister of Marine. (On Mademoiselle Du Thé, i.e., Rosalie Duthé, a Parisian courtesan who had recently visited England, see Pierre Larousse, Grand

dictionnaire

. . .

du

XIX'

siècle, Paris, 1 8 6 6 - 9 0 , VI, 1 4 4 7 - 1 4 4 8 . ) T h e papers expose the motives of the French government in aiding the United States and satirize Franklin's activities in Paris, English sympathizers with the American cause, and the like. A letter supposedly written by one of Sartine's agents in London provides a gloss on certain passages in Anticipation.

I quote from the English version (no. vi, b e l o w ) :

Alas! in these times, a spy's office here is almost a sinecure: a dozen newspapers in the morning, and as many fresh ones every evening, rob us of all our business: a secret even in private affairs is a prodigy in London; but as to public matters, it is the patriot's boast, that a free constitution abhors secrecy: and so indeed it seems; for, not only the minutest accounts of the army, the navy, and the taxes, but the minister's letters, official instructions, and in short, every paper, the disclosure of which may serve opposition, and tend to prejudice the ministers by a premature discovery of their plans, are perpetually called for, and must lie on the tables of Parliament; where, as soon as they are once brought, their contents one way or other get into print; consequently, . . . the French ministers are not only as much in possession of them as the English, but study them far more attentively, and to ten times more advantage than they do who called for their disclosure in England

A l l this is bad en-

couragement to a spy at London. Bibliographicallv, the pamphlet raises questions that cannot be answered with complete certainty. How is the number of variant issues to be accounted for, and what are their relations to the editio frincefs?

The satire was originally written by T i c k -

ell in English and was then translated into bad French to circulate on the Continent as propaganda against the Franco-American Monthly

Review

(see the extract from

The

under the next entry, and that from Bachaumont's Mémoires

alliance

fur-

ther on in the present entry). However, the French version, purporting to be the

go

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

"Cinquième Edition," published " A L a H a y e , " and "revue & corrigée sur celles de Leipsic & d'Amsterdam," appeared in England earlier than the English original

(La

Cassette verte

The

Green Box

was noticed in The

Monthly

Review

for M a y

1 7 7 9 , p. 39+ ;

in the following month, p. 4 7 3 ) . It seems most likely that the regular

Cinquième and the Sixième Editions were printed on the Continent and that the variant issues were English reprints. Typographical evidence tends to confirm this supposition. T h e type and ornaments of the regular Cinquième Edition and the Sixième seem clearly not to be English. T h e variants, on the other hand, all appear to be English in origin, and it may be noted that their less elaborate ornaments give the impression of feeble imitation. There is evidence that the hoax was disliked in certain high quarters. In Louis Petit de Bachaumont's Mémoires lettres en France,

secrets four

servir à l'histoire

de la république

des

1 7 8 0 - 8 9 , appears an " E x t r a i t d'une lettre d'Amsterdam du 22 Mai

1 7 8 0 , " which reads, in part: Il a paru dans ce pays, il y a déjà du tems, peut-être un an, une brochure très courte, intitulée la cassette verte. . . . On ne sait si M . de Sartine en a ctc piqué, ou si c'est un zele de ses partisans dans ce pays; niais on mande de la Haye que le jeudi 19 de ce mois, on y a arrêté une Dame Godin, comme ayant eu quelque part à cette cassette verte & qu'elle en est partie le jour même avec des gardes qui la conduisent jusqu'aux frontières de France, d'où vraisemblement elle sera transférée à la Bastille ( X V , 1 8 9 ) . vi The

Green

B o x of Monsieur de Sartine, F o u n d at Mademoiselle

T h é ' s L o d g i n g s . F r o m the F r e n c h of the H a g u e Edition.

Revised

du and

corrected by those of Leipsic and A m s t e r d a m . " I translate for the C o u n t r y Gentlemen."

Anticipation.

London:

Sold

hv A .

Becket, corner of

Adelphi, S t r a n d ; and R . F a u l d e r , Bond-street. M D C C

the

LXXIX.

8vo. P . [ i ] , half-title, verso blank; p. [iii], title, verso blank; pp.

[1]-

4 , " A d v e r t i s e m e n t " ; p. [ 5 ] , note by the " E d i t o r , " verso blank; pp.

[7]-

7 1 , text; p. [ 7 2 ] , ad vertisement of Anticipation, sette

verte,

Ninth Edition, La

Cas-

and other w o r k s by Tickell.

Copies: BP, HC, HF.H, N V P . Sabin

#95796.

Second, T h i r d , F o u r t h , and F i f t h Editions, Becket and F a u l d e r , D u b l i n : J a m e s B y r n and S o n , 1 7 7 9 . A l s o an edition dated 1 7 7 9

1779.

without

place or publisher's name and with different collation; evidently a piracy. H e a r t m a n ' s Historical Series N o . 1 9 ; " S i x t y - f i v e copies printed for C h a r l e s F . Heartman, N e w

Y o r k City

tion of La

verte.

Cassette

1916";

this is an independent

transla-

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

9i

"It now appears that this pretended English translation is the original work, as it came from the ludicrous pen of Mr. Tickell . . . ; and that the French edition . . . was only a circumstance in the joke" (The Monthly Review, L X , 1779, 4 7 3 ) A number of imitations followed La Cassette •verle and The Green Box. Among these are An English Green Box . . . , G. Kearsly, 1 7 7 9 ; Histoire d'un pou fran(ois . . . , "A Paris, de 1'Imprirrierie Rovale," 1 7 7 9 ; and the English version of the latter, History of a French Louse . . . , T . Becket, 1779—all of which have been erroneously ascribed to Tickell.

vii Epistle from the Honourable Charles F o x , Partridge-Shooting, to the Honourable J o h n T o w n s h e n d , Cruising. L o n d o n : Printed for R . Faulder, N e w Bond Street. M D C C

LXXIX.

4to. P . [ 1 ] , half-title, verso blank; p. [ 3 ] , title, verso blank; pp. [ 5 ] — 1 4 , text; pp. [ 1 5 — 1 6 ] , blank. Copies: B M , HC. Sabin # 9 5 7 9 5 . A N e w Edition, Faulder, 1 7 7 9 . T h i r d Edition, Faulder, 1 7 8 0 . lin: R . Marchbank, 1 7 7 9 . Reprinted in The Wit.

. . .

A New

Edition.

. . .

3 1 8 — 3 2 3 . Reprinted in Bell's British Library, 1 7 8 9 - 9 4 , I V ,

In

Classical

Six

New

Foundling

Volumes,

Arrangement

Hospital

Dubfor

J . Debrett, 1 7 8 6 , I , of Fugitive

Poetry,

[86]—91.

The Epistle is a pleasing Horatian piece that makes good-natured fun of the Whig wits and politicians of Brooks's Club. On John Townshend ( 1 7 5 7 - 1 8 3 3 ) , later called Lord John, second son of the first Marquis Townshend, see W. P. Courtney, Eight Friends of the Great, 1 9 1 0 , pp. 1 7 2 - 1 8 3 . Fox, in the country, is depicted urging on his pointers with "patriot names": No servile ministerial runners they! N o t R A N G E R then, but WASHINGTON, I

cry;

H e y o n ! P A U L JONES, re-echoes to the s k y :

Toho! old FRANKLIN—SILAS DEANE, take heed!— Cheer'd with the sound, o'er hills and dales they speed. But as he toils through fields of stubble he yearns for " T h e long lost pleasures of Sr. JAMF.S'S STREET," which are set forth by Tickell in graceful and glowing lines. The Efistle was very highly praised by the reviewers and by others, but Horace Walpole, in a letter to Lady Ossorv of 2 December 1779, recorded an acute dissent: "Towards the end there seems some very pretty lines; but, upon the whole, a quoi bon? a quel propos? I believe it was meant for a satire, but the author winked, and it flashed in the pan (Letters, ed. Toynbee, X I , 74.-75)."

92

B I B L I O G R A P H Y viii Common-Place

A r g u m e n t s against Administration, with O b v i o u s

An-

s w e r s , ( I n t e n d e d for the U s e of the N e w P a r l i a m e n t . ) L o n d o n : Printed for R . F a u l d e r , N e w B o n d Street. M

DCC

LXXX.

8 v o . P . [ i ] , half-title, verso blank; p. [iii], title, verso blank; pp. viii, " A d v e r t i s e m e n t " ;

pp. [ a n inserted l e a f ] , " C o n t e n t s " ;

pp.

[v]-

[9]-IOI,

t e x t ; p. [ 1 0 2 ] , blank. C o p i e s : H C , N Y P . Sabin

#95794.

S e c o n d , T h i r d , and F o u r t h Editions, F a u l d e r , 1 7 8 0 . D u b l i n : R . M a r c h bank, 1 7 8 0 ; called " T h e T h i r d E d i t i o n . " A transparent attempt to repeat the success of Anticipation,

this satire was unani-

mously assigned to T i c k e l l by the reviews and is clearly his. Opposition

charges

and

ministerial replies are provided on such topics as "Best Officers drawn from the Service," " T h e last Campaign, and State of the Nation," and the like, together with a section of "Miscellaneous Eloquence, or, Collateral Rhetoric for the G a l l e r y , " which contains the best mimicry the tract affords. T h e reviewers justly taxed Tickell with writing f o r hire and borrowing from himself. ix Select S o n g s of the G e n t l e Shepherd. A s I t Is P e r f o r m e d at the T h e a t r e Royal, D r u r y - L a n e M DCC LXXXI.

L o n d o n : Printed for T .

Becket, Adelphi,

Strand.

[Price Six-pence.]

8 v o . P . [ 1 ] , title, verso blank; pp. [ 3 ] — ! g , text; p. [ 2 0 ] , blank. Copy: HEH. T h e r e w e r e no other issues. T h i s pastoral opera in two acts, performed as an afterpiece at Drury Lane, 29 October 1 7 8 1 , is an alteration of Allan Ramsay's Gentle Shepherd,

1 7 2 5 , which had

already had a long stage history. It ran for twenty-two nights and remained the standard stage version until after 1 800. In an article entitled " R e v i v i n g ' T h e Gentle Shepherd,' "

W. J . Lawrence condemned Tickell's alteration out of hand because

"the abounding Doric had been bled white, and new music had been substituted for the fine old Scots melodies" (The

[London] Graphic,

C V I I I , 1 9 2 3 , 3 4 0 ) . T h e mu-

sic has not survived, but the discriminating review in The

Universal

Magazine

praised Linley's skill in preserving the original airs while providing accompaniments for an expanded orchestra ( L X I X , 1 7 8 1 , 2 3 7 ) . T h e dialogue, however handled, was certain to produce disagreement, but Tickell was more faithful to the original than previous adapters had been. On this point James Boaden wrote:

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

93

T h e simple beauties of the poem were . . . felt on this occasion, and the lovers of rustic nature were obliged to M r . Tickell for the restoration of its original l a n g u a g e — t h e pronunciation,

and still more the cadence, suffered as might be

expected from diffidence and badness of ear ( M e m o i r s of Mrs. Siddoni,

1827,

I, 2 5 2 ) . X

S o n g s , D u o s , T r i o s , C h o r u s s e s , & c , in the C o m i c O p e r a o f t h e C a r n i v a l o f V e n i c e , as it is P e r f o r m e d at the T h e a t r e R o y a l , D r u r y L a n e . 1 7 8 1 . Pr. 8vo.

P.

London.

I5 [1],

title, v e r s o b l a n k ;

p.

[3],

"Dramatis

Personae,"

verso

b l a n k ; pp. 5 - 2 7 , t e x t ; p. [ 2 8 ] , blank. C o p y : BM. T h e r e w e r e n o o t h e r issues. The Carnival

of Venice opened on 13 December 1781 and played twenty-three

times during the season but was never revived. It was written to suit what T i c k e l l himself, in a letter to an aspiring playwright, called "the present taste for complicated plot and perplexed incidents" (unpublished letter to A . Becket, August

1781,

in the Widener Collection, Harvard College L i b r a r y ) ; for the plot, see the review in The Universal

Magazine,

L X I X , 1781, 328. T h e music was provided by Linley,

and the elaborate sets and costumes by De Loutherbourg. In particular the songs were admired: T o m Moore and Samuel Rogers remembered and quoted them in the next century (Moore, Sheridan, M a r y Y o u n g , in her Memoirs

2nd ed., 1825, II, 2 2 7 ; Rogers, Table-Talk, of Mrs. Crouch,

p. 7 2 ) .

1806, said that " M a n y of the songs

in this piece so perfectly resemble, in poetic beauty, those which adorn the Duenna [by Sheridan], that they declare themselves to be the offspring of the same Muse" (I, 1 2 7 ) . Sheridan's biographers have variously ascribed the songs, in part or entirely, to him and Mrs. Sheridan, but on what grounds save their excellence does not appear (Sichel, Sheridan, I, 443, and II, 4 5 9 ; Rae, article on T i c k e l l in the

DNB).

xi [Prologue to] Variety;

A C o m e d y , in F i v e A c t s : as it is p e r f o r m e d a t

t h e T h e a t r e - R o y a l in D r u r y - L a n e . L o n d o n : P r i n t e d f o r T . B e c k e t , A d e l phi, S t r a n d , B o o k s e l l e r t o H i s R o y a l H i g h n e s s t h e P r i n c e o f W a l e s , T h e i r R o y a l H i g h n e s s e s the P r i n c e s .

and

MDCCLXXXII.

C o p i e s : BM, c . 8vo. P.

[ i ] , h a l f - t i t l e , v e r s o b l a n k ; p. [ i i i ] , title, v e r s o b l a n k ;

pp.

v i ] , " P r o l o g u e , by R i c h a r d T i c k e l l , E s q ; " ; p. f v i i ] , " E p i l o g u e " ; p.

[v-

[viii],

9

4

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

" E p i l o g u e , " continued, and " D r a m a t i s P e r s o n s " ;

pp.

[ I ] — 7 1 > text;

p.

[ 7 2 ] , publisher's advertisements. Subsequent issues disregarded here. Variety

was written by Richard Griffith (d. 1 7 8 8 ) , and was first performed 25

February 1 7 8 2 . xii R e m a r k s on the C o m m u t a t i o n A c t . Addressed to the People of land. L o n d o n : Printed f o r T .

Becket, in P a i l - M a l l . M

DCC

Eng-

LXXXV.

[ P r i c e O n e Shilling and S i x - p e n c e . ] 8 v o . P . [ i ] , title, verso b l a n k ; pp. [ I ] — 8 1 , text; p. [ 8 2 ] , blank. Copy: YU. S e c o n d , T h i r d , and F o u r t h Editions, Becket,

1785.

Assigned to Tickell by a M S . note on the title-page of a copy of the Fourth Edition in the New Y o r k Public Library. It is characteristically Tickell's in substance and style. Intended as an attack on a proposed reduction of the tea-duty, it enlarges into a satire on Pitt's administration, especially the ascendancy of the F.ast India Company interest therein. While the Company continues its corrupt sway, Pitt directs the energies of Parliament to "Edicts against the Waste of Wafers in Public Offices, and Registrations of the Nett Consumption of Quills; together with Sworn Meters of Sand, and a Comptroller-General of Blotting-Paper." xiii Contributions to The

Rolliad.

T h e work known as The Rolliad

is only for the sake of convenience so styled. T h e

name serves as a collective title for a group of many works, differently titled and separately published, ranging from squibs a quatrain long to extended mock-heroic poems. These collaborative W h i g satires began to appear in Henry Bate's Herald

Morning

late in 1 7 8 4 ; and the inclusive editions, issued from 1795 on under the title

of The Rolliad,

contain Criticisms

Odes for the Laureates/lip,

on The Rolliad,

and Political

Miscellanies.

Political

Eclogues,

Probationary

Many ancillary pieces by the

same group of authors appeared in newspapers and fugitive miscellanies but were never reprinted. A good deal has been written in appreciation of the literary and political satire of the Rolliad

pieces, but no thorough study of their history and bibliography has been

attempted. So complex is their bibliography that it is impossible to give a satisfactory account of any single author's share. T h e principal information on authorship will be found in several contributions to Notes and Queries, 1 8 5 1 , from copies of The

Rolliad

1st ser., II, 1 8 5 0 , and I I I ,

annotated by the authors or by those who knew

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

95

them, as follows: French Laurence's notes, II, 373, and III, 1 2 9 - 1 3 1 ; George Ellis' notes, II, 1 1 4 - 1 1 5 ; Alexander Chalmers' notes, II, 1 4 2 ; Sir James Mackintosh's notes, III, 1 3 1 . T o these should be added Sheridan's notes in a copy used by Walter Sichel; see his Sheridan, II, S j f f . There is much other scattered information, of which full use has not yet been made, in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century memoirs and journals. According to French Laurence, who acted as editor, "the piece first published, and the origin of all that followed," was the "Short Account of the Family of the Rollos, now Rolles," written principally by Tickell and purporting to be a genealogy of the family of John Rolle, M . P . for Devon, the unlucky hero of the projected mock epic. Tickell designed the absurd family tree that served as frontispiece for Criticisms on The Rolliad (information from Sheridan, in Lord Broughton [John Cam Hobhouse], Recollections of a Long Life, ed. Lady Dorchester, 1 9 0 9 - 1 1 , I, 202). He had also a leading hand in the next project of the group, the Probationary Odes, for which he provided the editorial preliminaries, the first of the trial odes, supposed to be by Sir Cecil Wray, and the ninth, supposed to be by Nathaniel Wraxall and one of the best in the series. (According to Mackintosh, the ninth ode was "sketched by Canning, the Eton boy, finished by Tickell.") The most successful of the Political Eclogues, a satire on Lord Lansdowne called Jekyll, was the collaborative work of Tickell and Lord John Townshend; it first appeared as a quarto poem published by J . Debrett, 1788. For the smaller contributions of Tickell, which are numerous, the lists in Notes and Queries may be consulted. xiv A Woollen Draper's Letter on the French T r e a t y , to His Friends and Fellow Tradesmen A l l over England. " T h e clothiers all not able to maintain " T h e many to them 'longing, have put off " T h e ers, fullers, w e a v e r s . " Shakespeare's Henry V I I I .

the Author, and sold by J . French, Bookseller, N o . street, by the Booksellers near the Royal E x c h a n g e , Fleet-street, &c. &c. &c.

spinsters, card-

L o n d o n : Printed for 164,

Fenchurch-

Pater-Noster-Row,

M,DCC,LXXXVI.

8vo. P . [ i ] , title, verso blank; pp. [ 1 ] —48, text. Copies: HC, NYP. Second Edition, F r e n c h ,

1786.

This tract is here first assigned to Tickell, who stated he was the author in a letter to Samuel Parr, 20 February [ 1 7 8 7 ] (Parr, Works, ed. J . Johnstone, 1828, VIII, 1 3 1 ) . It is assigned to a different author in Halkett and Laing (new ed., 1926-34, VI, 2 5 2 ) , where a copy is reported that contains a MS. dedication signed "Lieut. J . Mackenzie." Tickell's statement of authorship, the lack of any information about J . Mackenzie, and various circumstances (too involved to detail here) relating to

96

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

Whig propagandist activity at this time, all suggest that Lieut. J . Mackenzie is a fictitious

person. A s the Foxites' chief pamphleteer Tickell did his duty, but as a

member of Brooks's he did not care to associate his name with a sober commercial tract. T h i s supposed Woollen Draper, who seems to be well acquainted with the subject he treats, endeavours to shew his fellow tradesmen the very great injuries to which the woollen trade is exposed, by the commercial treaty, lately signed at Paris. . . .

In his own style, the sample, which he hath here offered

to the Public, is well wrought, and of a good fabric ( T h e Monthly

Review,

L X X V I , 1787, 7 1 ) . xv T h e People's A n s w e r to the C o u r t Pamphlet: Entitled A Short R e v i e w of the Political State of G r e a t Britain. Q u i d prius dicam solitis Parentis Laudibus? dilly.

Printed f o r J . Debrett, opposite Burlington-house

Picca-

MDCCLXXXVII.

8 v o . P . [ i ] , half-title, verso blank; p. [iii], title, verso blank; pp. 5 0 , t e x t ; pp. [ 5 1 - 5 2 ] ,

[1]-

blank.

Copies: HC, N Y P , W L C . Second, T h i r d ,

Fourth,

and

F i f t h Editions,

1787.

Dublin:

This tract is here first assigned to Tickell. His letter to P a r r of 20

February

W h i t e , B y r n e , M o o r e , and J o n e s ,

Debrett,

1787.

[ 1 7 8 7 ] , mentioned in the preceding entry, begins: F r o m some enquiries in your letter to Mrs. Sheridan, I believe you thought it was right to answer the Political

Review.

I mean the pamphlet that tra-

duced the Prince of Wales and every one else except Hastings. I now send you the answer I gave it, because, as you thought it right it should be answered, you will excuse faults in a paper written in a hurry (Parr, Works, V I I I , 1 3 1 ) . T h e pamphlet to which T i c k e l l refers is A Short Review Great-Britain Eighty-Seven,

at the Commencement

of the Political

of the Year One Thousand

State of

Seven Hundred

and

Debrett, 1 7 8 7 , a collection of political portraits and cursory observa-

tions as thin in substance as they are florid in style. Its authorship was acknowledged in the Posthumous

Memoirs,

1 8 3 6 , of Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, who told there of its

immense success upon publication: it ran through six editions in the last ten days of J a n u a r y , sold 17,000 copies, and elicited a half-dozen replies within a month torical

and Posthumous

Memoirs,

1884, IV, 3 7 2 - 3 7 5 ) .

The People's

Answer

(Hiswas

written from Tickell's precise political position at this time and displays his characteristic style. Beginning in his usual brisk and pointed manner, Tickell suggests that the celebrity of the Short Review

is due largely to such a total want of polite wit among the

supporters of Administration "that even a Charade from one of the King's

Friends

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

97

would excite . . . admiration." T h e author has provided "the dull desponding train of an unlettered Court" with a sort of handy manual for the Levee . . . , lightly touching on the topicks most in vogue, and sketching out handy sentences for the Lords of the Bedchamber to retail, or the Maids of Honour to scribble on their fans. Here is the hand of the author of The Wreath of Fashion.

In his treatment of Pitt's

commercial treaty, his g i f t of mimicry is also apparent. T i c k e l l the elegant amateur cannot resist parodying the style of writers on commercial subjects: E v e r y leaf of these motley compositions displays an epitome of all the tricks of invitation, that are practised by the trades they discuss; some of them intoxicating the eye, like Vintners'

windows,

with

BRANDY!

RUM!

and

B R I T I S H S P I R I T ! in capitals—while others denote their beaten track, and towns of baiting; like the lettered pannels of a stage coach, in characters of a most extensive and convincing size; as, HULL,

BOOKING,

LEEDS,

or

BRAINTREE,

WAKEFIELD,

DUNMOW,

YORK,

C O L C H E S T E R , &c.

Perhaps the most amusing thing about this passage is that Tickell is ridiculing, among others, himself, for these are the very devices of the honest Woollen Draper's Letter. T h e defence of the Prince of Wales' conduct and friends, which occupies the later pages of The People's

Answer,

is in a more serious tone. xvi

[Prologue

to]

The

Fugitive: A

Comedy.

A s it is performed at the

K i n g ' s T h e a t r e , H a y m a r k e t . B y Joseph Richardson, E s q . Barrister at L a w . ¿ i t h e r i a s , lascive cupis, volitare per auras I , f u g e , sed poteris, tutior esse domi.

Martial.

London:

House, Piccadilly.

Printed

for J .

Debrett,

opposite

Burlington-

MDCCXCII.

8 v o . P . [ i ] , half-title, verso blank; p. [ i i i ] , title, verso b l a n k ; pp. [v— viii], " A d v e r t i s e m e n t " ;

pp. [ i x - x ] , " P r o l o g u e written by R i c h a r d

Tick-

ell, E s q . " ; p. [ x i ] , " D r a m a t i s P e r s o n a , " verso blank; pp. [ i ] — 8 3 , t e x t ; p. [ 8 4 ] , blank; pp. [ 8 5 - 8 6 ] , " E p i l o g u e , written by the R i g h t H o n . L i e u tenant G e n e r a l

Burgoyne."

Copies: b m , c . Subsequent issues disregarded here. Joseph Richardson ( 1 7 5 5 - 1 8 0 3 ) was an intimate of the Sheridan circle, a Foxite politician, and one of the largest contributors to The first performed 20 April 1792.

Rolliad.

The

Fugitive

was