Chapter IV: Prologue

My Masters and Mistresses, pray lend an ear,
While your Bellman recounts some events of the year;
For altho' its commencement was rather distressing,
We've had reason to thank it for more than one blessing,
'Tis true that Canadian proceedings were strange,
And a very sad fire was the Royal Exchange;
Yet the first, let us hope, is no serious matter,
And we'll soon have a new one in lieu of the latter.
Our rulers have grappled with one of our crosses,
While for beauty and fitness the other no loss is.
And still more to make up for these drawbacks vexatious,
Dame Fortune has been on the whole, pretty gracious.
We've had peace to get wealth, which of war is the sinews.
Grant us wit to make hay while the sunshine continues.
Then, the Bear of the North, that insatiate beast,
Has been check'd in his wily attempts on the East;
And his further insidious advances forbidden
By the broadsword of Auckland, which warns him from Eden.
While our rulers, in earnest, apply to the work,
And a treaty concludes with the Austrian and Turk,
Which, when next the fell Monster is tempted to roam,
May provide him some pleasant employment at home.

TO THE QUEEN.

Whilst the high and the noble in gallant array,
Assemble around her, their homage to pay;
While the proud Peers of Britain with rapture, I ween,
Place her crown on the brow of their peerless young Queen;
While by prince and by peasant her sceptre is blest;
Why may not the Bellman chime in with the rest?
Tho' alas! my poor muse would long labour in vain,
To express our delight in Victoria's reign,
Long may we exult in her merciful sway,
May her moments speed blithely and sweetly as May,
And her days be prolonged till her glories efface
The last maiden lady's, who sate in her place.

THE GREAT WESTERN.

Well, despite of some thousand objections pedantic,
The "Great Western" has cross'd and _re-cross'd_ the Atlantic,
Nor is _this_ the first time--to the foe's consternation--
That the deeds of our tars have defied calculation.
Though few of our learned professors did dream
That our seamen in steamers would reach the gulf stream,
Yet a fortnight's vibration, from Bristol or Cork,
Will now set us down with our friends at New York;
And a closer acquaintance bind firmer than ever,
A friendship which nothing on earth ought to sever.

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