| Citation |
PC.771.037
27 May-3 Jun 1771:741 (229)
From a later Edinburgh Weekly Magazine, &c. To the Printer:
Sir, When the famous Sir Thomas More was Lord high
Chancellor of Great-Britain, a dull rogue of an author
applied to him for his opinion of an impertinent book he had
written. "Turn it into rhime, " said Sir Thomas. The man
went home, and did so; and in a few days came the second
time to shew him the fruit of his labours. The chancellor
took it in his hand, and said, "Why, aye, not 'tis
something--'tis rhime; before it was neither rhime nor
reason."
I beg, Mr. Printer, that you would tell our ministry, that
this story is completely applicable to them and their
Spanish declaration. In its present state it is a mere
blank--a nothing: Let W. Whitehead, Esq; the poet laureat,
turn it into rhime, and then it will be something. But in
case the laureat should happen to be engaged about some of
his royal sing-songs, I'll save him the trouble and do it
myself. Here it is
Since the midst of last summer his majesty British
Having turn'd up his nose and been damnably skittish;
Having bullied, and ranted, and made such a rout,
Between London and Madrid, about turning out
From the Island of Falkland his majesty's forces,
And slyly kidnapping his men and his horses:
. . . [10 more lines]
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