Difference between revisions of "Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress"

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<p style="font-size: 85%;">Page nine from ''Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress,'' from the [https://www.bpl.org/ Boston Public Library's] [https://archive.org/details/bplscarwm American Revolutionary War Manuscripts] collection.</p>
 
<p style="font-size: 85%;">Page nine from ''Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress,'' from the [https://www.bpl.org/ Boston Public Library's] [https://archive.org/details/bplscarwm American Revolutionary War Manuscripts] collection.</p>
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And these two demands grant without hesitation.<br />
 
And these two demands grant without hesitation.<br />
 
Virginia must feel for any neighbor oppress'd,<br />
 
Virginia must feel for any neighbor oppress'd,<br />
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Cannot easy remain till the mischief's suppress'd;<br />
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Cannot easy remain till the mischief's suppress'd;
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And if slaves you include in your capitation,<br />
 
And if slaves you include in your capitation,<br />
 
Is equally injur'd, claims like defalcation.<br />
 
Is equally injur'd, claims like defalcation.<br />

Revision as of 07:57, 13 April 2014

George Wythe and Willam Ellery, "Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress," American Revolutionary War Manuscripts Collection, Boston Public Library, MS.Ch.E.8.31-33.[1]

Manuscript text, November-December 1776

"A Member of the Antinovanglian Faction to W. E.," by George Wythe (VA)

PoemsOnWittySubjectsInCongressP7.jpg

Page seven from Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress,] from the Boston Public Library's American Revolutionary War Manuscripts collection.

A member of the antinovanglian faction to W. E.[2]

To works supererogation
By others, some owe their salvation.
To what the good yankees are doing
Their duty beyond, we owe ruin.

Epigram by the ingenious George Wythe Esq

For the two first Lines the author alludes to the Roman Catholics—
In the two first last to the additional Pay, and Bounty of given to
the Soldiers by the Eastern States.

"A Novanglican to G.W.," by William Ellery (RI)

PoemsOnWittySubjectsInCongressP3.jpg

Page three from Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress, from the Boston Public Library's American Revolutionary War Manuscripts collection.

A Novanglian to G. W.

As by works supererogatory
Rom. Caths. are saved from purgatory,
So by what the Yankees good are doing
Buckskins will save from utter ruin.

"For Farms in Utopia, the Moon, or Some Fairyland," by George Wythe

PoemsOnWittySubjectsInCongressP9.jpg

Page nine from Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress, from the Boston Public Library's American Revolutionary War Manuscripts collection.

PoemsOnWittySubjectsInCongressP10.jpg

Page ten from Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress, from the Boston Public Library's American Revolutionary War Manuscripts collection.

For farms in Utopia, the moon, or some fairyland

Compensations more worth were offered by Maryland.
In this it's denied our sister's cross humor'd,
Whatever by juntos or patriots be rumor'd.
Her brave men must fight, bleed, and suffer as others,
Leave orphans their dear babes and childless their mothers,
Give full many a fair Penelope heartaches,
Whilst their country of their virtuous earnings partakes
A very small pittance. Why this noise and stir then,
If, lest her shoulders bear too much of the burden,
She reject your unequal mode of taxation,
Demonstrate by numbers, without relaxation,
That ruin is doom'd her, and cries in distraction
She'll yield to the Old, not the New, English faction?
With candor attend to her effiagitation,
And these two demands grant without hesitation.
Virginia must feel for any neighbor oppress'd,
Cannot easy remain till the mischief's suppress'd;

And
And if slaves you include in your capitation,
Is equally injur'd, claims like defalcation.
E'en while, it is true, we're somewhat contrarient,
Yet interest will join those of sentiments variant.
And why not? For thence flows that blessing transcendent
All wish for devoutly, a state independent.
Then cease to object to a sister we're tender,
Indulgent with excess, unwilling to mend her,
If we favor petitions founded on reason,
With deference offer'd at convenient season.
Fell discord had too long among us existed.
From our councils cashier'd, if now reenlisted,
It with Tories will league to puzzle our measures
And spoil us of freedom, most precious of treasures.

"A Commissioner, to the People of Philadelphia," by William Ellery

PoemsOnWittySubjectsInCongressP1.jpg

First page from Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress, from the Boston Public Library's American Revolutionary War Manuscripts collection.

A Commissioner, to the people of P _ _ _ _ _ a

Attend all ye People of wry degree
No longer pretend that your Country youll free
Declare for your Treasons a hearty Contrition
Regard as you tender your lives Admonition
E're too late to flee from impending Perdition
Who like me to the thing Allegiance will swear
And future Submission to Congress forbear
Leave all his old Friends to the Parliaments Fury
Let Rebels be hang'd without Judge or Jury
Escapes condemnation to gibbet or halter
Nor need forfeiture fear unless times should alter.

See also

References

  1. ↑ See W. Edwin Hemphill, "George Wythe Courts the Muses," William and Mary Quarterly 3rd ser., 9, no. 3 (July 1952), 338-345.
  2. ↑ "Novanglian": New Englander.

External links

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