Poems on Witty Subjects in Congress

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.

Manuscript text, November-December 1776

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

A member of the antinovanglian faction to W. E. 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.

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

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

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.

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

"Instead of Controlling Our Mary's Cross Humor," by William Ellery

Instead of controlling our Mary's cross humour You give what she asks you. Nay, you would do more For the First Virginia, instead of a manly nobly persisting Gives One up to Mary one Roll for enlisting. Mary then rising in her wild Demands The Virginia lays open the Claims about Lands Nay, more abounding in Supererogation, She too proposes the Mode of Taxation To leave as it was before it was debated For perhaps by this forward might Mary'll be sated. Pray, what is the Cause of this Indulgence so great Where Discord and Jarring subsisted of late? Ill tell you, my Friend, 'tis a truth very serious: Interest will join States of Sentiments various.

Page five 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," by George Wythe

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 efflagitation, And these two demands grant without hesitation. Virginia must feel for any neighbor oppress'd, Cannot easy remain til the mischief's suppress'd; And

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

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.

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

"Epigram," by William Ellery

Like a Babbler ambitious of some little fame I follow when Freeman hath started the Game, But when hunted down poor Puss sinks and dies I give up to Freeman his Right to the Prize Let Wythe take the Laurel his Genius demands I ask but this Book to be classed with his Friends. W. E.

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

"Answer to Epigram," by George Wythe

With one epigram, though well hit off, You must not expect, sir, to get off. I can't for my life give o'er scribbling, Except whilst I'm dreaming or quibbling. Scribendi tam dira cupido, Quam amor quo consumpta Dido. If Howe, hither marching, friend Ell'ry, Were near with his train of artill'ry And bells in the city were chiming, This strange cacoëthes of rhyming Would not cease. Tell me not, in answer, You can't write. It's known you well can, sir, Proceed then; or haec tibi cura, I shall draw your caricatura. If who's the author, dubitatur? He's your correspondent, Nugator.

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

"Unless You Will Take One Line for Your Ten," by William Ellery

Unless you will take one Line for your Ten I shall never pay you, and indeed I shan't then. For to form One good Clink and invita Minerva, I must ransack turn my poor Brains all quite topsy, turvy. While you with a Portion of Latin and Greek As n an An hundred good lines can easily make As the Virginian Tully can speak. The muses will readily yield up their Charms To the Poet that dreads not the Thunder of Arms They'll favour the brave the youthfull the blythe Will fly from an Ellery and caress a Wythe Compelled thus to rhime in my own Defense These Lines are dictated a Lege Natura Pray then forbear Sir, your Caricatura I most humbly submit to your Candour and Sense. What thus is forced from Me Lege magna Natura And beg you would forbear Sir your Caricatura

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"You've Not only Quitted Your Arrear," by George Wythe

You've not only quitted your arrear But check'd my poetical career. I flatter'd myself that Apollo Had told me the Muses to follow. But they to Parnassus retiring And frowning forbade my aspiring, Rejected my awkward addresses, Bestow'd on my rival caresses, Made mirth of my passion for soaring, And laugh'd at my anguish and roaring. Whilst you mount with wing Pegasean And, triumphing, sing Io Paean, With eyes full of envy and surprise, The laurel, I see, becomes your prize. My latin and greek not a bawbee I value (Think not I bedaub ye With praise, though this seems that way leaning) When one of your couplets more meaning Fine sense and true humour you fling in, Than twenty of mine I can bring in.

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

"Some Mere Poetaster Call Tully," by George Wythe

Some mere poetaster call Tully, In for a naggering bully; Most others a speaker persuasive, In reasoning though sometimes evasive Did you, making me his compeer, Sir, An irony mean, or a sneer, Sir?

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

"The Gen'rous Idea Your Last Piece Expresses," by William Ellery

The gen'rous Idea your last Peice [sic] expresses Instead of exciting my Ardour, depresses. The Muses I know by Experience are Gilts And he moves unsafely who moves upon Stilts. When my Fancy was young I asked of those Lasses To aid my Ascent up the Mount of Parnassus, They told me to follow but as swift as the Wind They gained its high Top and left me behind. Thus jellied I labour'd but quickly I found My Tread was too clumsy for poetick Ground. And wanting their Aid to assist my weak Passes I bid an Adieu to the Mount of Parnassus. Since that contented with Limitation Sometimes Ive attempted an humble Translation, Inspired with an Ardour deriv'd from gay Bacchus, Of an Eclogue of Mars or some Ode of Flaccus. Sometimes too when a Genius hath started Ideas I've made use of his Hints ut nuper to videa. Like a Babbler ambitious of some little Fame I follow when Freeman hath started the Game, And But when hunted down poor Puss sinks and dies I give up to Freeman his Right to the Prize. Let Wythe take the Laurel his Genius demands I ask but this Book to be rank'd class'd with his Friends.

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

In this poem, Ellery chastises the conservative position of Andrew Allen, delegate from Pennsylvania, for his commonwealth's reluctance to support independence from Great Britain. The first letter of each line spells out "ANDREW ALLEN" (emphasized here). Ellery apparently attempted to get the poem published, as there is another draft with the lines transposed to avoid obvious "libellus famosos" (libel), and a dialogue with a reluctant printer:

A Commissioner, to the people of P _ _ _ _ _ a Attend all ye People of ev'ry 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 King 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 needs forfeiture fear unless times should alter.

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

A C . . . . . . . . . . r to the people of P . . . . . . . . . . a Declare for your treasons a hearty contrition Who like me to the king allegiance will swear Attend all ye people of ev'ry degree Nor needs forfeiture fear unless times should alter. Regard as you tender your lives admonition Leave all his old friends to the parliaments Fury No longer pretend that your country you'll free E're too late to flee from impending perdition Let rebels be hang'd up without judge or jury And future submission to congress forbear Escapes condemnation to gibbet or halter. A dialogue between H [manuscript damaged] who wrote the above and a printer who was desired and refused to publish it. H. Not Print it! Sir, why? P. Because it is nonsense. H. No prudent wight sure will then take offense. Words without meaning are quite harmless things. Minds conscious of evil truth only stings. Most readers besides will skip such stuff over, Like advertisements where horses will cover. P. A slander perhaps — H. No — that is denied, Unless with letters initial supplied. Nay, still if the lines remain untransposed, Nothing unkind or sarcastic's inclos'd. P. What? initials? — Let me see — aye — they make it So plain that dunces alone can mistake it. If calumny foul, though sweet flowering verse, Or elegant prose, our devils disperse, Fines

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

Fines with vile durance, 'twould cost and expose us Worse pains to bear for libellus famosus. H. In these times of license leave off your shrugs, Nor prisons nor pillories fear, nor Pillories fear not, nor prisons or cropt lugs. P: Though pusillanimous call'd or a churl, Venture I will not to suffer like Curl.

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

See also

• George Wythe Courts the Muses
• Wythe to Samuel Adams, 1 August 1778

External links

• Boston Public Library, Special Collections.
• American Revolutionary War Manuscripts at the Boston Public Library, Internet Archive.
• Read these poems in the Internet Archive.