There is he whom they call Squire Brougham of Brougham Hall, Who would pass for a man of condition; In blood, to be sure, He may match Peter Moore, But the Hall is a mere imposition; The fellow's a hack politician, A tailor in all but ambition, Who offer'd to bilk For a gown of black silk The Queen--and her whole Opposition.
There's Wilson--poor Bob, Who headed a mob, And in consequence lost his commission, Considers it hard, That haranguing the Guard Should be voted an act of sedition; Besides, 'twas his greatest ambition To witness one real ignition; To shot and to danger His skin was a stranger, Till the day of the Park Opposition.
There's Sefton, who drives His ladies by fives, In a gig of the latest edition; Which looks like a cart Of the Guards when they start With their wives on a Dutch expedition: He greases with anti-attrition-- Would his tongue had the same composition!-- For, whenever he speaks, It hitches and squeaks Like the drag of the Bath Opposition.
There's little Spring Rice, Of Newport the Vice, Who was painted in last Exhibition, Was ready to swear That Limerick and Clare Were dying from pure inanition; But how did he mend their condition? Did he visit those scenes of perdition? No!--Erin was undone, While he talk'd in London, And smirk'd with the fat Opposition.
There's stultified Hume, Who (some people assume) Is an excellent arithmetician, Began as a Tory,-- But honour and glory Soon gave such an ass his dismission; Now Joe was a sort of physician, But being no frequent practician, For want of another Dissected his brother, Though the corps made a strong Opposition.
There's the new _rara avis_, The once Colonel Davis, Now Statesman as much as Tactician, He seems to presume To emulate Hume, But, in truth, there is no competition; For Davis sold out his commission-- But Hume's more plebeian ambition Is cribbing the winnings Of Constantine Jennings, The hopes of the whole Opposition.
Lord Althorpe, who bent His way beyond Trent To challenge a hostile collision, At Ferrybridge found He might choose his own ground, And therefore abandon'd his mission; Then--aware of the force of derision, He spoke on some turnpike petition, And explain'd, without end, How he and his friend Return'd to rejoin Opposition.