Poems on domestic and local subjects; with the Oxford University and City Herald Newsman's Addresses, from 1812 to 1817

Front matter

1 POEMS ON DOMESTIC AND LOCAL SUBJECTS; with the OXFORD UNIVERSITY AND CITY HERALD i3efo£man,$ &&&_*$$*., From 1812 to 1817. BY E. HITCHINGS. MUNDAY AND SLATTEK, PRINTERS, OXFORD. TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF Zty &tttf)or, FOli iriJOSE A. MUSE MENT THEY WERE WRITTEN, THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTIONS OF HIS LEISURE HOURS ARE DEDICATED. Oxford, April, 1818. CONTENTS. Page A POETICAL EPISTLE from a Brother to his Sister, I. I Letter II. from the Same to the Same 8 Letter III. from the Same to the Same - - - 13 A Poetical Epistle from a Sister to her Brother - - 2S A Poetical Epistle from a Brother to his Sister 33 Six Years of the Life of Matilda 45 On my Son's leaving England on a Tour to the Continent - 52 To my Daughter, on her requesting a Ticket for the Concert 53 On a Lady losing her Purse ----- 5* Lines sent to two Young Ladies, who had been rather unfortunate at Cards --..---55 Lines written at Cowes, after rather a dangerous Sail from Lymington .------ ibid.

On my Eldest Daughter's leaving Home on a visit to a Friend in the Country ..... 5fi On my Wife's complying with my request to have her Likeness taken by her Niece, Miss Jones vi CONTENTS. A Poetical Letter from the Author to his Son Thoma., on his leaving Home -..--- 57 Lines written in consequence of a Gentleman having requested that his Bill should be sent him in Verse - - 59 Verses on a Young Lady - - - - - - 6 1 Lines addressed to my Young Friends 62 An Electioneering Song -.--_- 6S Elegy on the Death of Mrs. Smith .... 66 On the Death of John Parsons, Esq. .... ibid. Elegy on the Death of Eliza, Eldest Daughter of Mr. G. Hitchings ...... - 68 The Conclusion of a Letter to my Daughter 69 The Oxford Journal Newsman's Address, for the Year 1813 72 The Oxford University and City Herald Newsman's Address, for the Year 1812 78 1813 83 1814 , - 90 1815 101 1816 115 1817 126 St. Giles's Parish Watchman's Address, for Christmas, 1817 135 Lines partly written during a tedious Voyage to Southampton, after spending a short time very pleasantly at the Isle of Wight - - .... 138 Elegy on the Death of Mary, second Daughter of Mr. H. E. Hitchings - - - - - - -147 A Poetical Epistle to my Daughter Mary - - - 1 CONTENTS.

VU Letter II. to the Same -151 Letter III. to the Same 155 A Poetical Epistle to my Daughter Elizabeth * - - 159 A Poetical Epistle to my Son Thomas - - - - 162 A Poetical Epistle to my Daughter Mary - - - 1 A POETICAL EPISTLE FROM A BROTHER TO HIS SISTER.

Letter I

My dear Sister, WHEN you wrote to me last you were sadly complaining, That my letters, though long, were quite unentertaining ; That I spoke upon nought but relations and friends, And you begged in my next I would make some amends ; But I pray you, in future, my letters don't quiz, For you certainly know how dull Oxford is. We've no plays nor amusements, like other large towns, And you well know the reason, O curse on the Gowns . Had we half the enjoyments that some people find, I could fill all my letters with news to your mind. All these things were considered by some of the great, And a meeting was summoned for solemn debate. Our Beaux caught the scent, and, as might be expected, To speak on this point men of parts were selected. The first, with great diffidence, claimed their attention, For one or two facts 'twas his duty to mention : " Consider, my Friends, the sad short winter days, •' That we've not the amusements of dances or plays; " That we sleep by our fires for want of employments, " While Wantage and Wallingford have their enjoyments B " And that Oxford, my Friends, be no longer a jest, " Let us have an Assembly as well as the rest."

It is needless, I'm sure, my dear girl, to inform ye, With what raptures the Belles of the town heard the story; And never were tea-tables better attended, Where they sipped to the men who their cause had befriended. A more general meeting was then recommended, Which by most of the gayest of Beaux was attended : JTwas agreed in October the Ball should commence, And that each should subscribe to defray the expense : And that all these gay things might be rightly adjusted, To the care of two Stewards the whole was entrusted ; And greater discernment sure never was seen, Than in the appointment of Ad . . s and Sh . . n ; And their farther selection, I'm sure deserves praise, In appointing for Treasurer Governor H . . . s ! To prevent that confusion, which sometimes exists Between bodies, when very improperly mixt, It was carried nem. con. that no Gownsmen appear, Except such as have friends who are resident here ; And as bustle and crowd will sometimes produce dangers, Non-residents only be admitted as strangers : That to great regularity they would attend; That at one in the morning the dancing should end.

It next was observed, aud deserves to be told, At this uncertain season of hail, rain, and cold, That to add to the grandeur and safety of all, A coach be provided each night of the ball. The dear evening arrived to the joy of their hearts, And the coach it proceeded to different parts. With what spirits, my G — , how they rattled along, Each anxiously eager to join the gay throng. You know, my dear Mary, how oft we've been seen, With our tabor and pipe, dancing light on the green ; But here let me tell you, and falsehood I scorn, Besides two violins, we'd the harp and the horn ! And the praise of our Stewards I again must repeat, For in nice introduction Nash was never more great. In our number of Ladies we suffered a loss, Who thought it disgraceful to dance at the Cross ; And you'll sa)', they were right, for 'twas monstrous provoking To get out of our carriage where tipplers were smoking : And sure folks of good breeding should not stoop so low, As to dance at an ale-house, where poor people go !

At the next consultation 'twas agreed 'mongst us all, The Council Chamber's by far the best place for a Ball. To prevent much confusion, and tedious debates, Application was made to good Alderman Y . . . s, Who in language obliging, and nicely exprest, " Said he felt extreme pain not to grant our request, " That the whole of the Chamber must give their consent, " And to forward our wishes 'twas his full intent." It then was agreed to request Mr. SI .... r, At the next Common Council to open the matter : The Council soon met, public wrongs to redress, When our Orator rose, and began his Address; — " Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, " I informed you last Council, you well recollect, " I'd a motion to make, to which none could object : " So without farther preface I briefly will mention, " That to have a dance monthly is our young folks' intention; '■ Therefore move, That the use of this Chamber, or Hall, " Be immediately granted for the Oxford Ball."

The Mayor said he was happy to sanction that measure, And to second that motion felt infinite pleasure. A sine compliment this, my dear Mary, indeed, Not a man did oppose; So 'twas quickly agreed. All these things being settled so pleasing to all, A day was announced for the second grand Ball. But before I conclude, I intend just to mention, A few of our party that caught my attention ; But to single out objects one cannot do well In a dance, where they all really seem to excel ; But to please my dear Mary, and lengthen my verse, Just by way of amusement, a few I'll rehearse. In manners refined, and for dancing, I trust, 'Tis beyond all dispute, Mr. S . . ph . . s stands first: As a dancer, 'tis known, Stephen W . . . w . . th has merit, In his manners he's pleasing, and dances with spirit ; And though others may err, he sure cannot be wrong, Who the ladies can please with a dance and a song.

Mr. T . . . t . n was easy and careless as ever, And in plain country dancing he's certainly clever. Full of gaiety next I observed Mr. M . . kl . m, Who is pleased when the fancies of ladies he's tickling ; He is certainly pleasant, good-humoured, and free, But in dancing he does not exactly please me. It is right I should tell you — not what I have heard, But what I discovered, in young Mr. Sh . . rd ; And as prudence confines me to nothing but truth, There's a sad want of modesty sure in this youth. For a figure that's pleasing, and smart too withal, The young Doctor is equal to most of the ball ; But such bustle and consequence seldom is seen, As what I observed in this youth of eighteen : And his brother, the Student, I mention with pleasure, And could write for a month in his praise, had I leisure ; In his dancing he's graceful, in his manners refined, That of all the gay youths he's the most to my mind.

The praise of T. B . . w . 11 I next must repeat, Whose figure, though small, is most certainly neat ; He dresses with taste, and it must be confest, That in dancing he's certainly one of the best. Mr. B . sh is the next that comes to my mind, Who with modesty has great good humour combined, Though not blest with the figure and size of a man, He most Certainly dances as well as he can. Mr. T . . k . . 11 from London but lately come down, Who for elegant manners might challenge the town ; But in dancing I cannot be loud in his praise, There's an unpleasant stiffness, that never can please. Full of life, fun, and glee, see Tom W . . . w — h advance, The most random of all the gay lads in the dance- To give modest merit a place in my verse, The praise of Tom T . . n . r I next must rehearse : For with diffidence rare to be found now in youth, He has manners engaging, and dances with truth.

Mr. J . . g . . s appears at all times neatly drest, And his figure is pleasing, it must be confest ; But one fault I discovered, which must be related, In his dancing, I think, he is very conceited. To mention our friends, when we can't speak their praise, Is a task, of all others, that must fail to please. Of our friend, Mr. J . . k . . s . n, suffice it to say, That his dancing reminds me of Sweeps on May-day. In manners obliging, and nice complaisance, Mr. F . st . r is equal to most of the dance. The last of our Beaux that I have to be speaking, Is that piece of still life, Mr. Camomile E . k . n ; Who only one night has attended our ball, And to dancing he has no pretensions at all. Tlie Ladies, dear Sister, next caught my attention, A few of whom, therefore, I'll venture to mention : Then to them be devoted the rest of my lays, For 'tis certainly pleasing dear woman to praise.

Tlie Miss B . . w, . Ils shone brightest of all the gay fair, Their dress was superb, and they danced with such air : To avoid partiality should be my plan, But the preference certainly is with Miss Anne. In discernment I'm sure I should think myself tardy, Could I pass o'er the praise that is due to Miss H . . dy And Miss Mary T . . n . r, in her figure though small, Is equal in dancing to most of the ball. And now for a task that will cost me some pains, To do ample justice to both the Miss Gp . . . s ; They were both dressed with neatness, and danced so well, Very few them can equal, surely none can excel. Nor can I neglect that just tribute of praise, Which is due to the meek, unaffected Miss H . . es. And I beg you, my girl, not to think me in jest, While I mention the merits of charming Miss B . . t : You may smile, if you please, but 'tis truth I' am advancing, For with angelic looks she's a Vestris in dancing.

I cannot but think there is something bewitching In the manner and dancing of Miss Mary H . . ch . . gs ; But what pleased me most, I am free, to confess, Is that plain, simple neatness observed in her dress. And were I to be lavish, what lengths might I fjo, In speaking the merits of charming Miss St . . e ! To an elegant shape she has neatness combined, And her equal in dancing you seldom will find. The Ad . . s's shone, as might be expected, And two more pleasant girls cannot well be selected ; That there's grace in their dancing it must be confessed, And with elegant neatness they always were dressed. In manners engaging, with beauty combined, Miss R . . . . rd . . n surely must not be behind. For nice modest meekness, which ne'er fails to please, The eldest Miss C . . it has great claims to my praise : The youngest Miss C . . rt is the next in my verse, And with infinite pleasure her praise I rehearse ; Her features are pleasing, she's handsome and tall, She's indeed, my dear Sister, the boast of the ball.

From my plan though I wander, I cannot but mention One lady, a stranger, who caught my attention ; This lady, whose dancing and manners would charm, I found was Miss H . . dy from the City Farm. On httle Miss S . . . ry I must not be witty, Therefore only observe, that she's modest and pretty. Miss R . . ds' are the next that appeared in my sight, And to praise the praise-worthy is certainly right ; In the dance they excel, and their manners are pleasing, And much might be said of the girls I am praising. Miss E . . m . . ds from Tetsworth, brought here by Miss H . . es, Both spirit and taste in her dancing displays ; By some she is flattered, but here truth is meant, That if she's a beauty, 'tis not without paint. But before I conclude, I wish just to say, In addition to dancing we'd coffee and tea ; And at tea it was charming to hear the remarks That were made to the Ladies by all the gay sparks ; And many, whose names I would not wish to mention, Seemed to vie with each other in polite attention.

Just to add to your wonder, and finish this scrawl, I must mention the matrons who honoured the ball. Mrs. Ad . . s, with spirits that young people feel, With youthful activity joined in the reel. Mrs. B . . 1 . y and others, more gravely inclined, Said, a " rubber at whist was the most to their mind." I now must conclude, and am sure you will smile, At my unpolished verse, and inelegant style; But on next winter's Ball I'll the subject renew, And till then, my dear Sister, I bid you adieu !

Letter II

From the Same to the Same. My dear Sister, YOU'RE so anxious for letters, you really quite tease, Yet you sometimes complain that my letters don't please, And J_u say that my promise I must not neglect, That _\iofher long letter you soon shall expect." That I promised to write is most certainly true, But I really a subject can't find that is new : But as dancing, I know, is so much to your mind, To that shall my unpolished verse be confined ; But before I proceed, your mind pray prepare, For those changes in fife that so frequently are. When last winter I wrote I but little expected That our Ball that then flourished would soon be neglected For then we were crowded each night to excess, And complete satisfaction each seemed to express : But that, my dear Girl, as is often the way, For a time brightly flourished, then fell to decay.

At the close of last season, I vow and declare, We had Ladies and Ge'mmen at least thirty pair ; And such names, my dear Mary, in point of respect, If you search the whole town, 'twill be hard to select ! At the Ball, which I'm sorry to say was the last, The beauty and fashion could not be surpassed : But I now must inform you, and strange 'twill appear ! That few would subscribe for the following year. I expect you to say, " Brother, what is the reason, " That the famed Oxford Ball could exist but one season ?" I never could learn, though to me 'twas not strange, For the mind of most females is subject to change. When the dancing was over, though the hour was late, The Ladies got into a kind of debate ; As the thing was so novel, it claimed my attention : A few of those female orations I'll mention.

The first, quite indignant, began with a scoff, Said, some ignorant scribbler had taken them off; And vowed, " it was shocking that ladies and beaux " Could not dance, but some blockhead their faults must expose; " And could not conceive who ihe fellow could be, " Who with names of such consequence dared to make free !" While some others would say, " Never mind such vile stuff! " That the fellow's a fool is to me clear enough ; O * " I have read all his verses, and plain 'tis to me, " That this impudent fool scarcely knows A, B, C." Then a pert little minx coming forward, declared That from one observation she'd not be debarred ; Said, " If belles of our consequence are to be fun, " I think it high time for our Ball to have done; " And although I'm not vain, I presume you all know " That I dance quite as well as his charming Miss S. . we ; " And I'm mad, when I hear this ridiculous ape " So lavish in praise of her neatness and shape.

" And pray, let me ask you, what is there bewitching " In the manner and dancing of Miss Mary H . . ch . . gs ? " To hear the fool talk of its costing him pains " To do ample justice to both the Miss Gr . . ns : " What insipid stuff! when we very well know, " That in dancing and dress they are really so so! c " Of his dull stupid nonsense I've seen quite enough, " And I look on the whole as nonsensical stuff." Then a Lady advanced, of well known sense and merit, And was happy in females to find so much spirit : Said, " I hate this pretender to poetic verse ; " I have seen a few lines, and have never read worse. " This fellow talks much of his impartiality, " When to you it is known he has none in reality ; *' For you all must observe what he says of his plan, " Then the preference he instantly gives to Miss Anne; " And in this I am certain you all will agree, " That in dancing she's not to be mentioned with me : " Then he begs his dear girl not to think him in jest, " And in terms quite ironical mentions Miss B . . t. " He may frown if he please, but from me he sliall know, " That his verses want sense, and are wretchedly low."

Then a Lady of great moderation appeared, And with much grateful modesty begged to be heard ; And wondered, " that Ladies themselves should expose " In a business that really belonged to the beaux : " The affairs of the Ball are quite by their direction, " And we helpless females should claim their protection : " And was happy to say, what they all must have seen, " That we are greatly indebted to Ad . . s and Sh . . n : " And as to the verses, you've said quite enough, " For I look on the whole as contemptible stuff; " And I call on the men, who yet silent appear, " To give their opinion : (A cry of Hear! Hear!) " For it is their opinion that now must direct us, " And as men they are bound to defend and protect us." One youth seemed more anxious to speak than the rest, And, bowing respectfully, thus them addressed : " To you, my dear Ladies, I've paid great attention, " And my tribute of praise am most happy to mention : " Your language is pleasing, your reasoning so clear, " That I hear to admire, and admire to hear : " And to doubt our protection, is doubting our sense, " For who would not die in dear woman's defence?

" And as to this rascally bit of a poet, " He must be a fool, for his verses all show it ; " And the fellow tells lies, when he says truth is meant, " And accuses Miss Edm . . ds of using of paint ! " O shame ! vile defamer ! when all the town knows " That her natural colour is fresh as a rose. " And sure greater falsehood in print ne'er appeared, " Than what he asserts about Mr. John Sh . . rd ; " And what pity it is, that so modest a youth " Should be subject to scandal so void of all truth !" The next that came forward was quite a young spark, Who begged, with submission, to make one remark : " He begged Ladies' pardon, but thought them not right " To look on those lines in so serious a light : " And was sorry to say, that most anger was raised " In those who were most (though deservedly) praised ; " For what's in the lines that your anger can call, " When, with one exception, he praises you all?

" If you read the lines over it plain will appear, " That on we poor Ge'mmen he's much more severe ; " For of our friend J . . k . . s . n what does he say ? " That his dancing reminds him of Sweeps on May-day! " To make sport of our dancing this fellow's so prone, " That our modest friend B . sh he has not left alone : " So determined is he our best friends not to spare, " That the lively young Doctor comes in for a share." Mr. B . sh through the crowd then most eagerly pressed, And in pleasant good-humour his friends thus addressed " From the verses of which you so loudly complain, " I assure you I feel not an atom of pain : " This lampooning fellow I think entertaining, " You have lines without sense, and words without meaning; " But at scandal I think he is quite a proficient, " For he says, that in figure I'm rather deficient : " And what fine information is that from a man, " To say that I dance as well as lean!

" But that without doubt is most certainly true, " For who can dance better ? — can any of you ?" — Then some Ladies pressed forward, and said 'twas high time To have done with this fellow's nonsensical rhyme : 'Twas the work of some school-boys, for surely no men To write such vile verses would take up a pen ; While others came forward, and said it was late, And begged they would end this tormenting debate ; While some said 'twas nonsense to hear this debating, At a time when 'twas known that their carriage was waiting. Then a Youth, stepping forward, declared it was right That the sense of the room should be taken that night, He therefore should move, " That the room be divided, " In order to have this great, question decided." He then put the question — which simply was this — " Shall we give up the Ball?"

The reply was — Yes, Yes! The debate with much spirit was kept quite alive, Till Tom loudly told them the hour was five. But some Ladies declared, 'midst this bustle and throng, That they would not depart till they heard W. . tw. . th's song; And he, always happy to make Ladies smile, " Young Henry" then sung in his very best style. I have now, my dear Sister, I think, told you all, From the first to the last, that relates to the Ball. " Now the Great Ball is over," you will probably say, " Pray how do you pass your dull hours away ?" But you are not to suppose, my dear Mary, that we Are from dances and other amusements quite free ; For dullness, my girl, we know little about, As each week brings a dance, a card-party, or rout ; And much pleasure we feel, when our parties are few, To spend a few hours in limited Loo.

As you know that I'm cautious, you'll sure believe this, That I always say No, when I'm asked to take Miss — I know you will smile, and I think you will say, " How strange that my Brother should write in this way ! Why, Sister, you know 'tis the taste of the times To dress up our thoughts in poetical rhymes ; So at present, dear Girl, be content with this letter, Till the next that I send, which I hope will be better ; For I certainly soon mean to send you another, And remain, my dear Girl, your affectionate Brother.

Letter III

From the Same to the Same, My dear Mary, YOU complain that my letters are dull in th' extreme, And beg I'd select a more gay lively theme, Than of deaths, and of grandmothers, worn out with age ; And that life and good humour may fill every page. And you say in your letter, I must not refuse To send you another replete with our news ; That if dances, and such things will not fill a letter, Add courtships and marriages, which are much better. You complain you ne'er hear of a concert or rout, And beg to be told what we all are about : O To please my dear Mary I would much undertake, But to such a broad question what reply can I make ? Most happy, my girl, should I be to amuse ye, But from marriage and courtships, must beg you'll excuse me; For some modern courtships I do not approve, Where money's consulted by far more than love : These things so disgraceful all lead to bad courses, And furnish accounts of such shameful divorces; For scarcely a paper you take up to read, But Gibbs has some shameful crim. con. cause to plead.

That marriage is happy, I hope you will know it, Look at me and your sister, I'm sure we both shew it ; And yet, pray believe me, for truth is my aim, We can't go to Dunmow the bacon to claim. On marriage and courtship I've no more to say, But proceed to amuse you in some other way. I think in a letter I sent you before, I informed you our great monthly Ball was no more; But this winter I think we have made some amends, In selecting our parties of neighbours and friends ; Which is certainly best, for by all 'twas agreed, That large and mixed parties were horrid indeed ; For scarcely one night in the season, but we Had men in red coats, brought by Mrs. D . . . . s. And in dancing you'll say our Ladies had taste, In preferring the men with a sash round their waist. While some of our beaux said they really felt pain To go down a dance with the eldest Miss G . . . n. Since the great monthly Ball, which I told you was finished, Our number of dances are rather diminished.

The pleasant Miss B s, I'm sorry to say, From Oxford, alas ! are removed far away ; And our worthy friend T. . . . r, by some it is said, To the altar of Hymen dear Mary has led. When good sense and good humour's so nearly connected, From marriage what joys, pray, may not be expected ? And their brother, whose dancing I so much approved, By whimsical fortune from us is removed ; And the lively young Surgeon, to joking so prone, To finish his studies to London is gone. Now really, dear Sister, I've said quite enough Of crim. con.'s, divorces, and such kind of stuff; And I promised, I think, as the season advances, To give you some little account of our dances. On the first two grand Balls I've but little to write, Being absent from Oxford on each festive night. You must know, that from A ... s we long had expected A Ball, which we thought he too long had neglected ; At length the gay dancers all heard with delight, That the long talked of Ball, was the next Monday night ; Of rugs, chairs, and tables, the great room was cleared, And by ten, near one hundred and twenty appeared; Who with perfect good humour, true friendship, and glee, The dance kept alive till some time after three.