Sketches in Verse Part 1

Sketches in Verse.

by James Parkerson.

_THE NORWICH_ CORN MART.

BY J. PARKERSON, JUNR.

At one o'clock the busy seen begin, Quick to the hall they all are posting in; The cautious merchant takes his stand, The farmer shows the product of his land: If wheat the merchant says it's damp or cold, If Dawling Market, that's the case I'm told.

If it is barley he'll your mind unhinge, And say good Sir it has a gloomy dinge; Reduce three s.h.i.+llings of the currant price, And with the farmer he'll be very nice; If oats you offer he'll bid very low, Say they are light the moment you them show; If beans then say this sample's very soft, And in his purchase he will keep aloft; Show him a sample of good Brank or Rye, He'll bid you low and look extremely shy: This is the case if Mark Lane's very dull, And all his granaries are very full.

Yet if the market keep upon the rise, Tho' bad your sample that he'll not despise, Purchase as much as he can gain that day, Or from his net proceeds afford to pay; 'Tant always markets make a merchant dull, It is the banker on him has a pull; That often gives despair or cause a gloom, He fears an order to the sweating room.

I've known that happen on a market day, Then from the mart he's forc'd to keep away, Sometimes G. R. locks up the malt house door, From an extent and makes him sad and poor; A country house and a new fas.h.i.+oned gig, He keeps to make him look at markets big; Soon as demands upon him loudly call, He say to day I shant attend the hall: The clerk announce his master is unwell, Yet purchase all you are inclined to sell; And when for payment you may on him call, Leaves Norwich mart and can't be found at all; And when a stoppage happens farmers quake, Then cry who'd thought that such a man would break; To take off merchants I am quite unwilling, At first set off, some are not worth a s.h.i.+lling; A loss at sea they cannot long withstand, Can't call their own an acre of good land; Yet I protest, pace all our city round, I don't know one that is not just and sound; They deal with honour and are men of trade, Keep up their payments and disdain parade; At times a farmer often do complain, If now and then they do refuse his grain; Sometimes he sells a sample of hard beans, On market days and after sends his teams; The merchant do the article refuse, For in the sacks much softer grain he views; The reason's plain he can't the bulk admire, The sample was improved from a large fire; Soon as he comes to where he do set up, Of London Porter oft he takes a sup; The sample in his pocket, there he'll stay By a good fire and chat two hours away; Of altering samples he pays no regard, But such a conduct makes the sample hard; Then he complains if a reduction's made, That he's in fault you cannot him persuade; Friction will much improve most sorts of grain, You on this subject no longer i'll detain.

On Mr. L---

_Taking leave of his Wife and Children_, _who was Sentenced to __Transportation for Fourteen Years_.

FROM LIFE.

Hannah farewell I'm bound to go, To taste the bitter draught of woe; And as I view that starting tear, It drives and sinks me to despair; And now I take a last farewell, The grief I feel no one can tell; Two lovely children claims my care, I'm forc'd to clothe them with despair; As sorrow only on them press, They are doomed to wear no other dress; We little thought some former years, In such a place to shed our tears; There's only one our tears can dry, It is the G.o.d like Deity.

And he can all our griefs expel, Altho' I bid this last farewell; These fetters he can quick undo, And send me back to live with you; May hope with all its balmy power, Sooth Hannah in each trying hour, Friends.h.i.+p I fear will from you flee, Ere I am riding on the sea; For the rich will close the door, 'Gainst those misfortune maketh poor; And even in a lucky day, The'll from the brightest object stray; And those I've injured will descry, Your falling state and destiny; The G---'s are good and often kind, To those where troubles press the mind.

I hope when I am gone from view, Kind friends.h.i.+p they will show to you; Great confidence they placed in me, Till lured by worldly gaiety; Suspicion on me hurl'd its dart, Forc'd on a sudden to depart, From Children Home and Hannah too, Disgraced I fled from public view; But justice has a piercing eye, Her runners quick did me espy; Most fairly tried tho' guilty found, Calmly I heard the dreadful sound; That ushered to my anxious heart, That I from Hannah must depart; For fourteen years ere I shall see My troubles o'er and liberty; To G.o.d my fate and life I trust, What he ordains I know is just; Whene'er a man from honour stray, By vice he's easy led away; To every wicked artful plan, That soon entraps the falling man; And what increase foreboding tears, My little ones are come of years; When they demand a father's aid Methinks I hear it justly said, I ought that thought before possess, Ere I my wife and them distress; Extravagance have been the cause; That made me act against the laws; And you that dress in rich attire, And only flippant things admire; Extravagance will oft too late, Cause you to mourn a culprits fate.

The name of felon oft I hear, That very name increase despair; And as I now my fetters view, I dread what shortly will ensue; Methinks I hear the goaler say, This day from her you go away; From Britons happy peaceful sh.o.r.e, My wife and home to see no more; Till fourteen years are roll'd away, I shall not see a happy day; Oh should that happy time return, Then will my heart with rapture burn; At such a time my wife to view, Would every care of life subdue; My children to my arms I'd press, And never more cause their distress; Hope gently wispers to my heart, That ere I long from you depart, Those I have injured will obtain A mandate to unloose the chain; And as they view your wretched state, They'll mourn an absent father's fate.

Seldom they ever sue in vain, To our loved prince but mostly gain, A respite from the pangs of grief, Or gain an order for relief; I've borne the unfeeling keen reproach, Some said I longed to keep a coach; That I in tendom oft did ride, With all an upstarts sullen pride; 'Twas pride that led me to disgrace, I took what I could not replace; Had I a million, that I'd give, With you in future for to live; Oh! Hannah are you come again, To sooth my woe and ease my pain; Your cheeks I've furrowed with sad tears, Come gentle hope dismiss those fears; That do her tender frame distress, Oh! G.o.d make Hannah's sufferings less.

My last of efforts unless prove, My doom I find is fixed above; No intercession can obtain, A respite from this galling chain.

I'm doomed to waste some years away, Far, far, from you upon the bay.

Oh keen distress with every ill, Obtrude on me the bitter pill; While life remains hope will divest A gloomy thought tho' he's distress'd.

It feeds the wound yet known no cure, And often makes us more indure; Sometimes it lulls us into sleep, And for a time our senses steep; And like a pleasing dream obtain, A short abatement from our pain; Soon as it vanish from our view, Our earthly troubles rise anew; Till death unwelcome strikes his dart, And ease the captives aching heart: But oh! that awful coming day, That every mortals crimes display; What creatures shall we then appear, The Lord's decree we all must hear; May every soul that's tried above, From Christ obtain our maker's love.

Oh! G.o.d I hear the dreadful call, Prepare, prepare, ye felons all; Oh! let me take a last imbrace, I'm summoned, all appear in haste.

_THE_ CONVICT'S Farewell, &c. &c. &c.

BY J PARKERSON, JUNR.

Farewell ye partner of my woes, farewell!

The finest language can but faintly tell, What I now feel in writing the adieu, What you must suffer when I'm far from you.

There was a time when happiness my lot, I liv'd serenely in my little cot; No wicked thoughts did then disturb my rest, My children round me, by a father prest; No father now methinks I hear them say, He's gone from us, he's hurried far away.

Nightly I've view'd them in my flurri'd dreams, Seen their wet eyes and heard their dreadful screams; Methought my wife came to my lonely cell, To say adieu, to bid a long farewell; Soon I awoke and to increase my pains, I felt my legs encompa.s.s'd round with chains; Then then, I cried, oh drunkenness thou cause, Of this distress, and make me break those laws That wise men made for every man to keep, By them deluded, plung'd in crimes so deep.

First step to ruin was a love of dice, With cards the great promoter of our vice; I wish those men who do with such things play, Would ever cast them from their hands away; I wish all Magistrates would search around, And punish Publicans where they are found: They caus'd me first my Master to neglect, And after lost me honest men's respect; They also led me from a virtuous wife, And mostly caused my sad disgrace and strife.

View Public Houses every wealthy Squire, And force by ten the spendthrift to retire; By such a plan the labouring poor would rise, Soon as the sun adorns the heavenly skies: I've stated what have brought me to this end, And what has lost me every earthly friend; Except a wife-oh G.o.d protect and bless, Her and our offspring now in great distress.

Young men be cautious how you spend your time, A bad acquaintance hurries on a crime; Sometimes an artful female tries her power, To trap the giddy in a thoughtless hour; When she has work'd the captive to her will, She gladly sees you taking sorrow's pill; Cause you to leave a virtuous homely wife, And lead a sad disgraceful wicked life; Allur'd by art she'll bring you to distress, And like a Millwood to you falsely press: Then be the first your actions to betray, A fiend like such, caus'd me to go astray From them I love, from those my heart hold dear, And shall till death their memories revere; When I am clos'd in transport on the sea, Doubtless my love you'll sometimes sigh for me.

Bring up my little ones in such a way, As they will holy keep the sabbath-day; Early in life do in their minds reveal, The dreadful crimes to swear, to lie, or steal.

Hannah my eldest daughter, place her where, She's constant under virtue's eye and care, Let her not learn the weaving trade, you'll find, That such a course may injure much her mind; Females are ready to acquire that art, Soon as they wish fair virtue to depart; Unwilling oft in service for to be.

Where they can't dress and have their liberty; But if with parents they can work at home, Nightly they hope with idle folks to roam: At my late sentence I can not complain, Altho' the law my body do detain; Justice tho' slow has overtaken me, Abroad for life, I shall he kept from thee; On a just G.o.d for ever I will trust, I know his will is always right and just.

Tis now too late again to speak to you, Which is the cause of writing this adieu.

No partner now to sooth my aching heart, Reflection galls me, at myself I start, With aching heart and in my lonely cell, I bid my babes and you,-a long farewell.

Methink I see the transport full in view, And I with horror meet the harden'd crew; Full well I know I ne'er shall see you more, Nor plant a footstep on my native sh.o.r.e; On foreign land I'm doom'd my days to toil, And with vile wretches cultivate the soil.

Stripes I must bare perhaps when quite unwell, And hear the convicts' melancholy yell; A pang I fell when e'er I close the night, And wish a virtuous wife was in my sight: England adieu! may you in trade increase, And free from inward tumults rest in peace.

Our Chaplain well I know, will soon impart, His friendly aid to cheer the drooping heart; I hope my children he will learn to read, And teach them early to peruse the creed: The bell is rung, the waggon is in view, Wife and dear children now, adieu! adieu!

At thoughts of leaving this my native sh.o.r.e, Unmans me quite and I can say no more; I will thro' life a better course pursue, Tho' far away shall leave my heart with you.

ADVICE, &c.

Vile man, abstain from every artful plan, When found out disgrace the name of man; Let those who steal repent and sin no more, Ere Law decrees, its vengeance on them pour: From trifling things, we greater ills pursue, Till the Law's fangs are brought within our view; Stop, stop bad courses, ere it be too late, And justice dooms you to a culprits fate.

Riots avoid tho' mischief none you do, Your being at them brings a stain on you; Those who look on, will afterwards repent, And share alike in point of punishment: The Law expressly properly declare, He adds to tumult that is present there; Take my advice let reason bear her sway, From scenes of discord, always keep away; You'd think it hard a worthless savage crew, Should gain by plunder all your goods from you: The worst of men are foremost on a plan, To gain by rapine every way they can; Do you suppose that wasting others store, Can ease the hards.h.i.+ps of the labouring poor: No such a course, our present ills increase, And robs the Nation of its inward peace.

From late example all are taught to know, Dreadful his fate that strikes confusion's blow; Then let us quiet at our cots remain, And better times will cheer us once again.

All means of trying, comforts to restore, To ease the hards.h.i.+ps of the labouring poor; Think what distress awaits dishonest ways, Immur'd in prison many wretched days; Not only days, perhaps they shed their tears, In foreign lands for many dismal years; Not only years, perhaps are doom'd for life, Abroad to roam, from children, home and wife: Should it your lot in prison for to be, Implore with fervent prayer the Deity; Who will in time if you sincerely pray, Lessen your troubles each succeeding day: It's thro' our Saviour's aid that we should crave, A gracious pardon ere we meet the grave; His intercession with the king of Kings, Alone can save you from eternal stings.

When at the court for trial you appear, Speak nought but truth you better for it fare; For should you dare to introduce a lie, Justice's sharp eye each falsehood will descry: The guilty felon, of his crime is clear: Dismay'd confus'd, he feels alas! too late, Such impious conduct greatly aggravate; Besides he answers at the awful day, For causing others from the truth to stray.

Whatever happens in this vale of tears, Our Maker knows, give him your fervent prayers: Let your demeanor if in prison be, Such as the jailor can contrition see; For his report may mitigate your doom, And sometimes save you from a prison's gloom.

Religious books if you can read attend, They are in solitude the pris'ner's friend; When at the Chapel, do not cast away, By inattention what the Chaplain say: It's pure Religion cheers each good man's heart, And will in time its blessings soon impart; Such as perhaps you never knew before, And doubtless will your peace of mind restore.

The Bible read, when in your dismal cell, Read it attentive ere you bid farewell; To him who may companion with you be; Your soul that night may be required of thee.

A scene I witnessed, and not long time since, Would stop the errors of an hardened prince; Three men were sentenc'd by the law to die, To hear them mourn, to see the drooping eye; Would cause sensations of a painful kind, While anxious cares corode the tortur'd mind.

A pious Chaplain strove to bring in view, The proferr'd pardon if repentants true.

He said that G.o.d was merciful and just, To implore forgiveness on his word to trust; There is a record where the scripture say, Those that repent he will not cast away; A sigh or tear can not that boon impart, It must be fervent from the head and heart: Thro' Jesus' aid vile sinners doth he save, If true repentants ere they meet the grave.

Each wish'd they could recal the time that's past, And they would live as if each day the last: Just before death they pray'd me to implore, An erring mortal to transgress no more; Hope their lov'd Chaplain might, for ever be When call'd on high blessed to eternity; They knew his worth his heart is of a kind, That plants soft pity to a feeling mind: Deeker, as Chaplain, few can e'er excel, Belov'd by all who bids the jail farewell.

When first I saw those wretched men in jail, Before their trial, did their fate bewail; Soon as the sentence met each anxious ear, Resign'd and true repentants did appear; One and all cried out, oh that G.o.d how just!

To stop our sad career, on thee we'll trust; One cause alone have made this sore distress, Neglecting lord's day and our drunkenness.

_Ode to the Memory of the late lamented_ SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY

Well may Britons waft the sigh, Since Romilly's no more; Till our existance from us fly, We shall his loss deplore.

Oh! death thy keen unwelcome dart, Caus'd Briton's tears to flow; 'Twas you compell'd him to depart, And gave the deadly blow.