The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

RIVINGTON'S REFLECTIONS.
Inclusus porro expectat.

The more I reflect, the more plain it appears,
If I stay I must stay at the risque of my ears,
I have so be-pepper'd the foes of our throne,
Be-rebel'd, be-devil'd and told them their own,
That if we give up to these rebels at last,
Tis a chance if my arse will atone for the past.

Tis always the best to provide for the worst--
So evacuation I'll mention the Art to
If Carleton should fail for our dear native shore
(As Clinton, Cornwallis and Howe did before)
And take off the soldiers that serve for our guard
(A step that the tories would think rather hard)
Yet still I surmise, for aught I can see,
No Congress or Senates would meddle with me:

For what have I done, when we come to consider
But sold my commodities to the best bidder?
If I offer'd to lie for the sake of a post,
Was I to be blam'd if the king offer'd most?
The King's Royal Printer!--Five hundred 6 year!
Between you and me 'twas a handsome affair:
Who would not for that give matters a stretch
And lie back and forward, and carry and fetch,

May have some pretensions to honor and fame;
But what are they both but the sound of a name,
More words to deceive us as I have found long since.
Live on them a week and you'll find they're but
nonsense.

The late news from Charlestown, my mind has
perplext:
If that is abandon'd, I know what goes next:
This city of York is a place of great note,
And that we should hold it I now give my vote:
But what are our votes against Shelburne's decrees
These people at helm steer us just where they please.
So often they've had us all hands on the brink,
They'll steer us at last to the devil, I think:
And though in the danger themselves have a share.
It will do us small good that they also go there.

It is true that the tories their children and wives
Have offer'd to stay at the risque of their lives.
And gain to themselves an immortal renown
By ALL turning soldiers, and keeping the town:
Whoe'er was the laddie that struck out the plan.
In my humble conceit, was a very good man;
But our words on this subject need be very few--
Already I see that it never will do:
For suppose a few ships should be left us by Britain.
With Tories to man them, and other things fitting.
In troth we should be in a very fine box,
As well they might guard us with ships on the docks,
And man! behold men aboard and afloat
I am sure I should think of the bear in the boat*.

On the faith of a Printer, things look very black--
And what shall we do, alas! and alack!
Shall we quit our young princes and full blooded peers
And bow down to Viscounts and French Chevaliers?
Perhaps you will say, "As the very last shift
We'll go to New Scotland, and take the king's gift:"
Good folks, do your will--but I vow and I swear,
I'd be boil'd into soup before I'd live there:
If it thus that our monarch his subjects degrades--
Let him go and be d--'d with his axes and spades!

Of all the vile countries that ever were known
In the frigid or torrid or temperate zone.
(From accounts that I've had there is not such another.
It neither belongs to this world nor the other:)
A favor they think it to send us their gratis
To sing like the Jews at the river Euphrates,
And after surmounting the rage of the billows,
Hang ourselves up at last with our harps on the willows:
Ere I sail for that shore may I take my last nap--
Why, it gives me the palsy to look on its map
And he that goes there (tho' I mean to be civil)
May fairly be said to have gone to the Devil.

Shall I push for old England, and whine at the throne?
Alas, they have knaves enough of their own!
Besides, such a name I have got from my trade,
They would think I was lying, whatever I said;--
Thus scheme as I will, or contrive as I may,
Continued difficulties rise in the way:
In short, if they let me remain in this realm--
What is it to Jemmy who stands at the helm?
I'll petition the rebels (if York is forsaken)
For a place in their Zion which ne'er shall be shaken
I am sure they'll be clever: it seems their whole study
They hung not young Asgill for old captain Huddy,
And it must be a truth that admits no denying.
If they spare us for murder they'll spare us for lying
See Gay's Fables.