Our party's head and boast ;

Nor how in each debate you shone,

Or all th' applause, and Fame you've won, Or all that Sands has lost.

He may at Worcester great appear,
We've found him out, that see him near,
And he our constant scoff is;

But were it not, dear friend, for you,
I could not give the fool his due,
For fear of my damn'd office.

Let nobler themes adorn our feast,
We'll talk by turns in classic taste,

Of woman and of Boys,

And envy

who in Gito's arms,

Now feeds his eyes upon his charms,
And grasps forbidden joys.

Next Lincoln shall the subject be,
When to his Venus, Peggy Lee,

He comes like mighty Mars; But not a word of the rebuke

He met from Love, when Richmond's Duke Produc'd the readier Tarse.

One more request my noble friend;
Make Fox and Williams condescend
My humble roof to grace;

To see how I by thee am blest,

I without thee could have no feast,
Nor without thee a place.

In vain you strive, in vain you 're great,
Distinct in op'ning a debate,

And in replying ready;

Since all thy parts tho' strong and clear,

Can't make the wav'ring P sincere,

Or treach'rous Pultney steady.

HOR. EPISTLE V. LIB. I.

IMITATED AND INSCRIBED TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

THOMAS WINNINGTON,* ESQ.

FROM

MR. HENRY HARRIS.

COMMISSIONER OF THE WINE LICENCE: Written in 1742.

IF you, great Winnington, can condescend,
To taste the dinner of a grateful friend;

* At that time Paymaster of the Forces.

Winnington's wife is dead; it may be an unlucky event to Lady : as he has no children, he will certainly marry again. Who will give him their daughter unless he breaks off that affair, which I believe he will now very willingly make a marriage article? We want him to take Lady Charlotte Fermor:* she was always his beauty, and has so many charming qualities, that she would make any body happy: he will make a good husband, he is excessively good-natured.-W.

* Afterwards married to the Honourable W. Finch, and was mother of the present Earl of Winchelsea.

Of kindness still to add another proof,
And with thy presence bless my humble roof.
Once more t' adorn thy servant's annual feast,
To-morrow I expect you for my guest;

Claret, the best my little vaults afford,

And well-sav'd hermitage shall grace my board.
My rooms shall all be clean, large fires be made,
My dinner ready, and my table spread;
To-morrow's dedicated to delight,

And wit and wine shall crown the happy night.
Do thou, unbent, this feast of Bacchus keep,
Let Love be silent and Ambition sleep;

For Clora, let thy breast no passion feel,

*

And Sands unenvy'd hug th' exchequer seal.

Since, dearest Patron, you've increas'd my store,
I will be happier, and I'll spend the more;
For I've no heirs to curse me in the grave,
No wife unjointur'd who persuades to save.

* Samuel Sandys, Chancellor of the Exchequer, afterwards created a Baron.-W.

Bring bumpers, then, wine gives the weary rest, Unlocks the crooked Politician's breast;

Relieves the wretched, makes the coward brave,
Gives riches to the poor, and frees the slave.
Inspir'd by potent bumpers all the night,
Rushout* is eloquent, and Bootle† bright;
Fazakerly grows candid, Waller clear,

And Lim'rick's face one smile of joy may wear.
Good wine I'll give you, and for all the rest,
If 'tis not fine, it shall be clean at least;
No dirty napkins shall offend your eye,

Nor
greasy glasses make you pass them by.
And that our conversation may be free,
Let well-try'd friends compose the company;

Sir John Rushout, one of the Commissioners of the Treasury.-W.

+ Sir Thomas Bootle, Chancellor to the Prince.-W. + Nicholas Fazakerley.—W.

§ James Hamilton, Lord Viscount Limerick, a great friend of Lord Bath's, who had obtained the reversion of King's Remembrancer for himself and his son on the change of the ministry 1742. He was created Earl of Clanbrasil 1756.-W.