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DURING the heat of the contest about
the Reform Bill of 1831-2, an article appeared in the Glasgow Courier,
then conducted by Mr. Motherwell, denouncing the ministry—i.e.
Brougham, Grey, etc.—as fools and dunces,
who were flattered by idiots and petty scribblers.
A writer of the other party
published the following verses in reply, contrasting the little editor
with the great chancellor :—
"A tomtit once, a
little bird,
But full of high conceit,
Attacked an eagle of the sun,
A bird of claws and weight.
"Quoth Tom, ‘The eagle is a fool,
And stupid eke is he;
He wears a wig, he cannot sing,
Nor twitter tweedle-dee.
"‘He sits upon a pack of wool—
I perch upon a tree;
Tho’ petty scribblers sound his praise
He’ll never match with me.’" |
