End of Volume IV.
Footnotes:
[1] I dreamed I was the Amateur Champion.
[2] Oh! Lor.
[3] Lord Granville.
[4] The winner of “The Oaks” in 1867.
[5] These three verses are often omitted.
[6] This song was written before “The Fleet” prison was abolished.
[7] Boxing-gloves.
[8] Note:—Willy-force, i.e. Wilberforce.
[9] Alluding to Mr. Gladstone’s trip on board the Pembroke Castle, in September, 1883, when the Poet Laureate was also a guest of Sir Donald Currie.
[10] Formerly the “Star” Hotel, now the “Clarendon.”
[11] The late Viscount Ranelagh, Colonel of the South Middlesex Rifles, was one of the earliest and most enthusiastic supporters of the Volunteer movement. He originated the Easter manœuvres, and was exceedingly popular with the Metropolitan Volunteers.
[12] Charles James Fox.
[13] Alluding to the title of Baronet then newly instituted by James I, who created the first Baronet, Sir Nicholas Bacon, May 22, 1611. King James, being in need of money to suppress a revolt in Ulster, sold this new title somewhat indiscriminately, and so raised a large sum.
[14] These ancient political prophecies are amusing reading, but require some little explanation. In July, 1849, Baron Lionel de Rothschild was elected M.P. for the City of London, with 6,619 votes, whilst his opponent, Lord John Manners, only polled 3,104. But Baron Rothschild was not then allowed to take his seat, nor was it until he had been thrice again elected M.P. that he was permitted to enter the House of Commons in July, 1858. Shortly afterwards a special act was passed permitting Jewish M.P.’s to omit from the oath the words, “on the faith of a Christian;” since then many eminent Jews have been elected to the House of Commons, where they have generally supported the party which formerly opposed, to the very utmost, the extension to them of civil rights and political equality.
[15] A contiguous pack; but very inferior.
[16] Jack Goddard, the first whip; and the first of whips.
[17] The name which Jim bestowed on the “little pack,” because they could fly and work all day.
[18] An allusion to The Daily Telegraph (London), which had published a very sensational report of a fight between a man and a dog.
[19] The Rt. Hon. William Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, was second son of the famous Earl of Chatham who had advocated conciliatory measures in dealing with the American Colonies, a policy which was very distasteful to the King and Court. Whereas his son afterwards supported the views of the King in opposition to the majority in the House of Commons.
[20] The Poor Law Commissioners had refused to allow any charitable person to send in supplies of roast-beef and plum-pudding upon Christmas Day to the inmates of the Workhouses.
[21] Dr. E. V. Kenealy.
[22] Lord Mayor of London
[23] Commander of the royal troops against the Scots in the 1745 rebellion.
[24] Lord Coleridge.
[25] A skit on Lord Wolseley.
[26] Mr. Gilbert appears particularly fond of this refrain, which he user, with certain variations, again and again. He probably borrowed it from a song popular about 200 years ago:—
The Poor Soul sat Sighing.
The poor soul sat sighing by a sicamore tree;
Sing willow, willow, willow!
With his hand in his bosom, and his head upon his knee;
Oh! willow, willow, willow, willow, oh!
Willow, willow, willow, willow,
Shall be my garland:
Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow,
Ah me! the green willow must be my garland.
* * * * *
[27] Mr. Goschen proposed to reduce the Income Tax from 8d. to 7d. in the £, and to take off 4d. in the lb. from the duty on tobacco, a concession from which the consumer will not reap the smallest benefit.
[28] On the boot tree. This is a poetical intimation that the singer does not intend going out for a walk.
[29] A red star affixed to the frame, or picture, denotes that the picture is sold.—Academy Catalogue.
[30] Louis Phillippe.
[31] Napoleon III.
[32] Alluding to the complete and sudden change in the political creed of The Daily Telegraph. (London.)
[33] The Duke of Marlborough.
[34] “Old King Cole” as he was familiarly known, was a fussy little old gentleman who founded the clique, notorious as the “South Kensington Gang,” which for the last twenty years has enriched itself at the expense of the nation.
[35] Lord Randolph Churchill.
[36] The authors, as in gallantry bound, wish this lady to continue anonymous.
[37] Henry Phillpotts, Bishop of Exeter, was a notorious controversialist and pamphleteer. He became very unpopular in his diocese owing to his stern and bigoted conduct. He was strongly opposed to the emancipation of the Roman Catholics.
[38] Mr. J. L. Hatton, the composer of Old Simon the Cellarer, The Friars of Orders Grey, The Leather Bottel, “Good bye, Sweetheart, good bye,” and a number of other popular songs and ballads, died at Margate in September 1886, at the age of 77. He had long been connected with the Orchestras of the principal London theatres.
[39] Salad, yes, by all means, only let it be eaten from a separate plate. But Pickles with hot roast mutton? Perish the thought! Red currant jelly if thou wilt, but Pickles—never!—Ed. P.
[40] This song was introduced into Davenant’s comedy of The Rivals, 1668; but is probably still older. The phrase to “marry with a rush ring,” is introduced in the ancient ballad of “The Winchester Wedding:”—
“And Tommy was loving to Kitty,
And wedded her with a rush ring.”
Meaning a marriage without the rites of religion, and to be dissolved at the will of the parties as easily as a rush ring may be broken.
[41] To the shade of Benjamin Disraeli.
[42] The Annual Cattle Shows of the Smithfield Club were formerly held in the Baker Street Bazaar.
[43] This clever parody has reference to the attempt made by the Duke of Northumberland to evade the payment of Mr. Pitt’s Income-tax. To mitigate the severity of the pressure on persons with large families, a deduction of ten per cent. was allowed to persons who had above a certain number of children. Amongst others the wealthy Duke of Northumberland was not ashamed to avail himself of this clause.
[44] Sir Hugh Smithson married the Lady Elizabeth, daughter and only child of the Duke of Northumberland, who died in 1750. In the same year he obtained an Act of Parliament, authorizing him to assume the surname and arms of Percy. In 1767 the King created him Earl Percy and Duke of Northumberland. The hero of this ballad was the eldest son of this marriage.
[45] This alludes to Mr. Pitt’s Tax upon Hair-powder, which turned out a failure; the public declining its use rather than pay the tax. Those who continued it were called “guinea-pigs,” the tax being a guinea per head.
[46] Sir Robert Peel.
[47] Chevy.—To rudely harass or brutally bait.
[48] Sir Stafford Northcote.
[49] Lord Randolph Churchill.
[50] Sir Michael Hicks Beach.
[51] Sir Redvers Buller.
[52] The Bill for the suppression of Corrupt Practices at Elections.
[53] Brasen Nose College, Oxford.
[54] Landlord
[55] Nowhere
[56] Brandy and pint-measure of beer
[57] Songs
[58] German Students’ songs
[59] Waitress.
[60] Overseers.
[61] This play, Langbaine says, was written by Shakespeare.
[62] Jonson had the palsy at the time.
[63] The names of several of Jonson’s Dramatis Personæ.
[64] New Inn, Act iii. Scene 2.—Act iv. Scene 4.
[65] This break was purposely designed by the poet, to expose that equally singular one in Ben’s third stanza.
[66] Richard Broome, wrote with success several comedies. He had been the amanuensis or attendant of Ben Jonson.
[67] The lines—
“Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage,”
were evidently suggested by Shakspeare:—
“Nor stony tower nor walls of beaten brass,
Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron,
Can be retentive to the strength of spirit.”
Julius Cæsar Act I. Sc. iii.
[68] The following well-known glee is formed on this song:—
“He who goes to bed, and goes to bed sober,
Falls as the leaves do, and dies in October;
But he who goes to bed, and goes to bed mellow,
Lives as he ought to do, and dies an honest fellow.”
[69] Sir E. J. Reed, M.P.
[70] Charles Dickens then resided at Gad’s Hill, near Rochester, Kent.
[71] The Young Tory Leader, Lord Randolph Churchill.
[72] Mr. Joseph Chamberlain.
[73] Referring to a prize-fight between Randal and Martin.
[74] Shandon Church, in the city of Cork.
[75] Frazer’s Magazine first appeared February 1, 1830, and Father Prout was one of its earliest contributors. It was discontinued in 1882.
[76] “Big Ben” of Westminster, which was cast in 1855, and weighs about 14 tons, is cracked, owing to an improper mixture of the bell-metal in casting.
[77] Gaelic. Sen Bhan Vochd—poor old woman—an affectionate name for Ireland.
[78] Bantry.
[79] Angel-gold was of a finer kind than crown gold.
[80] Lord Charles Beresford’s resignation was not accepted.
[81] Editor of The Daily Telegraph.
[82] The name of a favourite Elephant killed in Exeter Change in 1826.
[83] Mr. Sturmey has recently written a Handbook of Bicycling.
[84] In the American Exhibition held at Earl’s Court in 1887, Colonel W. F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, with a troupe of cowboys and Indians, gave daily performances entitled The Wild West.