Sam Marrowbones had shut up shop, And just had lit his pipe, sir, When in the lady needs must pop, Exceeding plump and ripe, sir. 'Good zounds,' says he, 'how late you be! For votes you come to bore me; But let us feel are you beef or veal— The Duchess has been before you.'
A fishmonger she next address'd With many a soothing tale, sir, And for his vote most warmly press'd, But all would not prevail, sir. 'The finest cod's-head sure in town, Of oysters send two score too.' 'Extremely, madame, like your own— The Duchess has been before you.'
A grocer next, to make amends, The dame with smiles accosted: 'You grocers all to Pitt are friends,' Of her connection boasted! 'For plums and raisins, ma'am,' said he, 'I'm willing for to score you: In politics we shan't agree— The Duchess was here before you.'
Sly Obadiah was at prayers With many pious folk, sir; His pretty maid on the back-stairs She found, and thus bespoke her: 'This riband take, all interest make; Your master will adore you, For Hood and Wray pray kiss and pray.' 'Now, Duchess, I'm once before you.'
A stable-keeper to engage She then her talents tried, sir; He fell into a monstrous rage, And all her smiles defied, sir. 'Are you a full moon or Court balloon? Get out, you female Tory; Tho' Courts prevail I'll not turn tail— The Duchess was here before you.'
However courtiers take offence, And cits and prudes may join, sir, Beauty will ever influence The free and generous mind, sir. Fair Devon, like the rising sun, Proceeds in her full glory, Whilst madame's duller orb must own The Duchess moves before her.
April 22, 1784. [Wit's Last Stake], or the Cobbling Voter and Abject Canvassers.—Every stratagem which could secure the popular voice for either candidate was freely put in practice; but while the Pittites resorted to threats and force, Fox and his adherents relied mainly on persuasion and good humour. Wit's last Stake shows the exertions made in the canvassing department. Fox is in the centre of the picture, giving his knee as a seat for his fair advocate, the Duchess of Devonshire, who is resorting to a subterfuge commonly employed as a precaution against actions for bribery at elections, by the stall of a cobbler, who happens to be a voter: her Grace has discovered that her shoe requires a stitch; the cobbler, with his tongue thrust out at the side of his mouth, is working at the supposititious repairs with pantomimic energy; meanwhile his wife is receiving in payment for the job a handful of sovereigns from her Grace's purse. The scene takes place in Peter Street, and the cobbler's board announces, 'Shoes made and mended by Bob Stichett, cobbler to her Grace the tramping Duchess.' A fox's brush is being waved overhead out of the first-floor window by a supporter, who has been provided with pipe and pot at the Whig expense. Fox is giving his right hand to another voter, a tattered and stupified-looking scavenger, to whom Sam House is also administering comfort in the shape of a pot of porter. Among other followers of the 'Man of the People' Rowlandson has introduced a chimney-sweeper and his boy.
WIT'S LAST STAKE, OR THE COBBLING VOTER AND ABJECT CANVASSERS.