Thereafter, but not necessarily because of this, he found the Prince nearly as useful a subject for his scathing verses as the King, and when the former was appointed Regent, “Peter Pindar” was ready with “The Royal First-Born, or, The Baby out of his Leading Strings.”

“The P[rince] he promised to be good,

And do as every R[egen]t should,

Nor give vile slander cause to say things:

He owned with grief his conduct wildish,

And swore no longer to be childish,

But part with his Imperial Playthings.

This is the day when Britain’s pride

Shall throw his leading-strings aside,

And pass a solemn confirmation;