And then were speeches long and thick,
With nonsense and with rant,
And “Rights of Council” soon became
Reformers’ fav’rite cant.
And then one Peter Perry rose,
And in a flaming speech
He vowed that he Sir Francis Head
The use of laws would teach.
He said he had a plan which should
The country’s temper try,
And then he moved him that the House
Would stop the year’s supply.
A mighty struggle then arose,
Of who’d be first to vote;
For they their lessons well had read
And knew them all by rote.
Now up the Speaker of the House
With hasty step arose,
A letter from a friend below
He on the table throws.
The letter, read, was found to be
With treason full well pack’d;
It begg’d that rebels from below
Might by that House be back’d.
To print it, it was found too late—
Alas! they were not able,
For, dire mischance, some wicked wight
Had stole it from the table.
Sir Francis took them at their word—
He was as quick as they—
And with a speech that made them wince
He sent them all away.
Addresses now from far and near
To him came pouring in,
That he would give the people chance
Of choosing better men.
And now each Briton’s bosom beat chance
Right joyous at the thought,
That they at length had gained the
Which they so long had sought.