Meditations on Mr. Barry’s New Houses of Parliament.
Written on Board the “Lily” Steamboat.
The wharf-bell tolls the knell of starting steam
The jostling crowd pours quickly o’er the pier;
The ladies forward rush with timid scream,
And leave the stern to Punch, and bottled beer.
Now fades each public building from the sight,
As on her course the Lily steamer holds,
Till new St. Stephen’s rears its moderate height,
Which many a tier of scaffolding infolds.