Who’d put their names for large donations down;
Though soldiers, too, and sailors, side by side,
Were fiercely dunned throughout the Empire wide;
Though everywhere subscription-lists were sent,
O’er stormy sea, through distant continent;
And though, worked artfully from Kensington,
The “screw” was universally put on,
The Empire set itself against the craze,
And the new Institute was loath to raise.
But was the “Gang” disheartened? Nay;