June 2, 1768. No. 179.

With longing Look and faltering Speech,
Fair Liberty, on Albion’s Beach,
     Bemoan’d her WILKES’s Fate,
Can he, my darling Son, she cried,
Who for me liv’d, nay almost died,                                                          5
     Neglect my present State?
While base Corruption, Hand in Hand
With Bribery, stalks around the Land,
     To bind the Brave in Chains,
What Soil or Clime’s reserv’d for me?                                                   10
When ENGLAND is no longer free,
     No Place on Earth remains.
She said, and dropp’d a burning Tear;
When see her Champion strait appear,
     From Gallia wafted o’er!                                                                 15
When ENGLISH LIBERTY complains,
The Dread of Danger HE disdains,
     And seeks his native Shore.
Shewn to his Prince his loyal Zeal,
To those * he makes his next Appeal,                                                   20
     Who late bestow’d Applause;
To Those who ne’er were bought or sold,
Or barter’d Probity for Gold
     In Freedom’s glorious Cause.
When, by their Country’s Love inspir’d,                                                25
Against Oppression justly fir’d,
     These, then, shall give their Voice;
Will they not all, with joint Accord,
Unite, one Patriot to reward,
     By making WILKES their Choice?                                                   30

* The worthy LIVERYMEN of the city of LONDON. [back]