"If any person, of what degree soever, high or low, shall deny or gainsay our Sovereign Lord King George the Fourth of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, son and next heir to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, the last King deceased, to be right heir to the Imperial crown of the United Kingdom, or that he ought not to enjoy the same, here is his Champion, who saith that he lieth, and is a false traitor; being ready in person to combat with him, and in this quarrel will adventure his life against him on what day soever he shall be appointed.' "At the conclusion of this awful challenge, the Champion hurled down his gauntlet, which fell with a solemn clash upon the floor. It rang in most hearts! He then stuck his wrist against his steeled side, as though to show how indifferent he was to the consequence of his challenge. This certainly had a very pleasing and gallant effect. The Herald, in a few seconds, took up the glove, delivered it to the squire, who kissed it and handed it to the Champion. In the middle of the Hall the same ceremony was performed; and at the foot of the royal platform, it was a third time gone through. The King then drank his health, and methinks with real pleasure, for the Champion had right gallantly conducted himself. His Majesty then sent the cup to him; and he, taking it, drank to the King, but in so low a tone that I could only catch the meaning by the tumultuous shouts of the people. The noise seemed to awaken the courage of his horse, but he mastered his steed admirably. The ceremony of backing out of the Hall was then again performed, and successfully, with the exception of the Marquis of Anglesea's Arabian, whose doubts were not yet satisfied, and he was literally shown out by the pages." In Hall's Account of the Coronation of Henry VIII. there is a passage, quoted by the writer in the London Magazine, describing the appearance in that ceremony of "Sir Robert Dimmoke, champion to the kynge by tenour of his enheritaunce." The office seems to have remained in the Dimmoke family till the time of George IV. At the Coronations of William IV. and Victoria, the Great Banquet, in the course of which it was usual for the Champion to appear, was omitted. The following verses originally appeared in the London Magazine of September, 1821, p. 236. THE CHAMPION'S FAREWELL. Otrum cum Dignitate. Here' bring me my breeches, my armour is over; Here' hang up my belmet, and reach me my beaver, I think on my die that again I shall never Take my head in a sauce-pan to Westminster Hall. Oh, why was my family born to be martial? "Ts a mercy this grand show-off-fight-day is up! I do not think Cato was much over-partial To back through the dishes, with me and my cup. By the blood of the Dymokes. I'll sit in my lodgings, My horse's own tail 'twixt Duke, Marquis & Co. No more at my horsemanship folks shall make merry, They feathered my skull, but I'll feather my car. So. Thomas, take Cato and put on his halter, And give him some beans, since I now am at peace; If a Champion is wanted, pray go to Sir Walter, And he'll let you out Marmions at sovereigns apiece. The ladies admired the piebald nag vastly, And clapped his old sober-sides into the street; Here's a cheque upon Child, so, my man, go to Astley. Pay the charge of a charger, and take a receipt. ODE TO JOSEPH GRIMALDI, SENIOR. irimaldi, the celebrated clown, took his final leave of public at Drury Lane, in July, 1828. He was born in 79, and died in 1837. ODE TO CAPTAIN PARRY. Sir William Edward Parry, a captain in the British y, was born at Bath, December 19, 1790. He entered navy in 1803, and distinguished himself in the block ade of Brest, and in the Baltic during the war with Denmark. In 1811, he was sent to the Greenland seas for the protection of the British whale fishermen, and penetrated as far as the 76th degree of north latitude. In 1818, he commanded The Alexander, the second discovery ship in Captain Ross's northwest expedition. In 1819, he began a series of expeditions of discovery in the polar regions, which, under his command, were conducted with admirable skill. A complete account of these was published in 1833, under the title of "Four Voyages to the North Pole." The ode in the text was written on the occasion of Parry's third voyage. ADDRESS TO MARIA DARLINGTON. In December, 1824, an action was brought by the celebrated actress, Miss Foote, against Mr. Hayne, a gentleman of fortune, for a breach of promise of marriage. The Attorney-General stated that Miss Foote, while performing at the Cheltenham theatre, became acquainted with Colonel Berkeley, who, under a promise of marriage, seduced her, and she lived under his protection for five years. Two children were born; after the birth of the Last, Miss Foote, finding that Colonel Berkeley did not fulfil his promise, resolved that the connection should cease. This was in June, 1824. Subsequently, she became engaged to Mr. Hayne. Colonel Berkeley, on learning of this engagement, communicated to Mr. Hayne the history of his connection with Miss Foote. Upon this, with Miss Foote's consent, Mr. Hayne withdrew from his engagement to marry her. He, afterwards, however, renewed his suit, and again was accepted. His second engagement he refused to fulfil. Upon which Miss Foote brought an action against him for breach of promise, and obtained three thousand pounds damages. Miss Foote married April 7, 1831, the Earl of Harrington, who died in 1851. ODE TO W. KITCHENER, M. D. The London Magazine for October, 1821, contains a review of Dr. Kitchener's Cook's Oracle, evidently written by Hood; and in the November number of the same journal is the following ode. ODE TO DR. KITCHENER. Ye Muses nine inspire, Of Dr. Kitchener I fain would sing, O culinary Sage! (I do not mean the herb in use, That always goes along with goose,) "When like a lobster boiled, the morn Till midnight, when I went to bed, And clapped my tewah-diddle on my head. Who is there cannot tell Thou ead'st a life of living well? "What baron, or squire, or knight of the shire, Lives half so well as a holy Fry-er?" In doing well thou must be reckon'd The first, and Mrs. Fry the second; And twice a Job-for in thy feverish toils. Thou wast all over roasts, as well as boils. Thou wast indeed no dunce, To treat thy subjects and thyself at once. His brains like thee, But few there be Could live so long on their receipts. What living soul or sinner Would slight thy invitation to a dinner, Ought with the Danaïdes to dwell, Draw gravy in a cullender, and hear The pleasant tinkling of thy dinner bell. Immortal Kitchener! thy fame Shall keep itself when Time makes game Of other men's. Yea, it shall keep all weathers, And thou shalt be upheld by thy pen-feathers. Yea, by the sauce of Michael Kelly, Thy name shall perish never, But be magnified forever. By all whose eyes are bigger than their belly! Yea, till the world is done To a turn, and Time puts out the Sun, The doctor's composition for a night-cap. Shall live the endless echo of thy name. Oh, Death's carnivorous teeth will tittle Thee out of breath, and eat it for cold victual. Ah, me! my soul is touched with sorrow Is cold and turned to hashes on the morrow! ODE TO H. BODKIN, ESQ. The Society for the Suppression of Mendicity was instituted in 1813. Mr. Bodkin, for many years its secretary, was very active in prosecution of beggars and vagabonds, and was, in consequence, severely lampooned by the press of London. END OF VOL. II. |