address to wm. tytler, esq., of woodhouselee
with an impression of the author's portrait.
revered defender of beauteous stuart,
of stuart, a name once respected;
a name, which to love was the mark of a true heart,
but now 'tis despis'd and neglected.
tho' something like moisture conglobes in my eye,
let no one misdeem me disloyal;
a poor friendless wand'rer may well claim a sigh,
still more if that wand'rer were royal.
my fathers that name have rever'd on a throne:
my fathers have fallen to right it;
those fathers would spurn their degenerate son,
that name should he scoffingly slight it.
still in prayers for king george i most heartily join,
the queen, and the rest of the gentry:
be they wise, be they foolish, is nothing of mine;