lines to a gentleman,
who had sent the poet a newspaper, and offered
to continue it free of expense.
kind sir, i've read your paper through,
and faith, to me, 'twas really new!
how guessed ye, sir, what maist i wanted?
this mony a day i've grain'd and gaunted,
to ken what french mischief was brewin;
or what the drumlie dutch were doin;
that vile doup-skelper, emperor joseph,
if venus yet had got his nose off;
or how the collieshangie works
atween the russians and the turks,
or if the swede, before he halt,
would play anither charles the twa<
if denmark, any body spak o't;
or poland, wha had now the tack o't:
how cut-throat prussian blades were hingin;
how libbet italy was singin;
if spaniard, portuguese, or swiss,
were sayin' or takin' aught amiss;