TO THE PRAISE AND GLORY OF R.W.

[WALPOLE.]

Published by London, 1732

About this Item

4to (250 x 190mm), pp. [2]; a single sheet, printed on both sides. First and apparently only edition of sarcastic poem in seven stanzas, belittling the policies of Robert Walpole and his government. The concluding stanzas leave no doubt that the 'praise and glory' are insincere: How shou'd we then rejoice and sing, He sav'd his destin'd Neck, Which now, instead of Hempen String, A Ribbon Blue doth deck. May he enjoy the PEACE he gave, And roll, like us, in Wealth; Late may he fill the yawning Grave, But die in Perfect Health. On the verso is a second poem, titled 'On the Vote for the Salt-Tax'. This excise tax was reinstated in 1732 in order to reduce, or even abolish, the land tax, a measure which provoked great opposition, and lowered Walpole's majority in Parliament to under thirty votes. The poem predicts a duplicitous outcome: At last, quoth Will Trusty, Sir Blue, by your favour, Tho' your Subject was Salt, your Speech has no Savour; In spite of your Art, we your Plot understand, And that next Year you'll load both our Salt and our Land. This sheet was at one time in a bound volume, but has the appearance of being a separately issued broadside; the poem on the salt tax is centered in the page, which is most unusual were this leaf to be part of a larger work. Neither poem has been traced elsewhere. In very good condition. Not listed in Foxon or ESTC.

Seller Inventory # 23861

Bibliographic Details

• Title: TO THE PRAISE AND GLORY OF R.W.
• Publisher: London
• Publication Date: 1732
• Seller catalogs:
  • Poetry