THE

NEW WHIG GUIDE.

THE CHOICE OF A LEADER.

No. I.

Feb. 9, 1815.

THE Recess nearly spent, and approaching the hour, That renews the vain struggle for places and power, The Whigs, duly summon'd, are met to prepare Their annual bill of political fare.

Their brows, like the season, are cloudy and dark; Of hope scarce a ray, and of joy not a spark Illume any visage-save WHITBREAD'S* alone, Who grins as he fancies the game all his own,

* Samuel Whitbread, Esq., M. P. for Bedford,

B

Expects the whole sway of the faction to bear,
And sees his own strength in his party's despair.

And now to the meeting each member began To open his separate project and plan,

And each in each varied event of the times

Beholds a new mark of the Ministry's crimes-
Bad faith with MURAT-and the low price of Corn,
The American Lakes-and the Duchy of Thorn,
The Legion of Honour-the trading in Blacks,
Baron IMBERT's arrest-and the Property Tax,
Colonel QUENTIN's Court-martial-and Spain's dis-
content,

The Catholic claims-and the Treaty of Ghent ! *

For each sev'ral point, the proposer of each Is duly equipp'd with a notice and speech; While WHITBREAD, who seizes on every man's theme, Like bold Bully Bottom, in Midsummer's Dream, †

* It seems from the parliamentary debates that all these were subjects of discussion about this time.-E.

Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream."

Would play every part, and proposes for all,
Duke, Pyramus, Thisbe, Moon, Lion, and Wall!

But while they prepared the defeat of their foes, Within their own camp cívil discord arose ;

*

And, famish'd and gaunt, PADDY PONSONBY's pack, Like the hounds of Actæon, their huntsman attack.

"What boots our debate,"-thus the rebels began, "What avails the discussion of topic or plan? "No plan can succeed, and no party can thrive, "With a leader who neither can lead us nor drive: "Six Sessions of patience have witness'd our toil, "Six Sessions of labour, not lighten'd by spoil; "For six mortal years, as rhetorical graces "We truisms cheer'd, and extoll'd common-places; "Wash'd over with praise every folly and flaw,

"And smil'd at his jokes, and look'd grave at his law,

1

The Right Honourable George Ponsonby, M. P. for Peterborough, the reputed leader of the opposition.-E.

(Could friendship do more?) while indifferent folks "All smil❜d at his law, and look'd grave at his jokes.

"With patience we suffer'd in hopes he might mend, "But patience and hope must at last have an end. Expect, then, to see half the party secede, or

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"Provide us with some one more fit to be leader."

Applauses ensued; and in shouts from the crowd “New leader-new leader,” is echoed aloud. Less hoarse is the wave on the Hebridan shore, Less loudly does MATHEW for Popery roar; Less deep are the groans from the Bar that arise, When NEWPORT begins on the Irish excise;

Or when, as the candles burn dim in their sockets, WILL SMITH rises up with both hands in his pockets; On a course of morality fearlessly enters,

And drawls all the twaddle of all the Dissenters.

But though to a change all appear to agree, No two coincide who the leader should be;