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''oSHSiM 
 
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 -eo. 
 
 
 AN EYE TO THE E ^IINE. 
 
 A DREAM. 
 
 BY ALBYN. 
 
 'WE LIVE IN DREAMS." 
 
 Tennyson. 
 
 HALIFAX, N. S. 
 PRINTED BY JAMES BOWES & SONS, BEDFORD ROW. 
 
 J 871. 
 
 CAN 
 
 PR 
 15 3 7^ 
 
 »M 
 
 - JM 
 
*j- — 
 
 Uall|aueiie Callciic ft ihrari) 
 
 JOHN JAMES STEWART 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 i: 1 *' ■ 'tr 
 
 1 
 
AN EYE TO THE ERMINE 
 
 
 V DREAM. 
 
 BY ALBYN. o-^ev^ci 
 
 t/, 
 
 WE LIVE IN DREAMS. 
 
 Tknxvson. 
 
 HALIFAX, N. S. 
 PRINTED BY JAMES BOWES & SONS, BEDFORD ROW. 
 
 J 871. 
 
4^H V-'voZ-. 
 
 €.1 19 
 
 
 
AN EYE TO THE ERMINE. 
 A^ I>riEA]VI. 
 
 
 cV 
 
 AViiiLST llie conductors of tlie public press 
 TIkmi- liicnbriitions casf abroad by guess. 
 Of what lias been, and Mhat is yet to come 
 On any subject, equally at home, 
 And correspondents rather more polite 
 (^ive birth to biuitlings, wonder mav excite — 
 Various and vast the exhibitions made. 
 By some to please, by others to persuade 
 It matters little whether false or true 
 Or an abortion, if 'tis only new. 
 
 We claim attention, not as authors claim 
 Wiio make great lies a passport into fame ; 
 But let it be distinctly imderstood 
 This narrative is for the public good. 
 That as advisable, all may prepare 
 For the intliction Halifax must share, 
 And tho' it may seem premature, nnvail 
 Some indications of the coming gale. 
 
 I dream'd one night when couch'd in calm repose 
 An apparition not far from me 'rose 
 The hands in front were so devoutly cross'd 
 T thought, the thing must surely be a ghost 
 Or, one of these receptacles of sin 
 All saint without, all sepulchre within, 
 The depth of varnish on a picture frame, 
 And their religion, is about the same 
 Or, the enamelling an Artist lays 
 Upon the surface of an earthen vase — 
 The process can accomplish little- more 
 Than to embellish what it covers o'er : 
 
 '-'1 
 
Save ill apiK'araiit'c notliiii;^' I'lsc it ^i^iiiiis. 
 However (hiilty, faulty it rt'inains 
 Hut lU'illicr adtls lo, nor docs it impair 
 Tiic native" Icxtiirc of tlu' potter's ware. 
 
 Intrusive as siieli siinilies appear 
 They simplify the vision written liere 
 And aid oui* ])encil. limitcfl at lit-st 
 'J'o shed some liuht on the iiocinrnnl liiie.st. 
 So, in eontinnation we declare 
 Tlie smallest f)ortion of the face was hare 
 I'eneath the evi'hi'ows, fla])pin.!^ n|) and tlown 
 What mi;j;ht he eyelids, tho' liiat is nnknou ii ; 
 lint in the curious exhihition made 
 Not insijfiiificant the part they jday'd ; 
 IVrhaps the movement mi^'lit sonu; issut; tci;;n 
 'Vo make jnysterious what was only plain. 
 l)Ut this c')i pai^Haid, we proceed to draw 
 An ontline of the spoetaele we saw. 
 Where gravity co-min^led with !_'rimac(i 
 Upon the f'eatmes lonnd a tiltin;;- |)laee ; 
 A beard half hleaidi'd hetween a "rev and Iiiown 
 That did the toilet totally disown 
 And peerin;^ thru' the sti'eaky tnf'ts of hail' 
 Tho crinky crowteel told a talc of care. 
 In the confusion that attends a dream 
 To nie the thing did not familiar seem. 
 The lanky lignre tho' but diml\' seen 
 Ap])ear"d the leanest of the very lean 
 And no skye terrier set in n rat ])it. 
 Could look more sad. and shaky like than it. 
 Xor would that fierce one follows Donald Ross, 
 Behave at once so chiistianlike and cross. 
 
 The scene was barren of a single trace 
 Beyond the eoinmonest of common j)lace 
 No trait of classic, or of Attic taste 
 A trav'llcr's eye might rest on as he pass'd. 
 But all the roughness that the " Bush *' can give 
 To a location, where the Indians live, 
 Except a villa on a hill top placed 
 That showed the owner destitute of taste, 
 And the surroundings such <is may be found 
 Where pioneers and prejudice abound. 
 
 

 lint, less the place, than did the personage 
 Our observations at the time ensra<;e. 
 
 1 thouLdit of'* Praise (Jod Harehones" in niv sloe;) 
 And felt as it'niv flesh l)(!j:an to creep; 
 Tiien as the moon hid in hehind a clond 
 A hnman tonijnc heijan to talk aloud. 
 But in a stiinirn'rinir hesitfitin<; mode 
 Which at the time did certainly ■seem odd, 
 Allx'it a dream is oidv but a dream 
 And this one too extravajjant may seem — 
 Yet as the tone some an;;nrin<f implies. 
 To note it down mijrht be considered Avise, 
 Tho' oft abrupt the utterances made. 
 Still «lue attention to the truth is paid — 
 And into Kn;^lish heroics now penn'd 
 With histoi-y it may hereafter blend. 
 
 Tiie first expressions in a stranjrled shout 
 Will not be soon from mem'ry blotted out. 
 And thus be^fan ; " All, all my labour's vain 
 I'll never )ifi:i'r trust to him ajrain. 
 Ah! lliat black hearted Ilowel I've been his drudge 
 And yet he did not get me made a judge; 
 bar all the S[)eeches that for him I nnule 
 Not even a cent have I been ever paid. 
 He is a selfish animal indeed; 
 Who leans on him leans on a broken reed. 
 But l)y and bye, he may not be so big. 
 When I am hononr'd with a Judire's wi"'. 
 And It is possible I'll not forget 
 How very little I am in his debt 
 A longer latie they have to travel thro' 
 That has no turns, than this we are in now. 
 
 Dare he despise me ? some strauae thou<>hts arc 
 mme ! 
 My note nnanswer'd — is it by design V 
 I had my packet earefudy address'd 
 Weigh'd in the scales, and saw the stamps impress'd. 
 Breathed a reminiscence of lonjr aiio 
 And made quite sure that it would tickle ,Joe, 
 FCven underlined some passages I wrote 
 Lest my appeal to him should be forgot, — 
 
And clmr^jcd liim strictly to keep me in mind. 
 
 Else ho wouM thwart what nature ha<l desiyn'd. 
 
 Nor is he i^rnorant of all (hat's meet 
 
 To fonn a .Iii(l<;e is t'ouiid in me complete. 
 
 I could put on, just as the casu recpiired, 
 
 The jiraviiy and jzloomness desired, 
 
 And if occasion did demand coidd feijin 
 
 C^iiite th(( reverst^ and throw tlunn off a;.(ain. 
 
 I'm of that keen, and coniprchensive cast 
 
 To me no sid)ject ever seems too vast ! 
 
 Who knows, who kiinws the terrihle effect 
 
 I poll creation tliio' his hasc ne;.dect 
 
 INIucli omciiuus my counsid might avert 
 
 Provided always, I had my desert 
 
 K'<p(!cially now in the dying hours 
 
 Of (|uiv'riiig kingdoms, and of palsy'd pow'rs 
 
 Kven this Dominion cannot long escape 
 
 Some retribution in a fearful sha|)e ; 
 
 But I will t(dl him. tell him to his face 
 
 My treatment is a National ilisgrace. 
 
 There is a class of peoph; that we find 
 So reticent we never know their mind, 
 The very little that they do unfold 
 Fs in a crannied, crooked maimer told — 
 Wliilst others blab out all they know — and more! 
 And some of it repeating o'er and o'er 
 Hy them a great anxiety is shown 
 For telling iu!ws that is already known. 
 But I am not like either party. — they 
 Are irksome both, tlio' in a diffrent way 
 Unlit, unfit, to be in public life. 
 And have no tactics in forensic strife ; 
 Vet all the best of situations these 
 Do hold — hf)ld if the cabinet they please — 
 Whilst I, I, T, whilst I, whilst I whilst I 
 l*ass'd, — like old useless lumber, pass'd, pass'd by ; 
 But if [ onlv were a Jiulge, no doubt 
 A better system I could bring about, 
 And merit simply should from me have aid 
 In any new appointment to be made. 
 (_)f course I woidd a preference aUow 
 
To those who may aocoinino(hit(! mo imw, 
 
 Yut weed out cv'ry drowsy Drotio who may 
 
 I'resimu! to ()U('Stlon aiiylliiuji; T say 
 
 l)lstiii;j;nishiii^' most carol'iilly hctwcou 
 
 My friends tliat an^ and those; that erst have boeu. 
 
 I (h) not fault the U(!\v appointments, no — 
 Hut something to my own respect I owe 
 I 'm ot'ii hijiher standing at the ''Bar" 
 Than eithei- Uitcliie or IMcCnlly are. 
 I shouUl have been, yes, I shonhl have been one — 
 But now my chance, the chance I had is gone. 
 TluMi these 'vo Senators I I see, I see 
 Tlieir salaries are not enojigh for me. 
 I'm not surpass'd in qiuilities of miud, 
 My character is of a faultless kind, 
 In my prf>fession, far up on the list, 
 And in the Court tiiere's none would be more miss'd. 
 An elder too, what would our church become 
 Were I not in it, or my touiiue were dumb ? 
 Besides, I've brains, but what are brains like mine 
 ^lore than line pearls amou*^ a hei'd of swine 
 Even in the Synod, of the speeches there 
 There's none of them that can with mine compare ; 
 A sinjrle syllable has not bee aid 
 Against tlial overture in it I made, 
 Professor King himself breatlied not u word 
 111 opi)ositioii, 'though he's so absurd. 
 And iurlher, furthermore, I rule 
 The Dartmoutii Pi-esbyterian Sabbatii School — 
 Onct Presbyterian, 'tlio' I must allow 
 That such a term might be disputed now 
 '• Conglomerate," more apposite would be 
 And strictly true, but what is it to me 
 Altlio' it does seem strange a Scottish Act 
 Of parliament, or any thing in fact. 
 Except Avhat Scripture says, should interfere 
 In the Church matters, and discipline here. 
 But then Professor King, not long ago 
 Said in the presbyt'ry tluat it was so : 
 And as objections were not made, of course 
 Scotch Law, and not the Scripture is in force. 
 
 \\ 
 
8 
 
 Tliis iiiiiy explain the dift'erenoe between 
 
 Profession made, and practice often seen, 
 
 Hut let that pass at present ; it will not 
 
 Take from, nor give to me, a single vote 
 
 So, as I said before — to oversee 
 
 The Sabbath School, has been assign'd to me. 
 
 Even when the young men meet in Lawlor's Hall 
 
 As president, I'm placed above them all — 
 
 Xor can a lovelier spot on earth be seen 
 
 Than ''•Evcrffrcen ;" my funn of evergreen ! 
 
 A landscape where the eye delights to rest 
 Encircling it on north, and east, and west, 
 And on the south the great Atlantic sea 
 Perpetual pleasure furnishes to me 
 Tn all directions, both far off and near 
 The countrr seats of gentlemen itppcar 
 The princely Lodge, and palace looking pile 
 Of ev'ry structure, and in ev'ry style 
 Where ever seen upon the gentle slope 
 Or in the vale, or on the high hill-top, 
 Where ever seen, nor is the circuit small, 
 Mv Evergreen's tlie glorv of them all. 
 
 And when the railroad comes down past my hill. 
 As I am certain some day that it will, 
 The building lots that lie along the line 
 Which I can sell then off this farm of mine, 
 I calculate within the narrowest bounds 
 Will bring me in an hundred thousand pounds I 
 So whether I've a .hidgeship then or not 
 I will not give one farthing for a vote. 
 And who can tell but in some future day 
 When statesmen nuirk the talents I display 
 Or come to feel the influence I wield, 
 An influence I've kept too long conceal'd. 
 As some acknowledgment for what I've done 
 Since that time my politic •' spurs" were won, 
 Wlien I did these astounding letters write 
 (The world admires) above \\w name of " lii-ight." 
 lu them, in them, I paved the wa\ for Howe 
 To gain that oHice lie is filling now 
 And onlv tor these letters that I wrote 
 
9 
 
 hill. 
 
 >t. 
 
 IKlgc 
 
 Tlio sitiiiition lie IkmI iit'vcr <iot. 
 
 Tlic'ii it is only just i(.'o to suppose 
 
 That from the fountain whence all honour flows, 
 
 Some slight reward, however sli^rht it he 
 
 I am expecfinnr shmild distiniinish me : 
 
 I mr/// hr loiHjIiU'd! ! hy our -rraoious (^uotsn — 
 
 Sir pjistarc Ei^olist of Ever;rreen 
 
 Or Duke of Dartmouth ; if there's uu^rhf to spare 
 
 In the Dominion, I must have a shan', 
 
 I'm sure tliere's many a nmnskull ji:ets K, li. 
 
 Does not deserve it half so well as me : 
 
 And then. O tlien, o'er Howe and 'rupp(>r set, 
 
 Premier in the Dmuinion caljinet, 
 
 I'll dash thro' Ottawa, as dash [ can 
 
 In a state carria.-re, with a dotd)le span 
 
 True IVter Archhold said the other dav 
 To Peter Lynch in his own cynic wav 
 (I hold his ftald assertion to he fudi^e ) 
 
 That Lawyer James will not mak(> a jroo(' ' 
 In place of ,^ivin;>: criminals their mes-d ^ 
 He would he winking at an evil deed." 
 Ah ! that does smell of Truro sure enouj.di. 
 Jt S(Mnids exactly like their silly stuff'. 
 I»ut it is quite exi'usahle in liin'i 
 As l't>ter's si<,dit is sometimes vcrv dim : 
 And ill the atternoori what he ohsorves 
 Dcp.'nds more on the tjlasf^a than the nerves. 
 
 Lxcepting now and then some v/retched pun 
 
 He may i)et rid of in the way of fun. 
 
 There is hut little of a hrilliant cast 
 
 Beyond his spectacles has ever pass'd. 
 
 So his opinion, if it can he said /, 
 
 He has one, shall not make me^'lnutl 
 
 Hut in hereafter when Yn\ on tl'ie '' lieneh"' 
 
 Who then upon my dij?nify shall trench. ? 
 
 Altho' I may one courteous smile afford 
 
 When Peter hows, and says to me, " mv Lord .'" 
 
 Now my belief is that the reason why 
 My elevation until by and bye 
 Has been postponed, is that,' except the Chief 
 I \N(.idd, I would put all (he Bench to !.rri(f 
 
mmm 
 
 10 
 
 Alllio' ''()()(] im-ii, tlicv'iv not from errors free 
 Ami HOIK! oftlioni so fornpoteiit us nio. 
 Has nut tlio Jitdj^e of Equity declared 
 How very well my cases are prepared — 
 And ilowii in Lunenbur;; even IMotton said 
 lie never heard a speech, like one I made, 
 That was the term !i Dnleliman ask'd me what 
 In all the Devil I was l)]iid\in;r at':' 
 If I inuiuined he Avas speakinj; lies 
 Why could I not be keepint; still my eyes — 
 And the I'rothouolarv's tonuue let slip 
 Some loose aspersions on a partnership 
 Which, if exist inj: ])laced me on a par, 
 With one scarce ever erpudl'd at the liar. 
 Xow such admissions I have cause to know 
 Do not from any friendly ieelinf!;s flow 
 But admii-ation would not be confined 
 When in the presence of u master mind. 
 
 It does seem stran;;e tliat no account is made 
 Of all the smartest savMi^is I have said ; 
 Altlio' at times some of them may be odd 
 Or (juaint, but then it is my native mode. 
 My wit, my wit, my wit, is so refined 
 The efilux of a <'nltivated mind. 
 And always is so delicately keen 
 That undiscover'd it has often been 
 Kven in debate, however rudely stirr'd. 
 Tidisli'd, and playful ;is a Immming biinl. 
 But then a home-thiust in the present day 
 Is otdy mental culture Hun/j; away: 
 So small, so small, is the attention paid 
 To many things that',- elegant. I've said. 
 
 Tho' in whatever merit may obtain 
 I really have no reason to complain. 
 But ah ! but ah ! disliu^uisliM as 1 am 
 Such eminen<'e is only l)ut a sham. 
 There is no i'^'i-f^, no salary — no not 
 (hie cent for all the trouble I have j.n)t. 
 Such empty honnui's I could well rcsi;^n 
 If only a Chief .rusticeship were mine. 
 
: 
 
 ■I 
 
 11 
 
 One thing, one thing to me is very cleni" 
 That 1 am not in my position here-. 
 I must be off to Ottawa at once 
 And see myself if there he any eliance. 
 Oil I it' I liad a thousand pounds to spai'e 
 So I might sit on the red benches there. 
 The sum is Uvrge, but nobody wouUl grudge 
 Tlio' it were doubk; to l)e made a Judge 
 Were I in Ottawa, the eliance is still 
 I might a bench in their Appeal Court till 
 Of my peculiar fitness Howe's aware 
 To sit as Chancellor among them there. 
 
 I must have a constituency, — it 
 It m;iy be something diiricult to get 
 But I nn\>i have one either riirht or wrou"' 
 i) yes, r must, and that before 'tis long. 
 IJetween the drunkard'^, and the teu>p'rar.<e folk 
 Elections now would any saint })rovoke, 
 'Tis so annoying to a pious mind 
 One suitable among them all to Hud, 
 Ikit I'll consider what will likeliest be 
 And most convenient situate for me, 
 Xot any of the counties would refuse 
 A seat to me, I only have to choose. 
 In live, or six, or seven of them at le.'ist 
 (The number can be easilv increased 
 It requisite : ) and in the whole command 
 A larg(! majority it rightly ])lann'd 
 I>ut. if it (ii<l so happen, I could not 
 IJe personally })resent on the spot. 
 And any other booby did succeed. 
 My disMppoiulment would be great indeed. 
 IVoceedings must be enter'd on with care. 
 A seat is sucli a critical atlair — 
 Oft contests are, and scrutinies become 
 So much involved, that they have ruiu"d some — 
 Ileiict! mortgaged farms, and bankruptcies unfoh 
 How at the Hustings dupes are bought and sold, 
 7\nd I must either bribe, and lie. and cheat 
 As others do, or suffer a defeat. 
 It is a sad dilemma I am in — 
 
12 
 
 i 
 
 Siid if I lose, and just as sad to win. 
 In self defence, then, if I must, I must 
 And try, — I'll try in Provideuoe to trust, 
 If not, perhaps some loophole I may finl, 
 No rualms of conscience politicians bind. 
 
 Nor are precedents wantinj;, no one raves 
 So much at kiuivery as the greatest knaves ; 
 There's Howe, and Tupper, and McFailanc, then 
 That nonsuch Northup, all reli,<.rious men ! 
 If not relijrious, }'et they hear the name 
 Of being so, and that's almost the same. 
 And Ar(!hibald too, not one among the lot 
 A situation so distinguish'd got — 
 And that McLellan creature, wiiat is he ? 
 A grocer, — not comparable to me ; 
 And others crowding the Dominion hive, 
 The merest upstarts, yet how well they thrive. 
 But I'm determined some of them shall budge : 
 If not, it not, I must be made a Judge. 
 
 There is an awkward barrier in the way 
 An awkward barrier, haunts me night and day : 
 It is not Avhat the Dartmouth folk surmise, 
 That is not where the dilllculty lies. 
 Tho' that report about the cord of wood 
 The truckman pid)lish'd, has done me no good; 
 And also, also, but that story's old 
 Only I wish it never had been told 
 These give me no distiwbance, none at all ; 
 Trifles like these seem at the present, small ! 
 But in the contem[)lalion. I am lost 
 Of how, and where, is to be ft^und the cost. 
 If some constituency I could find 
 To me, to me so generous inclined 
 As send a requisition, and couunence 
 An active canvass, free of all expense ; 
 Then would anxiety be set at rest 
 Anxiety that camiot be express'd — 
 To all insinuations I have made 
 Upon that subject, no attention's paid. 
 And as there is no preference to show. 
 That hope is gone, — I'm still in statu quo 
 
13 
 
 Slid) (lis!,|)|)(,iiitinonts I must try to InMc 
 AikI on s(tm(' ntlicr ix-incinlc <lcci(li. 
 ml llK'sc expenses, reckon as I nwiy, 
 ^yilI he <'nornions F shall have to pav ; 
 Knornions: ! yes. (Miormous not a doiiht, 
 IWit then I cannot jjet th«^ seat without. 
 Ton times I've i,;ppM ofT' extras from the liill 
 lint after all it is enornions still. 
 
 Those minor matters until by and hvo 
 Say lor a month must in aheyanco lie, 
 Not ono side issue now shall intorfero 
 That my decision may he calm and clear. 
 'I'he qnestion is, and should bo answor'd now 
 lint is to me, of vast importance — how — 
 I have been parloyin;,^ with the subject lonjr 
 And equally the pros and cons are strong. 
 Yet are they all within a mitshell pent 
 Which of the counties. T shall represent ? 
 
 T made a char^re, nor can it be denied 
 Festivities the place of prayer supplied 
 Among the Delegates ere they began 
 To map the west in the confed'rate plan, 
 And 'tho' it has my approliatioti won 
 The deed itself was godlcssly begun. 
 I mean a difFei nt system to pursue, 
 Xo heathenish orgies shall distract my view. 
 But this degenerate age. for once shall see 
 The Christian, and the Gentleman in me. 
 
 No doubt but Pictou would do verv well 
 Or Lunenburg ;— but nobody can toll 
 Until they try ; and the expense will be 
 If I should lose, most ruinous to me. 
 Besides, even if I did (d)tai.n the seat 
 To either one the distance is too irreat. 
 Then, there is Hants ; but at the very best 
 Its ticklisliness is everywhere ofuifest, 
 And it is said among the smaller frv 
 The price of votes in Windsor is too high. 
 Well there's Annapolis where T am acqnaini 
 And half the people think I am a saint, 
 I care but little whether half or whole 
 
14 
 
 Ittlioy noiild place niu liigliesf on the poH, 
 
 liut llu'ii, but tlicn. tlioy have .so many wants 
 
 Tliat alter all it may lie \vf>rs(' than Hants. 
 
 Still, tlieiv is Kin;.'^!*, and (Queens, in both ol them- 
 
 In biMh ot tli(Mn I hive no special — hem I 
 
 There is so many ('li(|ues and eot;2ries 
 
 And all of them so dillieidt to please. 
 
 And always ehaiij^inj; ; — that would never do ! 
 
 I'd lose the seat, and los'i the .Ind^ifeship too 
 
 liesides objec-tions would be laised by sf»me 
 
 I really could not ; could not overcome. 
 
 1 think ; — but it is possible to err 
 A seiit for Ilalitax I would preter. 
 Next week, next wc-k, I'll take my du;^> and i:un 
 And leel the pulses eastward just for fun 
 Then walk some idle afternoon o\it west 
 In such a mode as I consider best. 
 And in a kind of accidental way 
 Hear what the bone and sinew have to say ; 
 Nor will the wisest of the very wise 
 The errand that T am upon surmise. 
 Of city votes, my friends will make secure 
 Two ihirds at least, of half of them I'm sure ; 
 Yes, I will try it, how I will rejoice 
 If the Electors do make me their choice. 
 
 Amon;::^ t'hi" number of my friends, J claiu) 
 The very hi^ihest both in rank and name. 
 Kspecially since that auspicious houi- 
 To serve myself I join'd the men in pow'r. 
 Vet after all F know that there are some 
 With whom I might more poptdar become. 
 If any Institution would arise 
 AVithout suspicion I could patronize : 
 Some enterprize wherein my mime contest 
 iVIijxht |j;i\*' me prestige higher than the rest. 
 Perhaps 1 should stand forth and first begin 
 ( Altho' the scheme be thinnest of the thin) 
 An Asylum for the inebriates: few 
 ^lore fit than me to bring it into ^■iew. 
 And whilst my .sayings did the cause promote 
 Miirht lor mvself secure an extra vote. 
 
15 
 
 lU- 
 
 III) 
 
 Wlial time this siossion of tlie Court is o'er 
 ril set it ill the public eye once more 
 And call a meeting some «lay soon, and see 
 It'tiie elite will form a committee: 
 To have my name on the official list 
 As secretary, greatly will assist 
 III nursing those associations — may 
 l*rove beneficial on election day, 
 And furnish proof boih positive and clear, 
 Of what account I am considered here. 
 
 Hut I must be, yes, I m ist be prepared 
 And in the meantime might write out my card : 
 If things look favourable then I may 
 ^lake up a speech for Nomination day. 
 To please all pjirties, there is not a man 
 In Halifax to do it as I can-^- 
 And would begin, had I an audience here 
 Altho' I hope there is none very near. 
 But if there was. and I addressing them 
 Then I would say, — hem, I would say. — hem — houi- 
 My Lord, and ge — gen — gentle — gentlemen, 
 Of the, of the ju — ^,jury — ^,jury — when 
 When, — please Electors, do let me revise 
 My gross mistake ; let me a[)ologise, 
 I ask foi" your indulgence to amend 
 For having said what I did not intend. 
 I beg your pardon, and I Icep in mind 
 How loiiiT a<TO von were to me so kind 
 When first to public life I ventured in 
 And then, as now your confidence did win. 
 A great responsibility on me was laid 
 When clerk to the Asseml)ly I was made, 
 Then, my official character, and name 
 Familiar to the Provinces became, 
 And ever since I've gain'd in your esteem 
 Which keeps so fresh my fondly cherish d dream. 
 A strong desire, — a strong desii-e is mine 
 In my position brighter still to shine. 
 And add to leading Barrister at Law 
 Your representative at Ottawa ! I ! 
 
16 
 
 On lli«' red lieiu'lit's tlicii'. hotli voii junl ?ii<' 
 flavi' inltTests tlic sanu' ; iiiid I wdiild lu- 
 lu I'ii'cnm.statit'L'S udi'(|iiiil(' to claim 
 Adviiii!a;.fc.< you may .see fit t(. name. 
 And coidd explain unto the nuMJihcr.'* llicrr 
 All youf sii;ig«.'-ili<»ns to a very hair. 
 Witii men of every cived my elfunieufe 
 Will always liavc connnandin^i;' influence. 
 I'll have our llarhour cover'd o'»!r with ships. 
 Sliall hoth the Iludsou. and the Thames eeli|>>e. 
 And the taritr upon all mefchaiulise 
 Made I'easoualde in the IMerchaiit's vyi's : 
 What ^oods in Jionded Warehouses are |)enf 
 Shall Hi'ver pay more than one halt per cent. 
 And j)atent> jfraiited without any k'e 
 Or cliari;e whatever to the patentee. 
 All nativ*' talent o| a ;reiMiine kind 
 Encoura;^ement at Ottawa shall find ; 
 And e\ "ry er.nt't that from onr ports mit.v sail 
 Shall have a hounty on a liberal scale. 
 I'll patronize ISIi'chanics, and their claims 
 Shall not he less familiar than their nances : 
 Inventions new, au<l manufactures rare 
 Shall 1)0 entitled to my special care. 
 Whilst ev'ry Mine and Mineral per m; 
 Shall have attention paid to them hy me, 
 No lynx-eyed stranger after thi.s shall meet 
 An idle tradesman walking on the street. 
 The heart ot business in our city throb 
 Till it become emporium for the globe, 
 And Halifax the capital be made 
 Of art. and seieuce, and the soul of trade. 
 
 But keeping more immediately iu view 
 The line of conduct that I will pursue, 
 And what concerns our yeomen ev'rywhere 
 I now. I noM', most solemnly declare, 
 I'll have at once in our taxation made 
 A large reduction : and a premium paid, 
 To every one who takes a plow iu hand 
 Or lifts a hoe to labour on the laud. 
 The fishermen shall have their outfit free 
 
17 
 
 And not a cent of'dnly n'liorc «liall he 
 
 I pun tlioir poik. nlolass('^, tea, and flonr 
 
 Provided always, yon ^n\(> mo the jiowcr. 
 
 I dont condcnin the nuMuhcrs \vc liavo now 
 
 lint I conld niana,i2<- Ix'lltM- yon'll allf>w. 
 
 I'm a Conti'd'ratt'. I)nt liko otlicr men 
 
 Acccpti'd ut tlio sitnation, wIumi 
 
 I liad an axe to jfrind, and tliorc was none 
 
 Amoii;; the '• Antis" lliat wonld tnrn the stone 
 
 T was convinced. I did not, did not rat — 
 
 Nor was a traitor. — any tiiin;.' bat tiiat. 
 
 Tiiere's Howe and Xortlinp botii did jnsi tlie sann 
 
 And very tew do eitlier of tliem blame. 
 
 Some people call it rattitij;, bnt Howe savs 
 
 Onr summurscts are only clianj^e of l)a.se. 
 
 As at the most, sndi leaps as his and mine 
 
 Are accidental more than bv de^i^d. 
 
 Hence the new policy that wt> npimld 
 
 liy circumstances mcivly is contiol'd. 
 
 And really, really I am Ldad to know 
 
 On snch antliority that it is so; 
 
 I feel so n'ily to be pointed at 
 
 By the caiuiaille Jind be call'd a I'tt. 
 
 'I here is a somelhinni- so dofrradinir in 
 
 The idea ot'liavini!: \-erniin for oties kin 
 
 l^specially a rat, tlio' 1 admit 
 
 That long ago the "- Anti" squad I rpiit. 
 
 But if I can a seat from yon seciu'o 
 
 At Ottawa ; my motives being pure, 
 
 I'm sure there is not one of you would gnidiie 
 
 To sec your member made into a Judge ; 
 
 And it would be a credit to you all 
 
 If such good fortune should to n\v befall. 
 
 My creed, my creed, there's nothing in it new 
 Hut always keeping the main chance in view ; 
 In every circuinstance, let every man 
 Do for himself the very Itest he' can. 
 I was an " Anti," nnd would be again 
 ff by the change I could some end obtain. 
 Men talk of principles, but you will find 
 In polities, there's nothing of the kind, 
 
 8 
 
18 
 
 As 111 the pnst, SO In llio pro.seiit apo 
 
 KinoliiDiciit and ollk'c is the ;;iui;i(\ 
 
 I li)ivi> iiinbitioti, yes, hut iniuf\ but mine 
 
 Is lainlahK', — it is — aiinost Divine, * 
 
 It is a l(M'liti<; tliat \ striv«! to liido, 
 
 Nor is it ninch obscrval»l(! outside. 
 
 And is from pride as <listant as niidni;^lit 
 
 Is separate(l iroin tlie broad dayli;j;lit. 
 
 Or, in aceordance more with your ideas 
 
 Is just as diHeient as elialk from ebeese. 
 
 Tlie similie is rather commonphiee, 
 
 lint most appropriate in the present case ; 
 
 Nor is it to he rich, tliat I aspire — 
 
 Xo, my andtitioii, ;j;entlemeti, soars hi;^her 
 
 And is more of that charitable kind 
 
 That ill this world not every day you find. 
 
 However it may be misunderstood 
 
 'Tis always, always to be doini; jiood. 
 
 And if a little selfishness creep in 
 
 Yet selfishness like mine is not a .sin; 
 
 It is a natural coiistMpience entwines 
 
 With all, with all our very best designs; 
 
 This makes it an especial reason how 
 
 That every I'flfbrt should be doubled now: 
 
 For mv defeat, there's nothiu'r to atone 
 
 The w'lii, the wig, will be for ever gone. 
 
 I have much more, much more I could express. 
 But 'tis no use to lengthen my address, 
 Not one elector here but understands 
 I i)laee myself completely in your hands, 
 I know, I know, and it gives me d(dight 
 To know you'll do exactly what is right. 
 I think tlieres' not before me now a man 
 But is determined to do all he can 
 And deeply sensible of your regard 
 For me, will canvass, canvass every Ward, 
 And the outlying districts will, — in short 
 Give me, give me a generous support. 
 At least the men of ISIusquodoboit will 
 Their promises, their promises fulfill ; 
 But fast and loose, to get all that they can 
 
10 
 
 With (Jhiz/otnMtktMs. *'vcr iy tli«' plan. 
 
 Tliiil makes no o(l«ls. \v« Imvc, we have afloat 
 
 A hir^'e majority without their vote 
 
 In I'rcstou, Laiirenretowii, and l'ort«'r's Luke 
 
 Aiul all Cole Ilarhonr. there is no mistake. 
 
 Then there is Dartinonth, and the Passapfe too, 
 
 No room is left to (|Mestion what they'll do. 
 
 There is not many I can ecnint npon 
 
 rp Hediiird Basin, and in Sackville none 
 
 On Wiinlsor road perhaps, perhaps a few 
 
 Of my (dd clients, scan-ely more than two. 
 
 Xor is tliei'e any information vet 
 
 Of Ilannnonds I'lains, how many votes I'll get ; 
 
 There is some likelihood I must admit 
 
 'rjurr the treehohh'rs will ajrrec to split ; 
 
 And it they really do as tliev desi;j:n 
 
 'I'h(! lion's shar«; w ill prohahiy he mine. 
 
 lint all the way alon;i' the western shore 
 
 I'm snre to have, exceptiii;.' three or hmr. 
 
 The opposition at the nnstin;;s mav 
 
 Pick np snch strag;j;Iers as come in their wav, 
 
 Hnt even allowinjr of a nnirjj^in, wide. 
 
 No donht the verdict will he on my side ; 
 
 I mean, that the majority will l)e 
 
 VVill he, he lar^'tdy in hehalf of n)e. 
 
 But when the Poll is closed, the hooks will show 
 
 What I, what I to the eh'ctors owe ; 
 
 And I am certain, certain I repeat. 
 
 Yes, I am certain, you'll give me the seat. 
 
 Once more, once more, and then I'm done, once more 
 
 If I'm rcturn'dwhen the election's o'er, 
 
 Conie all, come all on proclamation day 
 
 And hear what farther I have then to say; 
 
 I'll he prepared, I'll he prepared to speak 
 
 And thank you all if it should take a '' week." 
 
 There came a pause ; collapsed the speaker stood 
 /Vhd peer'd around him in a pensive mood, 
 Whilst I, 'tho' questionahle it may seem 
 Were it not part and parctel of the dream, 
 One half asleep, awake the other half 
 Kept listening for another paragraph, 
 
'20 
 
 Ami lifiii'd (tiMirLTf ('iuu|tl»i'ir.> It.iutMiii rooster cliif* 
 
 Ili.x \viii;.'s. iuid crow, whicli s|M>irt| my |ilc;i.>'iii.i iiii|i 
 
 lliil sliii'tiiiL; tip tli(>iii;lif liovv I iniiilit ii'lu'iii'sc 
 
 The ciii-ioiis vi.-i )ii in l>i'('(>iniii;r verse ; 
 
 AikI tlieti ;in(l tli.-i-e II nien!oriiii(liiin iii;i(l< 
 
 lU jottiii'^ "low n 11 ilxifliii wliiit \\;i> s.iiil. 
 
 Uriel as it is I only liii\e to ii<lil 
 
 'Tis nut like those the kin^s ol ( hahlea lunl. 
 
 'rin'irs wanted an Interpreter. Iml niiiir 
 
 Is sell interpret in'u in evi-ry line. 
 
 'This time at lesist we deem oiir <pii<,idani Iric-nd 
 •'The meiHiin;:' ol the man." will eompi eliepid. 
 Nor to the l'ar>on neeil apolo'jiisc 
 P(tr what is patent to the pnldic eyes. 
 \or ahsolntion Iroin his ReN'reiiee eravt- 
 iriie shonld be mistaken loi- a knave. 
 
 (irir. ISth, 1S7(». 
 
!l|l 
 
 w\ 
 
 
 xl'or juikiiiy li^c Oiiiy.