329/ UC SOUTHERN R £ g Court-Broker THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND 'COURT BRPKER. DESCR IPTION OF AN ANTI-PATRIOT: In a Conference between Sir Thomas Gre/ham's Statue, In the Royal Exchange; and its NEAR NEIGHBOUR. LONDON: Printed for T. Fox, near Leaden-hall-Jlreet. 1747. [ Price Six Fence. ] [3 ] 3A r fl THE COURT BROKER. SILENCE ye Cits, let Patriots be dumb ; Permit your Anti-Courtier now to come, Who vows no M-n-rch fhall your Rights invade, And ftands the watchful Dragon of your Trade ; Like that who kept Hefperian Fruit of old, And watch'd the Tree, becaufe the Apple's Gold. When R-b—t ravag'd thus our modern Guard, Stood conftant Centry, and held Watch and Ward, Seem'd, as he now does, Honours to defpife, A Foe inveterate to all Excife ; Cou'd vote againft Conventions made with Spain, And faid a ftanding Army was our Bane, Whole Hours his Voice St. St-ph-n\ Dome hasfhook, And Placemen fate, and trembled as he fpoke. Oft has he thunder'd in the People's Ears, His own Refentments to augment their Fears : Fair Liberty and Trade was all his Cry, " Who mail defend 'em?— That, fays he, will I. He join'd \S\ Enquiry when with one Confent, The C-mm-ns wou'd have made poor Z?~ relent. B All QWli ft [4] All this and more he did, 'till common Fame, Taught Eccho to repeat the Patriot's Name. ''Till Pel—m came, like Hercules, at laft, And with a Potion fet this Dragon fait. B— th had an Earldom to content his Wife, And Om-rjl-y now flecps quite free from Strife. FVn C-tt-n for two Years hath nothing fpoke ; Ar.d the Broad-Bottom is intirely broke. Honours are fhed on all the Party round, And new-made P— rs in borrow'd Robes abound ; So thick they fvvarm, that any one wou'd think, Fortune gave Favours like a Slut in Drink. Ermine and Coronets were hurl'd about, And Titles were conferral without a Thought : Sir J— - accepts of none, but ilily waits, To barter Int'reft, and to buy Eftates : Of this He's Need, or elfe he's much bely'd — A{kCo—ert-n y if he is qualify'd ? However fee th' Effect of clofe Difguife ; Infatuation makes a Statue rife. Statues w r ere firft for Publick Good defign'd, To fhew th'Efteem and Value of Mankind ; To keep in Memory the virtuous Man, Who for his Country form'd fome perfect Plan ; That the wife Statelman might to Ages live, When Years and Time no longer Lite wou'd give. Hence rofe the Patriot carv'd on Parian Stone, The Semblance like, tho' the good Man was gone ; Hence fhone the Warrior caft in burnifrTd Brafs, With threatning Brow denoting what he was. The Grecian States their Heroes thus rever'd, And a whole Hundred to Demetrius rear'd. But [5 ] But 'ere he died the idle Cheat was known, Publick Refentment quickly pull'd 'em down. So fhou'd falfe Patriots fall a Sacrifice, Where Clamour, not true Merit, made 'cm rife. When Men by FaKhood wriggle into Fame, Their Statues ftand as Blocks to mark their Shame. A private Pique may public Virtue feem, As Men fometimes talk Senfe when in a Dream; Why lhou'd the Tejl Ail ever be repeal'd, Whilft Confcience truckles, and can keep conccal'd? Diffenters have deny'd their Faith and Seel, At Hick's Hall a Jury to direct ; And all their Spleen againft the Church wou'd ceafe To be but dubb'd a Juftice of the Peace. In this fam'd City once a pious Mayr Carried his Mace to Paul's at Morning Pray'r, And in the Afternoon, expos'd to View, 'Twas plac'd befide a Co?wenticle Pew. Sir J — (who never had that Title bore, Had he the Quaker's Coat and Neckcloth wore) Wifely foreboding Honour in his Breaft, Quitted their Plainnefs to be fable-drefs'd ; The Saints of Grace-Church-Jlreet y and at the Peel Too much the Lofs of fuch a Speaker feel : How wou'd that Voice theFemales Souls have charm'd That has fooft the flumb'ring Senate warm'd ? Debates had then but Quakers Speeches been, And that were ftil'd true Grace,xvh\ch was but Spleen^ Naylor and Fox might have infpir'd the Tongue, Which has {o oft attack'd haranguing Y—nge - y But he the fafer Magiftracy chofe, The Arts by which the quo?ida?n Tremblers rofe ; Forfook [<5 ] Forfook the Gall'ry where the Speakers fit, On Huftings, to expofe his Senie and Wit ; And by Integrity and Honour kn&uon Deceive the Liv'ry and cajole the Gown. The Lion's Skin cou'd not the Beaft conceal, His Braying did his Character reveal ; Nor can the Chain, or the rich furr'd Outfide, The formal Cant and inward Quaker hide. Difguifc a-while may blind the giddy Croud, And fome be Patriots deem'd becaufe they're proud ; But Orientation pulls their Honours down, True Merit adds the Value to the Stone. Where Kings are proud to have their Statues plac'd, Grejbam adorns the Pile his Genius rais'd, True Friend to Trade, by Commerce he improv'd The Nation's Credit, and the Arts he lov'd ; Brought Riches home from ev'ry foreign Shore, And England glutted with all India s Store : For this his Countrymen adore his Name, And raife a grateful Statue to his Fame ; His Genius hov'ring round his awful Buft Views B — d\ mimic Likenefs with Difguft, As an Intruder on the lofty Dome, Which he defign'd to emulate old Rome ; With Indignation at his Rival ftruck, He thus addreffes th'inferior Block. Gr.] Shall Staeijobbets with legal Traders vie, Or Unci srs Merchants all defy ? What glorious Deeds, O B—d haft thou done, That they fhou'd fet thee glaring there in Stone ? Alfs Oftentaticn, Vanity and Pride, Puffing and Shew, a Tinfel meer Outfide : What [ 7 ] What caus'd the Stir when firft with Spleen and Rage You drove the Alley-jobbers to engage ? The Brokers Bill you urg'd with all your Might, To hinder them, that you might underwrite. And where's the Difference, tell me awful Sir, T'infure a foreign Ship, or Stocks transfer ? By this you aid your Foes ; the French when took, Not hurt, to you for their Infurance look : Loudly you mov'd at firft the War 'gainft Spain, Yet thus in Secret ftill their Trade maintain ; What can your Oratory all avail, When thus your private Practice turns the Scale? The Sentiments you in the Senate boaft, Before you reach the City, all are loft: Here you againft Opprefiion cry aloud, And with Harangues amufe the gaping Croud, Tell them the City's Rights you will protect, And all their Councils for the beft direct: ; But, clofetted at C— it, you this forget, And turn a fawning Sycophant complete. In this I glory that the public Spirit Here placed me, confcious of my innate Merit, The due Reward of Virtue after Death, More than the puffing Praife of Porter's Breath. £.] Public Applaufe is fure the Teft of Fame ; For this the Vulgar halloo out my Name, On ev'ry Lord May Ys Day my Coach furround, And Jews at Jonathans my Praife refound. My fteady Virtue in my Country's Caufe, My firm Adherence to her penal Laws, Firft rais'd me up ; by this I gain'd the Chair, For this they chofe me as a Patriot Mayr. C Gr.] [*] Gr.] And how there Hopes were anfwer'd is well Your cvn'rousSpirit put fomeGin-fhops down; [known, The 'i error of all Chandlers Shops you rcignd, But not one Priv'lcge for the City gain'd : Nor could your boafted Wifdom once defcry, What purblind P-rry found with half an Eye : "Tis true you crufh'd the Play at Goodman s Fields, But fuffcr'd Balls, and Concern, and the Wells \ As if a moral Drama were a Sin, And Dancing, Drinking, Whoring Nothing in. B.\ Bold is th' Attempt to ftem the Torrent/ 7 /^, When on our Actions thus you criticife. Docs not the gen'ral Voice proclaim my Worth, And by this Statue fet my Virtues forth ; Rais'd whilfl I'm living, which with Pride I view, Your's they mounted when you nothing knew : What Plcafure can fuch After-honours bring ? I look and think myfelf the City's K— g. You a poor Merchant who once built a Change,, And Me a Lord at large therein to range— — Such grinning Honour, as my Name- fake fays,. I like not ; give me Gain and living Praife. Gr.~\ Reflect with Horror on your Conduct part, When like a Snake your outward Skin you caft. We know what by your fair-laid Scheme was meant,. And how you bellow'd out for Three per Cent. Tenacious to the laft your Point you held> And ftill perfifted, tho' you were repell'd. Twcre Pity but the Widows, you'd have hurt, Had join'd and roll'd you in your native Dirt. B.] My Scheme was good, Fools cou'd not under- And io deny'd a BleiTing to the Land • [ftand, Such [9] Such Murmurs rife, or from Caprice or Whim';- 'Tis fit that fome fhou'd fink, whilft others fwim. Gr.] It is well known that Pride will icldom ftoop, And when the Race begins, 'tis wrong to droop ; Plung'd in Deceit who then wou'd backward go, r Tis better far to wade the Current thro' ; Applauding Tools perhaps may think you brave, And praife you as you're buoyant on the Wave; But think how vain is popular Applaufe ! A Stream that on the Surface bears but Straws ; If you unfteadily or heedlefs tread, Down finks your Triumph like a Lump of Lead; Yet hitherto you've fwam on Bladders borne, Beware, Beware, there comes a threat'ning Thorn. All is not Gold that glifters, nor a Noife, Or long Oration, makes a Patriot Voice ; When Orf-rd was attack'd, what did you then, Him whom you'd often made the worft of Men ? The City trufted you, and thought you wife, But you forgot the Shock of the Excife, That Dread of Trade ; and not one lingle Word Cou'd you againft your Enemy afford ; Yet to their Int'reft you're attach'd, you cry, And for their fervile Votes on that rely. The Opposition o'er, and R-b-rt gone, The Mafk is left, and your plain Vifage fhewn. What he by all his Art cou'd ne'er obtain, More crafty P-l—m in one Year cou'd gain. Pride taught you Patriotifm ; gave ycu Pow'r, And that fame Pride at laft has brought you o'er ; He knew the Do&rine with your Milk imbib'd, Quakers are not by Titles to be brib'd ; But [ io ] But fhake the Purfe, and they like Horfes come, As to the Corn-bag bridled and led home. Money 'tis faid the Sinew is of War, And Minifters that Sinew muft prepare ; Their Arts may fail, a Broker muft be found Who can difcrectly drain our Purfes round : And who more proper for the dirty Work Than one who jobs for Chriftia?i^ Je~&, or Turk ; Doubtless you in the public Plunder fhar'd, Or was its Virtue ftill its own Reward ? Six Millions are a Trifle, tho' your Scheme, At Four per Cent, feems drove to an Extreme ; When good Eliza reign'd fhe did not fo ; Afk honeft Walfaigham ; he ought to know : By Dint of Trade we ftrove t' enrich the Ifle, And not our Fellow Subjects to beguile. 5.1 How idle is your Speech?— I only ftrove My hearty Steadinefs and Zeal to prove ; By this at once my Confequence I fhew, And let the Courtiers know what I can do. Alike to Minifters and Cits a Friend, Both on my Angle Aid alone depend ; Firmly the City's Rights I have maintain'd, Nor once in that by Calumny been ftain'd. Gr.l Silence vain Boafter ! fpite of all your Art, Boldly let me this honeft Truth impart ; Ycu never did a real folid Good Since in the City's Grace fo high you ftood. Why mourns the Tradcfman when by Duns oppreft, In empty Shop he ftrikes his penfive Breaft, And fees the H palling by his Door, Ev'n to his Teeth cxpofe his pedling Store ; The [ « ] The Refufe of Dukes Place (hall thrive amain, And Foreigners grow fat with Englijh Gain ; Shall I/raefs Outcafts thus our Laws abufe ? They pay no Taxes, and they've Nought to lofe; Yet the Retailer muft not dare to fpeak, Tho' he fcarce takes a Shilling in a Week. This has been done, yet you no Pow'r exert To fcourge thefe Wretches as your juft Defert ; But, urg'd by your Electors, fculk behind, And in Excufe a poor Evafion find. What Liberties have Freemen, when a jfeto Shall in the City's Heart his Trade purfue ? Or with a walking Shop, fcarce worth Five Pound, Ev'n at' th' Exchange mail deal his Trinkets round? When S-lt-r, with juft Indignation mov'd, This growing Evil honeftly reprov'd ; So far from joining in the gen'ral Caufe To eafe the Vagrants you broke thro' the Laws. By this you him infulted, and to boot Trampled the City Trophies under Foot. When call'd upon to anfwer this Offence, What cou'd you fay, where then was fled your Senfe? Yet even this you brav'd, and in your Pride Ne'er to Electors in due Form apply 'd. By Jonas challeng'd, poorly flunk away, Afraid to ftand the Roafting of that Day : Some had Integrity and Honour too, But pray to recommend you, what had you ? Why join'd with them to footh the Rabble P.out, And fent your Friends to puff your Praife about r Falfe Fame a-while may gild a rotten Caufe, And canting Modefty Attention draws, C Who [ " ] Who hurts us moll, the Man whofe bold Defigns Freedom fubverts, or he that undermines. Difeuife may for a Moment fhift the Scene, But Facls will tell what fuch Deceptions mean. No more then aim to be a Patriot thought, But fludy who is to be fold and bought. Plod on Slave like, and find fome new Pretence, To raife more Millions and fecure the Pence. Scorn'd by the City and the G~ rt as well, Like Mat>met\ Coffin hang 'twixt H n and H-ll. Those who fubfcrib'd that (lately Block to raife, Have wrong'd your Face, and fcandaliz'd die Bafe ; An artful Janus fhou'd at Top appear, The Bottom fhou'd this juji Infcrtption bear : " To fam'd Sir J — this Statue we eredt, u Who talKd of 7rade,but ne'er wou'd Trade protetl\ M No Place at C— rt cou'd fuit his mighty Soul, " Yet privately he'd be a State/man's Tool. " Sometimes he v-t-ed in the People's Caufe, u And undeferving gain'd a loud Applaufe \ 11 Proud in the City, fupple at the C—rt y " The Mob's fond Idol, Politicians Sport ;