Ballad on Mr. Heron’s Election—No. 2

9And there will be black-nebbit Johnie,

10 The tongue o’ the trump to them a’;

11An he get na Hell for his haddin’,

12 The Deil gets na justice ava.

13And there will be Kempleton’s birkie,

14 A boy no sae black at the bane;

15But as to his fine Nabob fortune,

16 We’ll e’en let the subject alane.

17And there will be Wigton’s new Sheriff;

18 Dame Justice fu’ brawly has sped,

19She’s gotten the heart of a Bushby,

20 But, Lord! what’s become o’ the head?

21And there will be Cardoness, Esquire,

22 Sae mighty in Cardoness’ eyes;

23A wight that will weather damnation,

24 The Devil the prey will despise.

25And there will be Douglasses doughty,

26 New christening towns far and near;

27Abjuring their democrat doings,

28 By kissin’ the —— o’ a Peer:

29And there will be folk frae Saint Mary’s

30 A house o’ great merit and note;

31The deil ane but honours them highly—

32 The deil ane will gie them his vote!

33And there will be Kenmure sae gen’rous,

34 Whose honour is proof to the storm,

35To save them from stark reprobation,

36 He lent them his name in the Firm.

37And there will be lads o’ the gospel,

38 Muirhead wha’s as gude as he’s true;

39And there will be Buittle’s Apostle,

40 Wha’s mair o’ the black than the blue.

41And there will be Logan M’Dowall,

42 Sculdudd’ry an’ he will be there,

43And also the Wild Scot o’ Galloway,

44 Sogering, gunpowder Blair.

45But we winna mention Redcastle,

46 The body, e’en let him escape!

47He’d venture the gallows for siller,

48 An ’twere na the cost o’ the rape.

49But where is the Doggerbank hero,

50 That made “Hogan Mogan” to skulk?

51Poor Keith’s gane to hell to be fuel,

52 The auld rotten wreck of a Hulk.

53And where is our King’s Lord Lieutenant,

54 Sae fam’d for his gratefu’ return?

55The birkie is gettin’ his Questions

56 To say in Saint Stephen’s the morn.

57But mark ye! there’s trusty Kerroughtree,

58 Whose honor was ever his law;

59If the Virtues were pack’d in a parcel,

60 His worth might be sample for a’;

61And strang an’ respectfu’s his backing,

62 The maist o’ the lairds wi’ him stand;

63Nae gipsy-like nominal barons,

64 Wha’s property’s paper—not land.

65And there, frae the Niddisdale borders,

66 The Maxwells will gather in droves,

67Teugh Jockie, staunch Geordie, an’ Wellwood,

68 That griens for the fishes and loaves;

69And there will be Heron, the Major,

70 Wha’ll ne’er be forgot in the Greys;

71Our flatt’ry we’ll keep for some other,

72 HIM, only it’s justice to praise.

73And there will be maiden Kilkerran,

74 And also Barskimming’s gude Knight,

75And there will be roarin Birtwhistle,

76 Yet luckily roars i’ the right.

77And there’ll be Stamp Office Johnie,

78 (Tak tent how ye purchase a dram!)

79And there will be gay Cassencarry,

80 And there’ll be gleg Colonel Tam.

81And there’ll be wealthy young Richard,

82 Dame Fortune should hing by the neck,

83For prodigal, thriftless bestowing—

84 His merit had won him respect.

85And there will be rich brother Nabobs,

86 (Tho’ Nabobs, yet men not the worst,)

87And there will be Collieston’s whiskers,

88 And Quintin—a lad o’ the first.

89Then hey! the chaste Interest o’ Broughton

90 And hey! for the blessin’s ’twill bring;

91It may send Balmaghie to the Commons,

92 In Sodom ’twould make him a king;

93And hey! for the sanctified Murray,

94 Our land wha wi’ chapels has stor’d;

95He founder’d his horse among harlots,

96 But gied the auld naig to the Lord.