BLUE DEVI] OR, NEW P O i/I C E SI lanm: IN THREE CANTOS, “ By our v rise,»and Charleys’ Sir Robert P.*s Address to his Army , p. LONDON : GEORGE HENDERSON, 2, OLD BAILEY, 1830 , . THE BLUE DEVILS ; OR, NEW POLICE a |3am: IN THREE CANTOS. BY A HYPOCHONDRIAC. “ La y the Proud Usurpers loxv."~ Burns. LONDON: GEORGE HENDERSON, 2, OLD BAILEY. 1830. Printed by W. Dent, 6, Castle Street, Holborn. PREFACE. Through ages past, we have been taught to renounce the Devil and all his works; but the present seems to be a new era, for announcing the Devil — in all his walks; who, before com- mencing his “ Progress” to this upper earth, en- gaged with a noted “Land-seer” to illustrate his natural “Address.” In like manner, he owes his warm reception here to the close hits of “ Robert the Devil,” and to the clever cuts of his friends above ; who, like the fiends below, are full of de- sign, and fail not in execution. In this rage, as well as age, for pun-y works,— for Annuals and Manuals — Mimics and Comics — Cantos and Puntos — especially for Satanic ) 6 PREFACE. Walks through this our modern Babylon— the patrons of his diabolical Majesty will not; in their love of variety, object to change from a black to a blue Devil, with a tale perhaps not so lengthy, but in the end carrying as much point as that of his predecessor’s. The Hypochondriac trusts that he will be ex- cused for his selection of so sad a title as the “ Blue Devils” on the ground that John Bull is ground down to powder -blue by the pressure of the extra, or rather extraordinary, expense of the new system, which he complains has no ten- dency to assist him ; and further, that all Select Vestries are so oppressed by the like weight, that opposing parochial interests form a sort of “Grand Junction,” (not of the Cauaille% but of the Clergy and Churchwardens) to dam up this evil ; and are literally so deeply afflicted, as to be almost des- titute of the power of mastication ! The Hypo- chondriac moreover skulks under a quibble, as PREFACE. 7 Dr. Johnson terms it, and begs to remind the indulgent Reader, that the phrase, “ he is a sad fellow,” is generally understood to apply to some mirthful or uproarious youth, who steps out of bounds. But the hippish Author is surely ex- empt from this stigma, — his little Poem being already bound — and, (in contradistinction to some hope-ful members in a certain House, who, like a watering place, look out for a Pier- age), his en- deavour being — to frighten away his title ! ! THE BLUE DEVILS; OR, NEW POLICE. CANTO I. No doubt you 've heard of the Parliament P — 1, (And of every peal in story) ; The Jenny* that spins for his country's weal,— Now spinning in all his glory. * Sir It. P. has been humorously denominated a Spinning Jenny ; perhaps from the machinery so nicknamed, at Man- chester, and other manufacturing towns. 10 THE BLUE DEVILS; And have ye not heard of the New Police Act, And of every Act in story ; The acts of the saints and the sinners, in fact, Whether of Whig or of Tory ? No doubt you've heard of that spouting Apostle, I ought to have said Apostate, — Who, minister-like, has managed to jostle Himself into fame that most hate. For who that has seen the blue Police-men, — Like blue-pills, removers of evils — Along the streets lounging, parading, — and then Not felt he had got the blue devils P Talk of blue stocking, blue pills, or blue belle, And of every “ blue ” in story. But see how the blue Policemen swell Themselves into power and glory ! OR, NEW POLICE. ll In every light, by day and by night. Good people, now watch and pray ; For at Sol’s height, or gleam of moonlight. The wicked are given to prey ! At meridian noon, or midnight moon. These Blue-bottles wing their way ; Unlike their head man, the limb of the loom. They have nothing at all to say ! * * Sir R. P., the subject of this commendatory verse, is famous in a certain House (the “ Speaker ” whereof, by the bye, is the only person who remains silent— he being the personification of good Manners') for tiying and tiring the patience of his auditory, with which the members are not overgifted, by amazingly long- winded mazy discourses, abounding, Johnson-like, with prosy flowers of speech, and to which it would not be inappropriate, as shewing the connecting thread of his meshes, to apply the afore- said lexicographer s description of net-work, viz. ; “ anything reticulated, or decussated at equal distances, with interstices be- tween the intersections.’’— The above right honorable gentleman m his public yarns thus illustrates his old nick-name of a spinning jenny ; we say old-nick-mme, as most of those cogno- mens have something of the magic of “ Old Nick ” in them. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHANIPAIGN 12 THE BLUE DEVILS They hold not their progenitor’s power Of spouting, the night throughout ; He will not allow them to cry out the hour. But reigns like a great water-spout. No longer we feel, the comforting peal. Of Charley upon our pillow ; But a cold chill, in the shape of blue-de’il. Hangs o’er our rest like a willow. No brilliant fine battle, or sound of the rattle, Is now to be seen or be heard ; Save at St. Stephen’s, where orators * prattle. Or apostates are speaking the word ! * O-ra-tor, in the Latin, signifies one who prays in a sup- plicatory manner, either verbally or in writing ; with an eye to better things. OR, NEW POLICE. 15 In that holy nook, as her snug nest, the rook. So the angler loves his plaice; With his rod and his hook, by hook or by crook. He bobs himself into Grace. Sir II 1 full well, knew how to appeal To the , by cringing and bowing ; The guardian still, of his country's weal. And her wealth ! — like good Robert Owen. Once a good Robert, in Parliament sat. Great Doge of our gingerbread Watch, This Watch-dog of late was caught out a rat For him, no very good catch ! Oh, the rats ! — Oh, the rates ! which poor people rob ; Alas ! for Sir R 1 the spinner Has spun for the people of London a Cob* Web, that will 'tangle the sinner. 16 THE BLUE DEVILS ; The old women all, who 're storming and stewing, Swear the Policemen’s garb is Meant to remind them of dear Blue Ruin In the shape of French Jenny Barbies /* They blame the Apostate for his new Act, And think upon days by-gone. E'er the Charleys over the water were pack'd — Old times of Darby and Joan ! The parishes all, each in their locale , Pronounce it no hit, but a miss ; And their minister call upon to recal Unpopular acts like this. * The watchmen of the ancient regime, and the people of the present day, have, not unaptly, christened this force by the name of “ Jenny Darbies,"— an Englishman’s way of pro- nouncing Gens d’armes — a French civil force, or military espi- onage, which answers the twofold purpose, in that country, of watching the streets and the people. OR, NEW POLICE. 17 The fate of the Charleys they all deplore, Transported across the water; For none have enjoyed a sleep or a snore. Since their lamented departure. The Charlies have been denounced from the First, A name to the Tenth ill-fated ; They all seem happily blest !— — to be curst, Dismissed, or decapitated ! END OF CANTO THE FIRST. 18 THE BLUE DEVILS; CANTO II. The Parishes met In deepest regret. To canvass the fate And destitute state Of Charley their pet ; Determined to get. If soon, or if late, A repeal of the Rate, That all designate A stain on the State ; Affixing a weight Of ruinous debt And exterminate The New Police, that (Like to the great Rat, Or Parliament hat) Would feed on the fat Of the land — or what Our trade may create, In aid of the rate, — For uses of state ! OR, NEW POLICE. 19 So having come to this agreement* With spirit valiant, speech ve-hement, They started, without further parley. To dine in honour of old Charley ; And, to his speedy restoration, J oin in the glass of “ free libation ’’ The Beadle, Parson, Clerk, and Sexton,— (Though the latter seldom makes one Of those who form a social junction. Since he performs a graver function) Of parishes, the echo, all "Twixt Notting-Hill and Wapping-Wall. The Beadle, and the King of Spades, As pioneers, unto the “ Shades,” The party led — a sort of “ High Low J ack and Game/’- — -where merrily The Parson, as the chairman, rose. For his three compeers, to propose “ The New Police Bill abolition. In the brief form of a Petition, To Royalty direct — The King ! ! I ” These votaries of the rare bee’s win^ o 20 THE BLUE DEVILS; Now pass the toast and song 4 ~ -The Sexton "Faced their Petition with the next one. (Sexton sings .) THE CHARLEYS’ COMPLAINT. “ From my Box , with all its pleasures. Torn away, and shewn no quarter; To suit new diplomatic measures. Banished now across the water. In fortner times, I sang the hour In revelry, and sprang my rattle ; But now my song of night is o’er. And for ever mute my prattle ! “ Still in memory strong as ever— Pained and grieved for loss of bliss ! From my duty me to sever, — Can England’s Justice sanction this ? Can faithful service, fervent zeal, Stem the -force of right’s fair plea P By thee forced to change my Peal, P— l! the change I trace in Thee !” OR, NEW POLICE. 21 PETITION. May it please your Majesty, Our glorious potentate. King Will ! The friend to good, and foe to ill ; 22 THE BLUE DEVILS , f Petition."] Who reign' st but for thy country's weal, Her people with true love to fill ; O grant thine ear to this appeal, And head our cause, “ WILL versus BILL." Trusting it is thy sovereign Will, Not to permit the nauseate pill. Which makes thy hearty subjects ill Affected to Sir R — b — t P—1, (From, we lament to say, the Isle Of Dogs — unto “ Green Man and Still," Through Kensington, to Notting Hill) ; But in your wisdom great, repeal The New Police, or Pole-ice Bill, Which through each Parish spreads a chill, And costs too many an extra gill ! OR, NEW POLICE. 23 [Petition.'] 3 T is they. Grave and gay. Do humbly pray Your Majesty may In Parliament array Ministers, some early day; To hear what your advisers say, Why this Bill shall not be held at bay. For which w T e all so extravagantly pay, And that in so - constitutional a way. Please your Majesty, we covet not French tactics! In theory His fine, but foul the Act is; Tax us with anything but this go-thic tax Of the New Police ! such French tick-tacks. Alias, the new French watches, To English are no matches: O pray. Sire, relax these Obnoxious Taxes ; Thy tact is Practice ! 24 THE BLUE DEVILS; [j Petition.'] Sire, we urge th' aforesaid Bill Is not constitutional ; Never did tliat Bill inherit The English Constitution's spirit. As a civil regulation. It betrays a violation Of our glorious Constitution ! — This, Sire, is the true solution ; Though civil called, the Bill is very Like unto a military System — ineffective too ! — By Heavens! Sire, “it will not do." 'T is not only not defensive. But oppressively offensive ; Burglars now their works dispatch. Bad as those of our French watch ! More, we cannot stand the rate, In this home branch of the State ! No Bill can be truly civil. If the “ root," thus, “ of all evil." OR, NEW POLICE. 25 The Priest, how getting gay, a case related. Which at Vauxhall one evening did occur; His family were comfortably seated. As they had been some twenty times before : Quietly was he the side-bones picking. His wife indulging o'er a merry-thought ; Their hungry daughters scarce had touched their chicken : When a Policeman their attention caught. He must have seen they were a harmless party. The moment he his presence did intrude ; But huntsman like, in his pursuit full hearty. No game could well his vigilance elude. No sooner had the Priest passed by the Gates Of these famed gardens, famed for fire and cracker, (Where Madame Hengler in the nightly fetes Ascends the rope, without a friend to back her), 26 THE BLUE DEVILS ; Than he by Lawyer Gates was straight espied : Good Heavens ! how the Holy Church they mock it ! When he by this sharp personage was eyed— He took the Parson for a foul pickpocket! The very moment he this fact discovered, His myrmidons (all men of known research) Removed the party from their “ board dish-covered : And G— the circle gave to them to search ! OR, NEW POLICE, 27 The Parson’s wife was ta’en with fits of fainting Before the fireworks, — so, they left the ground ; But this the noodles construed (in wit wanting) Into a proof of guilt , like book rich bound. The Priest could only the foul charge disown,— His innocence he pleaded, but in vain ; His only picking was a chicken bone. Yet all were ordered to be searched again! ! The real fact was, some Banker in the City Had lately lost a fine fat country fowl ; The Parson, with his band, so like banditti. It was suspected had the chicken stole ! 28 THE BLUE DEVILS; CANTO III. The Beadle listened with surprise. How Policemen could he spies ; The Sexton now (if not too grave) Proposed that he should give a stave : “ Laced Hat,” with staff and voice upraised. Then gave “ Lament of Charleys ” crazed. THE CHARLEYS’ LAMENT. Tune—Eveleens Bower . Oh ! weep for tlie hour, When on eve of our power. The Lord of Parliament with fine speech came The moon, in her sleeve. Hid her peepers that eve. And cried within her clouds o’er her fallen name. Policemen soon. Morning, night and noon, Floored our snug little boxes to our shame ; But soon will come the day, When the bitter Peel away We ’ll cast— that cast a stain on Charleys’ name ! OR, NEW POLICE. 29 Our boxes lay In the narrow pathway Where the Lord of the Parliament crosses the road ; And many a deep sting Into our hearts they fling, lo see the empty lodgings, once our abode ! The next Sessions may Our blue Devils send away. Prom the narrow path where Sir R — — t came, r For there *s the moon above. His lunacy can prove — * To snap his teeth at the wreath of Charleys* fame. The Beadle when he ended, conceited 1 suppose, Of this his song last sung (for he meant to be jocose) ; Cried out, “My honoured masters, I’ve lately heard a story, Of Old Thomas the Policeman, though not much to his glory ; Wherein he pokes, as you will see* his nose in every hole ; And kidnaps honest gentlemen, unwary o’er the bowl — 30 THE BLUE DEVILS ; “ Some months ago, it may be two or three, A party in a tavern were all seated ; Both males and females in the merriest glee. For ’t was on a birth-day they were treated, “ All full of glee, the sounds of mirth grew high, Indulging in a ‘ toast" before their tea ; Until one Mr. Thomas there drew nigh. And none at hushing mirth so quick as he. “ But to my tale — One songster in that room 'T was known was able passing well to warble ‘ Fd be a butterfly/— a songster, whom. This song they quickly called upon to garble. “ So to the grand piano-for-te he went, And scarce had warbled out 'Born in a bower/ When Thomas passing, thought this most indecent. And in a tavern too, at midnight hour. OR, NEW POLICE. 31 “ And without further parley they were borne Off to the Station-house, and there, the night, Like nightingales, remained, until the dawn of morn ; When warblers all were suffered to take flight.” 32 THE BLUE DEVILS; Parson, Clerk, and Sexton, as became their posts. With purest loyalty now drank the toasts. Or the wine rather ; for, I know full well, Toasts are ne’er drank except when soaked in ale : The Parson now observed, Midnight was past. One song he’d give them more, and that the last ! ROBERT P— L’S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY. Air t — ** Scots wha hae wi’ Wallace bled*” Lads ! wha bled at Waterloo, Lads ! wha battles never knew'. Welcome hither, all of you, Valiant ones are ye ! Now's the day, and now 's the hour. Streets, squares, suburbs, well to scour; Since has fled proud Charley’s power. To Eternity ! OR, NEW POLICE. 33 Wha will be Policemen brave. To conquer or to court the grave. Life, limb, and liberty to save P — Ye will not turn and flee ! Wha in defence of England's law. Would pluck a pigeon, split a straw,— Free, Policemen, stand or fa', Policemen ! on wi' me ! By your rise, and Charleys' fall. By our constitutional Regard for king and country all. Ye shall, ye shall be free ! Lay the Hunts and Cobbetts low, Tyrants they in every row. At Spa Fields, or at Peterloo, Let us do, or die ! UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS - URBAN A N301 12040332311 A . r , y< ..... _ .. . ^ y w. Dent, Castle Street, Holborn.