Hester Lynch SALUSBURY

Fanny Burney and I said the other day that we write a Weekly Paper & send it to London to our Gentlemen¹ who desert us most grievously for the sake of attending Parliament—What says I shall we call our Paper? Oh the Flasher to be sure says she—we have a Hack Phrase here at Streatham of calling ev'ry thing Flash which we want other folks to call Wit. well said I write you the introductory paper, and I will put in a Song.—

I sent 'em a Gazette in Imitation of Swift's Country Post last Week which diverted them highly. She wrote the Paper therefore, to which I affixed the Motto from Christina’s Cannon² …

Habet sua fulmina Juno³—

1.

How bold the Streatham Muse is grown
To flash when all her Sparks are flown⁴
Will nothing then abash her?
Our Solitary Copse can blaze 
Without the Sun's concentred Rays
To animate our Flasher.

2.

Nor Cruelty our Wit controuls, 
Like Salt they sprinkle on the Coals 
That glow beneath the Rasher;
It makes our Flame but burn more bright,
And prompts us to persue your Flight 
With Gazette or with Flasher.

3.

From such faint Fires my Master cries⁵
The meek Minerva's radiant Eyes⁴
May lead a Man away sure: 
No Meteor wit approaches near,
Where Sophy like the Sun severe! 
Soon dissipates each Flasher.

4.

Forbear Sir Philip⁶ cries, my Friend,
With pop Gun Wits shall we contend?
We must accept their Trash,—or
Displease the Streatham Coterie, 
Which I've objections to—D'ye see,
So e'en let pass the Flasher.

Footnotes

1. Mr. Thrale.↩︎
2. Saint Christina of Tyre was a 3rd-century Christian martyr who is revered for her courage and faith.↩︎
3. A Latin proverb "Juno has her own thunderbolts." reminds us that women, like Juno, possess their own means of power, influence, and achieving their aspirations. Hester Thrale, a strong and independent woman, embodied this spirit through her writings, advocating for women's rights and showcasing their untapped potential.↩︎
4. A reference to Sophy Streatfield.↩︎
5. A reference to Mr. Thrale.↩︎
6. Possibly Sir Philip Jennings Clerke MP (1722-1788).↩︎