Hester Lynch SALUSBURY

Here is likewise a Political Alphabet … it is now grown a mighty dull Jest) but it pleased then. Local and personal satire like the Waters of Chalybeat Springs will bear but ill the Changes of Time (and) of Place. All their Spirit evaporates either by keeping or by Carriage. This Nonsense however that follows here was worth Mr Steevens’s owning-he told Johnson that he wrote it, whereas it happened to be only me as Roxolana says) & I had then the foul Copy by me. I have lost it now or may be burnt it, but I rather think ’tis only mislaid,—

A, was an Alderman factious and proud,
B, was a Bellas that blustered aloud,
C, was a Carriers of Cant & Sedition,
D, was a Duke that despis’d their petition:
E, was Old England by Evils opprest,
F, was the Faction that robb’d her of Rest;
G, was George Onslow—his Malice to scorn,
& H, was a halter to hang Parson Horne,
I, was an Imp that insulted the King,
J, was a Jaylor confin’d the curst Thing;
K, was a Kingdom where none liv’d in Awe,
& L, was Licentiousness laughing at Law.
M, was a Motto the owner t’expose,
N, was a Noodle, who that Motto chose,
O, was an old Oliverian at Court,
& P, was a Pig-Stye his proper resort.
Q, was the question admit or expel,
R, was the Rabble just ripe to rebel,
S, was the Serjeant asham’d of his Friends
Y was a tool to serve Treas’nable Ends;
U, was an Upstart disdaining Subjection,
V, was a voter at Brentford Election,
W, was a widow would make Wilkes a Wife but
X, was Xantippe, his living Dear Life and
Y, was the Year in which all was o’er thrown tho’
Z, was a Zealot who fought for the Crown.

Now I have written this stuff over, I fancy it was rather publish’d in 1769 than 1771 — but I protest I do not know the date of it. How impudent of Steevens to say y^t it was his! he is a sad Fellow.