MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.
Rule Squire Hawebucke next riſing to ſpeak, did promiſe he would obſerve, and forthwith made a violent Harangue againſt Sir Robert Peel and Mr. Cobden. After him got up Mr. Flummerie, and with great Action, and thumping the Table, ſpoke for Half-an-Hour, with moſt brave Flouriſhes both of his Fiſts and of Language. He did tell his Audience that they muſt be up and ſtiring, and quit them like good Men and true, and did exhort them to rally round the Altar and Throne, and nail their Colours to the Maſt, and range themſelves under the Banner of Protection; which he did ſay was a Flag that had braved 1,000 Years the Battle and the Breeze, and if ſo, ſhould, methinks, be by this time in Tatters. He did ſay that the Britiſh Lion had been long aſleep, but was now at laſt arouſed, which do ſeem a ſimple Saying, the Britiſh Lion being only a fabulous Beaſt, like the Unicorn, and nowhere to be found but in the Royal Arms. But to hear how the Company did cheer at all this Mouthing, and I do verily think they had far rather liſten to it, than Mr. Coningsby his clever Schemes and Projects, albeit it was the verieſt Cant and Stuff; for, good Lack! to think of the Monarchy and Church, and all Morals, Religion, and Government, depending on the Price of Wheat! After more Speeches in the ſame Strain, the Britiſh Labourer his Health drunk, and then the Prizes given out; and an old Man of 80, for bringing up a Family without coſting the Pariſh 1d. in 50 Years, did receive £1, and others for honeſt Service nigh as long, a Jacket, a Smock Frock, or a Pair of Hob-Nail Boots, in Reward of Merit. The Toaſts and Speech-making laſted till late, and then we broke up, the Farmers mighty merry, though grumbling, but not more than their Wont, at the Laws and the Weather, but their beſt Friends say, will have little to complain of either, if they will but mind their Buſineſs, and turn ſeriouſly to improving their Huſbandry.
