VERSES ON THE Consecration of the Standard, PRESENTED BY LADY ROUS TO THE FIRST TROOP OF SUFFOLK LOYAL YEOMANRY CAVALRY, Under the Command of Captain Sir John Rous, Bart. at Halesworth, on July 14, 1795. On Tuesday, July the 14th, 1795, the day appointed for consecrating the colours of the First Troop of Loyal Suffolk Yeomanry at Halesworth, the same was attended by many gentlemen and ladies of rank and fortune, as well as by a numerous concourse of people of all ranks. After leaving church, the gentlemen, belonging to the troop, assembled in a large field adjoining the town, and went through such parts of their exercise, as the vacancy upon the ground would admit of, with much spirit and alacrity. After this they partook of a most excellent dinner, under a handsome salloon, upon the bowling-green at the Angel Inn. The whole concluded with such loyal songs, and constitutional toasts, as became the sons of freedom; and hilarity and good humour was the order of the day. The Standard was presented by Lady Rous. WHAT host is that from yon proud tower, They own some chieftain's lawless power, Such scenes in distant times the Muse's eye descries, What tho' the hospitable board, To feastings full and revels loud, The Muse can only see "in ancient Baron's hall Well pleas'd the change, and glad the eye surveys, How the rich Standard proudly beats the air! That muses every blessing to mankind, Young's patriot thoughts out-ran not Gooch'st zeal. * Arthur Young, esq. of Bradfield started the first hint of raising the Yeomanry Cavalry, by his proposal for a Horse Militia of property. + Sir Thomas Gooch, Bart. who very early, if not as soon, con, ceived and communicated the same idea. Free, loyal Yeomanry, thy country's pride, Such as no realm on earth can boast beside, Behold thy standard, gift of Lady fair, you feel; No sordid hands could form a work so rare ; THE ELVEDON HUNT, 1754: BY RICHARD GARDINER, ESQ. ALIAS DICK MERRY-FELLOW, Of Mount-Amelia, in the Parish of Ingoldisthorp, Norfolk. Elvedon, a small village, was formerly of some note for the session of certain justices of the peace, who, when the king's commissioners appointed to Alluding to the story of Panthea and Abradates, in Xenophon, apprehend, try, and punish, the riotous inhabitants of Bury in 1327, for the outrages committed by them against the abbot and convent of that town, only indicted them for a trespass, boldy proceeded against them as felons; on which they were brought to trial, and nineteen suffered death. Elvedon gave the title of Viscount to that gallant and distinguished Officer the Right Hon. Augustus Keppel, Admiral of the White. To the right of the village is Elvedon-Hall, long the residence of his Lordship; from whom it descended to the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Albemarle, who in 18 sold it to Richard Newton, Esq. the present possessor, who is now rebuilding the Hall. To you, fair ladies of the field! Tho' hares and foxes run a-pace, The morning rose, and with a fog, Ten yards upon the ground: Yet we to Elden took our way, Like Venus (if she was so fair With coral lip and golden hair, Just rising from the main) We saw the lovely Bell* appear, Nor miss'd the sun when she was near. * Miss Bell Shadwell, of Buxton Lodge, near Thetford. At Elden, on a trail we hit, And soon the hare we found, When up she started from a pit, And stretch'd along the ground: Hark forward! all the sportsmen cry'd, Hark forward! hills and dales reply'd. Quite cross the country, and away Whilst Billy Grigson rode and swore, With pleasure Greene the chace pursu❜d, But often as the hare he view'd, In raptures he began : "Tell me, ye gods! if any sounds "Be half so sweet as t' hear the hounds." Thus for an hour, all in full cry, Nor thought that madam was to die, Nor we to have a song: Says Slapp, "though now she runs so fast, "Brave boys: we'll put her down at last." Kind fate indulg'd an hour more, For Butler, foremost of the pack, And Frolick seiz'd her by the back. |