[61] It is nothing particular for ewes, at their yeaning time, to stray: some have been known to travel an hundred miles to their native place to yean. The author remembers a ewe which had with others been sold to the southward, and was kept on the Haughs of the Humber, from which she strayed, and reaching Makendon, on the borders of Scotland, she travelling about twenty yards within her original pasture, there squatted and yeaned in half an hour. The owner of the ewe that travelled so far to yean upon her pristine spot, went the year following to buy another lot of the same sort, was asked how the last year’s stock proved, answered, _extraordinary well_, excepting one that disappeared, which he supposed to be stole. The stocksman said he was sorry for his loss, which however, he said, he would make good if they bargained for the present parcel. The bargain was made, and the seller turned an ewe and lamb, gratis, into the drove, explained the fact, and the poor ewe had to retread the ground she had twice before travelled over.
A fair reformation would render this nation, The richest isle under the sun; If terms now septennial were turn’d to triennial, The work would be more than half done.
Our grand constitution defies diminution, While honest men handle the helm; But subject to slav’ry, and sanction’d by knav’ry, When ravagers rule in the realm.
A few dying embers of Morpeth, two members Can send in the senate to sit: Shields, Alnwick, and Hexham (the truth tends to vex ’em) United, not one can transmit.
One man of old Sarum, two members declare him; Thus burghs, and constituents wane: Some staple towns none, though Manchester alone, Near two hundred thousands contain.
Besides rotten boroughs, the source of our sorrows, These Cinque-Ports, and sinecures all; With pensions and places our council disgraces, Which courts of corruption some call.
With truth it is told, some freedoms are sold, And seats traffick’d for at noon day; The barter’s so bold, that for British gold, Our code without scruples convey.
These buyers are bound, seat sellers to mound, And vote on the ministers’ side; If he says the crow’s white, or noon day is midnight, They must by his behests abide.
In ev’ry debate concerning the state, These relics of representation, Majorities gain, and boldly maintain, Their will is the voice of the nation.