DEATH OF THE LINCOLN DESPOTISM Some days are passed, and pleasantly, upon Bermuda's Isle, The sun is shining bright and fair, and nature seems to smile; The breezes moved the British flag that fluttered o'er the Trent, And the ripples rose to lave her sides, as proudly on she went. Mason and Slidell, on deck, thought all their dangers past, And poked each other's ribs and laughed, as they leant against the mast: "Have n't the Yankees just been done uncommonly nice, eh? They've got most money, but the brains are in the C. S. A.!" 429 They coolly said unto their lords, "Our dresses all are new; What on earth would be the use of going back with you? And though we're very sorry that your plans are undone, We mean to pass the winter in Paris and in London. 'Stead of bothering you, and sharing your prison beds and fetters, We'll write each mail from Europe the most delightful letters; Tell you of all we've done and seen, at party, ball, or play, To cheer your hearts, poor martyrs, to cotton and C. S. A." So the two vessels parted; the San Jacinto went To unload her precious cargo, while the captain of the Trent, Having lost a (probable) douceur which had seemed within his grip, We presume, for consolation, retired and took a nip. The ladies talked of the affair less with a tear than smile; Their lords and masters took their way to Warren's Fort the while; And gratis lodged and boarded there, they may think for many a day That brains are sometimes northward found as well's in C. S. A. The prisoners were taken to Fort Warren, in Boston harbor, and the North went wild with delight. It was understood that Great Britain would have to be reckoned with, but no one seemed to care. Wilkes was complimented and banquetted and lionized, and the House of Representatives gave him a vote of thanks. DEATH OF THE LINCOLN DESPOTISM "T WAS out upon 'mid ocean that the San Jacinto hailed An English neutral vessel, while on her course she sailed; They sent her traitor Fairfax, to board her with his crew, And beard the "British lion" with his "Yankee-doodle-doo." The Yankees took her passengers, and put them on their ship, And swore that base secession could not give And hold them till Abe Lincoln and all his them the slip; Northern scum But England says she'll have them, if Wash-Shall own our independence of "Yankeeington must fall, Doodledom." Richmond Dispatch. News of the seizure reached England November 27, 1861. A cabinet meeting was at once held, the act of Captain Wilkes was declared to be "a clear violation of the law of nations," the release of Mason and Slidell was demanded, together with a suitable apology for the aggression. England began to make extensive naval preparations, and eight thousand troops were sent to Canada. JONATHAN TO JOHN [December, 1861] IT don't seem hardly right, John, When both my hands was full, To stump me to a fight, John, Your cousin, tu, John Bull! Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess We know it now," sez he, "The Lion's paw is all the law, Accordin' to J. B., Thet's fit for you an' me!" You wonder why we're hot, John? Your mark wuz on the guns, The neutral guns, thet shot, John, Our brothers an' our sons: Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess There's human blood," sez he, "By fits an' starts, in Yankee hearts, Though 't may surprise J. B. More 'n it would you an' me." Ef I turned mad dogs loose, John, Ole Uncle S. sez he, “I guess, "Thet ef Vattel on his toes fell, "T would kind o' rile J. B., Who made the law thet hurts, John, Heads I win — ditto tails? "J. B." was on his shirts, John, Onless my memory fails. Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess (I'm good at thet)," sez he, JONATHAN TO JOHN "Thet sauce for goose ain't jest the juice For ganders with J. B., No more 'n with you or me!" When your rights was our wrongs, John, You did n't stop for fuss, Britanny's trident prongs, John, Was good 'nough law for us. Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess, Though physic 's good," sez he, "It does n't foller thet he can swaller Prescriptions signed 'J. B.,' Put up by you an' me." We own the ocean, tu, John: You mus'n' take it hard, Ef we can't think with you, John, Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess Why talk so dreffle big, John, Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess We give the critters back, John, Cos Abram thought 't was right; Ole Uncle S. sez he, “I guess Ez wal ez you an' me!" We ain't so weak an' poor, John, With twenty million people, Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess "The surest plan to make a Man They've left the axe an' saw, John, The anvil an' the plough. 431 Ole Uncle S. sez he, “I guess, Ef 't warn't fer law," sez he, "There'd be one shindy from here to Indy; An' thet don't suit J. B. (When't ain't 'twixt you an' me!)" We know we've got a cause, John, We thought 't would win applause, John, Ole Uncle S. sez he, “I guess "Hangs by a rotten fibre o' cotton: Ez wal ez in you an' me!" The South says, "Poor folks down!" John, Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess Shall it be love, or hate, John? Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess "But not forgit; an' some time yit God means to make this land, John, Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess England was clearly in the right in her contention; Wilkes's act was disavowed, and Mason and Slidell were delivered to an English steamer at Provincetown. All danger of war with England was for the time being avoided. A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE JOHN BULL, ESQUIRE, my jo John, You stole my bonny sailors, John, You're aye the same fierce beast to me, John Bull, Esquire, my jo John, We've had with one another. And God will help the honest heart, John Bull, Esquire, my jo. John Bull, Esquire, my jo John, A century has gone by, Since you called me your slave, John, That war of waste and woe; You'll find me much the same old coon, John Bull, Esquire, my jo John, And fight not as of old; You'd better not believe it, John, John Bull, Esquire, my jo John, If you want peace, peace let it be! |