So canting coblers, while from tubs they teach,
Buffoon the gospel they pretend to preach.)
Boaft petty courts, whence rules new rigour draw,
Unknown to Nature's and to Statute-law;
Quirks that explain all saving rights away,
To give th' attorney and the catchpoll prey.
Is there where law too rigorous may descend,
Or charity her kindly hand extend?

Thy courts, that, fhut when pity would redress,
Spontaneous open to inflict diftrefs.

Try misdemeanours!-all thy wiles employ,
Not to chaftife th' offender, but destroy;
Bid the large lawless fine his fate foretel;
Bid it beyond his crime and fortune fwell;
Cut off from fervice due to kindred blood,
To private welfare and to public good,
Pitied by all, but thee, he fentenc'd lies;
Imprifon'd languishes, imprifon'd dies.

80

85

Boaft fwarming veffels, whose plebeian state
Owes not to merchants but mechanics freight.
Boaft nought but pedlar-fleets-in war's alarms,
Unknown to glory, as unknown to arms.

100

Boaft

Boaft thy bafe Tolfey, and thy turn-fpit dogs,
Thy ‡ Halliers horses and thy human hogs;
Upitarts and mushrooms, proud, relentless hearts;
Thou blank of fciences! thou dearth of arts!
Such foes as learning once was doom'd to fee! 105
Huns, Goths, and Vandals, were but types of thee.
Proceed, great Bristol, in all-righteous ways,
And let one Juftice heighten yet thy praife;
Still fpare the catamite, and swinge the whore,
And be, whate'er Gomorrha was before.

110

* A place where the merchants used to meet to tranfact their affairs before the Exchange was erected. See Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. XIII. p. 496.

Halliers are the perfons who drive or own the edges, which are here ufed inftead of carts.

CON