[*] "Southwark's Knight" was General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson
(1777-1849), who was returned for Southwark in 1818, and again in 1820;
"County Byng" was George Byng, M.
(1777-1849), who was returned for Southwark in 1818, and again in 1820;
"County Byng" was George Byng, M.
Byron
"As for his Lordship's vulgar notions about the _mob_" he
adds, "they are very fit for the Poet of the _Morning Post_, and for
nobody else. " There is no reason to suppose that Byron was in any way
responsible for the version as sent to the _Morning Post_. ]
"MY BOY HOBBY O.
[ANOTHER VERSION. ]
To the Editor of the _Morning Post_.
Sir,--A copy of verses, to the tune of '_My boy Tammy_,' are repeated
in literary circles, and said to be written by a Noble Lord of the
highest poetical fame, upon his quondam friend and annotator. My memory
does not enable me to repeat more than the first two verses quite
accurately, but the humourous spirit of the Song may be gathered from
these:--
1.
Why were you put in Lob's pond,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
For telling folks to pull the House
By the ears into the Lobby O!
2.
Who are your grand Reformers now,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
There's me and BURDETT,--gentlemen,
And Blackguards HUNT and COBBY O!
3.
Have you no other friends but these,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
Yes, Southwark's Knight,[*] the County BYNG,
And in the City, BOBBY O!
[*] "Southwark's Knight" was General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson
(1777-1849), who was returned for Southwark in 1818, and again in 1820;
"County Byng" was George Byng, M. P. for Middlesex; and "Bobby" was Sir
Robert Waithman (1764-1833), who represented the City of London in 1818,
but lost his seat to Sir William Curtis in 1820. All these were advanced
Liberals, and, as such, Parliamentary friends of Hobhouse.
4.
How do you recreate yourselves,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
We spout with tavern Radicals,
And drink with them hob-nobby O!
5.
What purpose can such folly work,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
It gives our partisans a chance
Watches to twitch from fob-by O!
6.
Have they no higher game in view,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
Oh yes; to stir the people up,
And then to head the mob-by O.
7.
But sure they'll at their ruin pause,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
No!
adds, "they are very fit for the Poet of the _Morning Post_, and for
nobody else. " There is no reason to suppose that Byron was in any way
responsible for the version as sent to the _Morning Post_. ]
"MY BOY HOBBY O.
[ANOTHER VERSION. ]
To the Editor of the _Morning Post_.
Sir,--A copy of verses, to the tune of '_My boy Tammy_,' are repeated
in literary circles, and said to be written by a Noble Lord of the
highest poetical fame, upon his quondam friend and annotator. My memory
does not enable me to repeat more than the first two verses quite
accurately, but the humourous spirit of the Song may be gathered from
these:--
1.
Why were you put in Lob's pond,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
For telling folks to pull the House
By the ears into the Lobby O!
2.
Who are your grand Reformers now,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
There's me and BURDETT,--gentlemen,
And Blackguards HUNT and COBBY O!
3.
Have you no other friends but these,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
Yes, Southwark's Knight,[*] the County BYNG,
And in the City, BOBBY O!
[*] "Southwark's Knight" was General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson
(1777-1849), who was returned for Southwark in 1818, and again in 1820;
"County Byng" was George Byng, M. P. for Middlesex; and "Bobby" was Sir
Robert Waithman (1764-1833), who represented the City of London in 1818,
but lost his seat to Sir William Curtis in 1820. All these were advanced
Liberals, and, as such, Parliamentary friends of Hobhouse.
4.
How do you recreate yourselves,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
We spout with tavern Radicals,
And drink with them hob-nobby O!
5.
What purpose can such folly work,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
It gives our partisans a chance
Watches to twitch from fob-by O!
6.
Have they no higher game in view,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
Oh yes; to stir the people up,
And then to head the mob-by O.
7.
But sure they'll at their ruin pause,
My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_)
No!
