THE AUTHOR'S EARNEST CRY AND PRAYER.

O Whisky! soul o' plays an' pranks!
Accept a Bardie's gratefu' thanks!
When wanting thee, what tuneless cranks
Are my poor verses!

Thou comes- -they rattle i' their ranks
At ither's a-s!

Thee, Ferintosh! O sadly lost!
Scotland, lament frae coast to coast!

Now colic-grips, an' barkin hoast,

May kill us a';

For loyal Forbes' charter'd boast
Is ta'en awa!

Thae curst horse-leeches o' th' Excise,
Wha mak the Whisky Stells their prize!
Haud up thy han,' Deil! ance, twice, thrice!
There, seize the blinkers!

An' bake them up in brunstane pies

For poor damn'd drinkers.

Fortune if thou'll but gie me still
Hale breeks, a scone, an' Whisky gill,
An' rowth o' rhyme to rave at will,
Tak' a' the rest,

An' deal't about as thy blind skill
Directs thee best.

THE AUTHOR'S EARNEST CRY AND PRAYER.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND HONOURABLE THE SCOTCH REPRESENTATIVES IN THE

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