Married men once loved their wives,
Loved them dearly as their lives,
To their praise.

But the numberless divorces

Young men used to love a dance,

Never letting slip a chance :

Curious phase!

If they deign to grace a ball, 'Tis not chic to dance at all

Now-a-days.

Men went in for early marriage:
Wives could do without a carriage.

Rumour says

On their backs girls fortunes carry ;
So the men decline to marry

Now-a-days.

Maidens then were innocent,
Blushing at a compliment,

Or a gaze.

But a blush a vanish'd grace is,
For young ladies paint their faces

Now-a-days.

Black their eyelids, till they stare;

Wash with soda, till their hair

Rank so friendly now with trade is,

Bill discounters, titled ladies

Stoop to raise.

Manners used to make the man,

It is only money can

Now-a-days.

Have I not now proved my case
That the world grows worse apace?

Who gainsays?

If you doubt me, perhaps you are
Innocent-most singular

Now-a-days.

J. JEMMETT-BROWNE.

NOTES.

PAGES 1-2. THE OWLS' SONG. From "The Ladies in Parliament," where it forms part of a "Chorus of Owls." Two verses, one at the beginning and one at the end, are omitted by permission of the author. "An anecdote worthy of Hayward:" see 'Essays, Biographical and Critical," by A. Hayward, Q.C.

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2-5. THE CONTRAST. From "Lyra Urbanica." Morris's fame seems likely to rest upon this lyric. None of his other compositions can at all compare with it.

5-7. EPISTLE TO MISS BLOUNT. The Miss Blount here referred to is Teresa, and not Martha. The coronation is that of George I. The whole epistle is referred to by M. Taine as exemplifying "the realistic element which, according to his theory, was no more absent from Pope than from any of the contemporary English poets." Żephalinda:" the assumed name of Teresa Blount, under which she corresponded for many years with James Moore Smythe. "Whisk :" at that time the vulgar pronunciation of the word "whist." "And loves you best of all things-but his horse:" this reminds us of a line in Mr. Tennyson's "Locksley Hall,"

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"Something better than his dog, a little dearer than his horse." "Parthenia :" a contraction of Parthenissa, the nom-deplume assumed by Martha Blount in the correspondence with Moore Smythe.

7-8. ON A YOUNG LADY'S GOING TO TOWN. gusta:" London.

"Au

9-10. DAMON AND CUPID. "Bellendens or Lepels: " famous beauties of the time of George II. Miss Lepel was afterwards Lady Hervey. See page 15.

11-13. SOLILOQUY OF A BEAUTY. At each distinguished birth-night ball :" See pp. 96-100.

13-14. PICCADILLY. This poem, like all the others by Mr. Locker in this volume, is taken from "London Lyrics" (latest edition, 1876.) "Old Q.:" the Marquis of Queensberry,- —a well-known man of fashion in the eighteenth century.

"Al

14-16. ST. JAMES'S STREET. "Saccharissa sigh'd:" Saccharissa was the name under which the poet Waller celebrated his lady-love, Lady Dorothea Sidney. vanley was witty: for many of Alvanley's bon mots, see Moore's " Diary" and Gronow's "Recollections." Young Churchill: Charles Churchill, the satirist. "White's "" and "Crock's: " two noted gaming clubs. "Miss Gunning:" one of the celebrated sisters of whom Sir C. H. Williams wrote that

"Nature, indeed, denied them sense,
But gave them legs and impudence
That beat all understanding."

"Charlie Fox:" the statesman.

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دو

Selwyn's ghastly

funning: " George Selwyn, the wit and man about town, had a morbid love of horrors; one of his favourite amusements was attendance at an execution. "Rolliad Squibs the "Rolliad, a series of political satires, appeared in 1784. 'Gilray's fiercer sketches: Gilray's caricatures were at one time quite the rage. "Lepel flits past me : an allusion to the celebrated beauty (see page 9). greve's airs astound me : "Congreve the poet and dramatist affected to be prouder of his social connections than of his literary works, and excited on this account the disgust of Voltaire. "Boodle's: a once famous club.

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"Con

17-18. To Q. H. F. From "Vignettes in Rhyme." This poem abounds in Horatian allusions, for which the reader must consult the Odes passim.

20-22. ROTTEN Row. This, like all the other pieces by Mr. Leigh in this volume, is from "Carols of Cockayne." 22-24. ZOOLOGICAL MEMORIES. Like all the other pieces by Mr. Ashby Sterry in this volume, this poem is from "Boudoir Ballads."

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27-28. VALENTINE. "Thy great kinsman : " Pitt. 28-29. TO A CERTAIN LADY AT COURT. The certain lady" was Mrs. Howard, afterwards Countess of Suffolk, and mistress of George II. See Lord Peterborough's Song by a Person of Quality," addressed to the same lady.

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30-31. WRITTEN AT TUNBRIDGE WELLS. "As