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LIEUT.-COLONEL WILKIE,

"FRANK ORBY,"

AUTHOR OF

"COGITATIONS OF A VAGABOND," "BIOGRAPHY

OF HUMBUG," "BRITISH COLONIES CONSIDERED
AS MILITARY POSTS," ETC. ETC.

MY DEAR SIR,

Accept the dedication of these pages as a slight

token of my admiration for your talents, and as a small acknowledgment of one of the most gratifying friendships which I have ever formed.

BATHEASTON.

I am,

MY DEAR SIR,

Most sincerely and faithfully yours,

CONWAY EDWARDS.

How shall I plead your patience? how essay
To win your gentle favour for our play?
Had I the lute of Orpheus, I might move

Your hearts' best wishes for the heart's " First Love."
But I, who boast no superhuman power

To aid our author in this trying hour,

Still fondly hope from British hearts to gain

Those favours which were never sought in vain-
A generous judgment and a gentle ear
For every fault and failing witnessed here.

Ah! now I see the noble spirit rise—
Albion's proud birth right flashes in the eyes
Of Albion's daughters!—the fire which sets free
Th' unconquered arm of England's Chivalry,
Glows from the Throne--here warmly pleads for me.

Ah, glorious island of the fair and brave!
Queen among nations-Empress of the wave!
While that pure fire does live within thy land
Thy sons shall never bow to foreign hand-
No foeman's flag shall desecrate thy soil,
No Gallic foe thy splendid cities spoil!

No! though his voice may roar across the main,
The Gallic thunder does not roar in vain!
Round thy white cliffs there rolls a glorious sea,
Which stamps thee-Queen of Ocean, ever free!

Then, timorous bark! spread now thy trembling sail,
Fair is the tide-and fav'ring is the gale;
Yonder are they who bid thee tempt the wave--
England's proud hearts-the generous and the brave!

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670

.334

795884

DRAMATIS PERSONA.

AS PERFORMED AT BATH, MARCH THIRTEENTH, 1841.

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