  July 1st, 1812. BY A SPECTATOR. Six centuries since, some say, a son of South Seaton Was mulct for a monk he to mummy had beaten; The prior there pilfer’d the prow of a pig, And Delaval drub’d well the pillaging prig! In commemoration of that great event, Each anniversary in eclat is spent: Though landlords liege-legates are bound to obey, That country carousal’s kept up to this day. A sum by subscription was quickly collected, As none to contribute their quota objected; Half-guineas the highest, the lowest a shilling; And seamen and landmen were equally willing: Hence hand-bills were pasted up in public places, To state both the time and the term of these races; Explaining the prizes, and pastoral plays, Prolonging these pastimes the space of three days. The stewards instructed the cash to collect, Kept debtor and creditor scrolls quite correct; To purchase such prizes as were preconcerted, The coin was with consummate caution converted; To furnish out fun for friends, strangers, and neighbours, These gents to gymnastics gave gratis their labours; Lest fair play, by precepts, might not be promoted, From the racing calendar cases they quoted. Quaff-cups for quadrupeds accustom’d to courses, And handsome cart-harness for husbandry horses; With saddles and bridles for hunters and hacks, And plate spurs for ponies that pay no Pitt-tax: Spring whips made for mules, and good armour for asses, And harlequin habits for lads and for lasses; Gloves, hats, hose, and handkerchiefs, shirts, shifts, and shoes, To run, gape, or grin for, as candidates choose. With multitudes mingled the turf was attended, Like barley and beans, there the belles and beaux blended; From town and the country such numbers assembled, The race-ground a Newcastle meeting resembled; Which cohorts all creeds and conditions comprised, And dresses, distinctions, and deserts disguised; By vintners made vivid, their views became various, Amusements were many, and mirth multifarious. The racers (at Watson’s) were regularly enter’d, And money at booking was formally ventur’d; A Newmarket rider, rear’d in racing stables, Conversant in quirks, and acquainted with cabals; Whose powers of profession were priz’d upon paction, And principles privately put up to auction: Some Monkseaton farmers on fraud plac’d affiance, But saw in the sequel their rotten reliance. By bribing that brigand, this son of deception Receiv’d ready rhino, yet made his election; This presto, his pupils to peasants prefer’d; In bilking his brethren, the eft would have err’d! To gull’d speculators, a vulcan as vile, Stak’d too with turf-students in tangible style, Till duped delinquents were doom’d through the day, Their debts of dishonour on peril to pay. Corruption creeps into both commerce and courts, Then who can repel it from rural resorts? As all public places are pester’d with prowlers, The streets are stagnated with stigmatiz’d strollers; And some sanguine swindlers, though subtile and snug, Plunge into the pit they for others had dug; The same at Monkseaton, the mass must admit, (With self-satisfaction) “The biters were bit”!!! |
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