Let us
be thankful to the honest guardians of ours, and for the kind sky under
which it burns bright and steady.
ON A MEDAL OF GEORGE THE FOURTH.
Before me lies a coin bearing the image and superscription of King
George IV., and of the nominal value of two-and-sixpence. But an
official friend at a neighboring turnpike says the piece is hopelessly
bad; and a chemist tested it, returning a like unfavorable opinion. A
cabman, who had brought me from a Club, left it with the Club porter,
appealing to the gent who gave it a pore cabby, at ever so much o'clock
of a rainy night, which he hoped he would give him another. I have taken
that cabman at his word. He has been provided with a sound coin. The bad
piece is on the table before me, and shall have a hole drilled through
it, as soon as this essay is written, by a loyal subject who does not
desire to deface the Sovereign's image, but to protest against the
rascal who has taken his name in vain. Fid. Def. indeed! Is this what
you call defending the faith? You dare to forge your Sovereign's name,
and pass your scoundrel pewter as his silver? I wonder who you are,
wretch and most consummate trickster? This forgery is so complete that
even now I am deceived by it--I can't see the difference between the
base and sterling metal.
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