Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE REFUGEES' PETITION TO SIR GUY CARLETON, by PHILIP FRENEAU


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE REFUGEES' PETITION TO SIR GUY CARLETON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Humbly sheweth, that your honour's petitioners, tories by trade
Last Line: We'll go to the rebels, and get our estates. --
Subject(s): American Revolution; Carleton, Sir Guy. 1st Baron Dorchester; Refugees


Humbly Sheweth,THAT your Honour's petitioners, Tories by trade,
From the first of the war have lent Britain their aid,

And done all they could, both in country and town,
In support of the king and the rights of his crown;
But, now to their grief and confusion, they find
"The devil may take them who are farthest behind."

In the rear of all rascals they still have been placed
And Rebels and Frenchmen full often have faced,
Have been in the midst of distresses and doubt
Whene'er they came in or whene'er they went out;
Have supported the king and defended his church,
And now, in the end, must be left in the lurch.

Though often, too often, his arms were disgraced,
We still were in hopes he would conquer at last,
And restore us again to our sweethearts and wives,
The pride of our hearts and the joy of our lives --
But he promised too far, and we trusted too much,
And who could have looked for a war with the Dutch?

Our board broken up, and discharged from our stations,
Sir Guy! it is cruel to cut off our rations;
Of a project, like that, whoe'er was the mover,
It is, we must tell you, a sneaking man /icons/grol/oelig.gif>uvre;
A plan to destroy us -- the basest of tricks
By means of starvation, a stigma to fix.

If a peace be intended, as people surmise,
(Though we hope from our souls these are nothing but lies)
Inform us at once what we have to expect,
Nor treat us, as usual, with surly neglect;
Or, else, while you Britons are shipping your freights,
We'll go to the Rebels, and get our estates. --






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