The Bill Burkers.
A Letter addressed by his wife to Robert Gilchrist, one of the
Martyrs in the cause of Liberty, now a prisoner in Lancaster Castle,
for the George’s Field Sunday Meeting. On the awful and alarming
death of Bill Reform, who was “ burked” in a Committee of the
House of Lords.
Martyrs in the cause of Liberty, now a prisoner in Lancaster Castle,
for the George’s Field Sunday Meeting. On the awful and alarming
death of Bill Reform, who was “ burked” in a Committee of the
House of Lords.
The awful and alarming death of your friend1
Is the news that to you, my dear Robert, I send.2
Bill Reform is no more. Sure ’twill cause you to weep,3
And banish, at once, from your eye-lids all sleep.4
Oh, but think of the thing—how men’s hearts were elate,5
For the good he would do in the Church and the State.6
How he’d raise our sunk country to honour and fame,7
And wash from its laws each pollution and stain ;8
The poor of the land should no more be oppress’d9
To feed our fat Bishops—who’ve so long been our pest.10
Bill would alter the case, make our orphan’s all smile,11
And the tear from the cheeks of each widow beguile.12
All this he intended, and you may be sure13
That the Cholera Morbus he’d certainly cure.14
But, oh ! the poor fellow, it happened they say,15
As he enter’d a Committee meeting one day ;16
The gentlemen sitting began to conclude17
That to them he intended no manner of good.18
If the state of the poor is better’d, they said—19
If to them he intends to give clothing and bread,20
He can’t be our friend—so let US seal his doom,21
And “ burke” him—before he gets out of the room.22
This advice was agreed to, and he is no more.23
His death is lamented by many a score,24
Who loudly declare that the nation they’ll storm,25
Or “burke” every man that “ burked” Bill Reform.26