[Works of John Stowell + note by R.J.Moore]

The Retrospect : or, a Review of the Memorable
Events of Mona in the year 1790.

By Philanthus [John Stowell]
Eye Nature's Walks, shoot Folly as it flies,
And catch the Manners living as they rise. Pope.

[Frontispiece - Woodcut showing old House of Keys, Castletown]

Price one shilling. pp. 55. 202mm x130mm.
No date or printer.

According to Moore published 1791, and the printer Christopher Briscoe.

Extracts:

Mock not, ye proud, the tumults of our Isle,
Nor hear our country's troubles with a smile
Mona can feel as fine a sense of pain
As great Britannia, mistress of the main ;
And knows as well her freedom how to prize
As haughty Britain, who the world defies.
Th' imprison'd lark could liberty enjoy,
Sweet as the eagle, sov'reign of the sky
And senators are senators, tho' Manks,
As well as Pit and Fox, with all their pranks.

Witness Squire Saugrogh, when the news was told
How that his country's precious rights were sold,
He tore his wig, he let his oxen go,-
'O Yee,' he cry'd, `what shall poor Mannin do?'
"Then posted on, ten times as mad as Paul,
Nor stopt 'til he had reach'd the Council Hall,
Where, in a gloomy sadly pompous state,
The Great, the Grand August Assembly sate. [The Keys.]
Our hero made his motion to the House,
Thrice scratched his pate, - the third time seiz'd a L..se;
Nor smuggled him as common people do,
But held the culprit up to public view,
And in the presence of the Twenty Four
Put him to death: would Cato have done more'
' Thus ev'ry tyrant should be serv'd,' he said
' Who dares to trample on a Manks man's head'

pp. 17.19

Sing in Paen, happy Marksmen sing,
Let the proud merry bells of Douglas ring
Thine good old Matthew's and young Georgy thine,
Like two brass candlesticks, shall both combine,
To form a Manks Duetto quite divine.

. . .

Douglas ! the seat of scandal, nurse of Pride,
To ignorance by lasting ties allied,-
With self-tormenting spleen, and envious strife,
Sours her own cup, and blasts the joys of life.

Douglas ! the secret scorn of men of sense,-
The stage where Puppies act their consequence
lest of the wise, the vortex of the vain,-
The clog of genius, and the fool's loungane ;-

'Tis not th' affected strut of Consequence,
Nor self sufficient stare of Impudence,-
Nor formal gait, nor airy apish tricks,
Nor pride of birth - nor dress - nor coach and six -
That forms the Gentleman. Vain creatures ! know
'Tis more than fops can buy, or wealth bestow
'Tis true good nature, and good sense combin'd,
A mild deportment and a lib'ral mind ;
'Tis knowledge without pedantry, or pride ;
'Tis virtue to no slavish tenets ty'd ;
'Tis unconf n'd to rank, or wealth, or place ;
'Tis Honour, Ease, Intelligence, and Grace !
Mark this, ye rising Bloods, and learn this truth-
Humility's an Ornament to Youth !

p.50