Leaflet Opposing Sir George Rose's Takeover of the Borough in 1790

[Transcribed from HCRO 9M73/G286/28 (Malmesbury Estate)]

To the In-Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Borough of Christchurch

How long will ye sleep in the delusive Slumber, that has, as with magic Hand, held you in senseless Torpidity? How long will ye bow the knee to Baal, and court the smiles of a sycophantic Courtier? Have you not heard that Self-interest, and Deceit, are the constituent properties of this Tribe, and that their Professions of Service will be no longer pressed upon you, but their parasitical Condescension and Complaisance cease and determine when your Assistance to the Completion of their Purposes shall be useless. The End being then obtained, you will be useless also, and experience that Inattention, and Neglect, the constant Reward of Servility. How often have you seen the fallen Member of your Body corporate, the Cup-bearer of your great Man, presiding at your festive Board, arrayed in the specious Trappings of Self-consequence, with the Majesty of a Croesus? Look at him now! Where now is all his boasted Wealth?

His Parks, his Walks, his Manors, that he had,
All now forsake him; and of all his Lands,
Is nothing left him but his Body's Length.

See then how Fraud and Cunning can beguile, and take this as a Specimen of those you have to deal with. The Advantages of your Obedience to his Nod have been set forth as a weighty Consideration in the Statement of his Accounts, as an item of Value, as possessive Right, irrecoverably gained, and established in common with the other Proprietors of your Borough, and therefore a Marketable Matter. What! are ye then to be bought and sold? Consider your own consequence, and be no longer Hirelings. Reverence the God of your Fathers. Remember him who in Times past has been your Patron, your Friend, your Father; him from whom the first Issues of your political Life sprung, and him to whom your Ancestors looked up with a sacred Respect. Suspect the Views of those who attempt to gain your Interest, by the Promise of Reward, by Place, or Pension; these are fallacious Professions, the false Blossoms of Hypocrisy, which Bloom only. Be cautious, and, if not too late, be careful to prevent the Staff from falling beyond your Grasp; let the majestic Spirit of Independency reign amongst you, and keep in constant remembrance that "There is no ROSE without a Thorn."

VERITAS