Who shall keep our colonies?

Introduction by Hester Thrale

I have had another Stroke at Martial’s Epigram ending with Jam Dic Posthume de tribus Capellis: My Master [Henry Thrale] liked this so well that I printed it in the publick Advertiser.

The Question as all Europe sees
Is—who shall keep our Colonies;
Mean while the Whigs light up the Street,
And tear each Tory that they meet;
The Tories of their Powr tenacious,
Cry Lord these Whigs are so audacious:
Of Greeks and Romans Luttrell raves,
And Rigby thinks them both but Knaves;
While each with Voice and Action strive
To keep the factious Flame alive,
I'd beg one Whisper if you please,
Who is to keep our Colonies ?

Written by Hester Lynch Thrale.
Published in the Public Advertiser 16 March 1779. Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout.