File:The friend of humanity and the knife-grinder,-scene. The borough, in imitation of Mr. Southey's sapphics,-Vide. Anti-Jacobin, p. 15 LCCN94509834.tif

Abstract: George Tierney and a knife-grinder pushing his wheelbarrow in front of an ale-house. Physical description: 1 print : engraving, color. Notes: Forms part of : British Cartoon Prints Collection (Library of Congress).
Text:
Friend of Hum.
“Needy Knife-grinder! wither are you going?
“Rough is the road, your Wheel is out of order.

“Bleak blows the blast: – your hat has got a hole in’t,

So have your Breeches!

“Weary Knife-grinder! little think the proud ones.

 Who in their Coaches roll along the turnpike-

-road, what hard work ‘tis crying all day “Knives

“and Scissors to grind O !”

“Tell me, Knife-grinder, how came you to grind knives?

Did some rich man tyrannically use you?

Was it the Squire? or Parson of the Parish?

 Or the Attorney?

Was it the Squire for killing of his Game? or

 Covetous Parson for his Tythes distraining?

 Or roguish Lawyer made you lose your little

 All in a law-suit?

 “(Have you not read the Rights of Man, by Tom Paine?)

 Drops of compassion tremble of my eye-lids,
Ready to fall, as soon as you have told your

 Pitiful story”

Knife-grinder.
“Story! God bless you! I have none to tell, Sir,

 Only last night a-drinking at the Chequers,

 This poor old Hat and Breeches, as you see,were

torn in a scuffle

“Constables came up for to take me into

 Custody: they took me before the Justice:

 Justice Oldmixon put me in the Parish-

 -Stocks for a Vagrant.

I should be glad to drink your Honour’s health in

A Pot of Beer if you would give me Sixpence;

 But for my part, I never love to meddle

With Polities, Sir.

”

Friend of Hum.
“I give thee Sixpence! I will see thee damned first.

 Wretch. whom no sense of wrongs can muse to ven-

-geance

Sordid, unfeeling, reprobate, degraded

Spiritless outcast!



(Kicks the Knife-grinder, overturns his Whell, and exit in

a transport of republican enthusiasm and universal