Ye Members of Congress and Councils of State,
By Rebellion who hope to become rich and great;
The project, tho' bulky, is lighter than Cork,
Then quit it in time, and come hither to York.
You'll here see an Army polite and well-fed;
And crowds of fine folks, who lay three in a bed;
With Ladies too wise to be shut up in Cloisters,
Or live upon Pulse, when there's plenty of Oysters.
If Musters, Fines, Taxes, improv'd beyond reason,
Or loyal attachment transformed to Treason,
Have wasted your Means or your Patience, come all
Where you'll pay, for the present , no Taxes at all.
But first load a Vessel with lumber, and send her;
'Tis true she may meet with some Man of War's Tender.
My Shelah fell in with the Savage and Triton;
They sold her, and left me the subject to write on.
If Loyal, come freely — if Rebel, come too;
Only come without leave, it is all you've to do.
Take the Oath, and declare you was forc'd to this push;
And if York will not suit you, repair to Flatbush .
You'll there find a country in which you may thrive;
And two dollars, from you, will go farther than five
From a poor Refugee: and the reason is clear —
" It is good to provide left the Rebels come here."
Here plenty of all things for Cash may be had;
If that should be wanting, your case will be bad.
Yet Money's so plenty, you'll find, to your cost,
That Gold, like your Paper, its value has lost.
Should Fortune deny you a Mattrass or Bed,
Or a Closet or Hovel to shelter your head;
Conceal your chagrin, and a Volunteer enter,
And swear you came here Life and Fortune to venture!
If this should not suit you, you may if you please
Join freely with loyal and brave Refugees,
And plunder your Friends and your Foes, great and small;
And if you are caught, why — they'll hang you, that's all.
They'll hang you, that's all — I repeat it again:
And that, you'll confess, puts an end to your pain.
'Tis what you are used to — but here , by the Lord!
Theft, rapine and murder may smile at the Cord.
But, joking apart, all the difference I find
'Twixt this place and that I left lately behind;
I lie down in peace , and in safety arise,
And Liberty's mine, an invaluable prize.
So here I enjoy, with unspeakable pleasure,
The objects for which so much bloodshed and treasure
Have idly been wasted by both sides, I fear:
And all who would taste them, should wisely come here.
If all in Rebellion would take this advice,
The rupture so wide would be clos'd in a trice.
Forgetting past Quarrels we'd happily sing,
Hearts and voices united, O God Save the King!
By Rebellion who hope to become rich and great;
The project, tho' bulky, is lighter than Cork,
Then quit it in time, and come hither to York.
You'll here see an Army polite and well-fed;
And crowds of fine folks, who lay three in a bed;
With Ladies too wise to be shut up in Cloisters,
Or live upon Pulse, when there's plenty of Oysters.
If Musters, Fines, Taxes, improv'd beyond reason,
Or loyal attachment transformed to Treason,
Have wasted your Means or your Patience, come all
Where you'll pay, for the present , no Taxes at all.
But first load a Vessel with lumber, and send her;
'Tis true she may meet with some Man of War's Tender.
My Shelah fell in with the Savage and Triton;
They sold her, and left me the subject to write on.
If Loyal, come freely — if Rebel, come too;
Only come without leave, it is all you've to do.
Take the Oath, and declare you was forc'd to this push;
And if York will not suit you, repair to Flatbush .
You'll there find a country in which you may thrive;
And two dollars, from you, will go farther than five
From a poor Refugee: and the reason is clear —
" It is good to provide left the Rebels come here."
Here plenty of all things for Cash may be had;
If that should be wanting, your case will be bad.
Yet Money's so plenty, you'll find, to your cost,
That Gold, like your Paper, its value has lost.
Should Fortune deny you a Mattrass or Bed,
Or a Closet or Hovel to shelter your head;
Conceal your chagrin, and a Volunteer enter,
And swear you came here Life and Fortune to venture!
If this should not suit you, you may if you please
Join freely with loyal and brave Refugees,
And plunder your Friends and your Foes, great and small;
And if you are caught, why — they'll hang you, that's all.
They'll hang you, that's all — I repeat it again:
And that, you'll confess, puts an end to your pain.
'Tis what you are used to — but here , by the Lord!
Theft, rapine and murder may smile at the Cord.
But, joking apart, all the difference I find
'Twixt this place and that I left lately behind;
I lie down in peace , and in safety arise,
And Liberty's mine, an invaluable prize.
So here I enjoy, with unspeakable pleasure,
The objects for which so much bloodshed and treasure
Have idly been wasted by both sides, I fear:
And all who would taste them, should wisely come here.
If all in Rebellion would take this advice,
The rupture so wide would be clos'd in a trice.
Forgetting past Quarrels we'd happily sing,
Hearts and voices united, O God Save the King!