Reference
X135/88
Title
Printed poem "The Plough" by Wm. Franklin
Reads - "read at the Christmas Dinner, at the Three-Swans Inn, Hungerford, 31st Dec.1856, before a company of gentlemen and yeomen of Berks., Wilts., & Hants., as a response to 'The Liberty of the Press' coupled with the writer's name," (small 8vo, 12 pp., paper cover).
"The Berkshire plough, which you use here
Was then esteemed in Bedfordshire
Tis half a century ago
Since first I saw the Berkshire plough...
And it was on the Duke's demesne
In Bedfordshire that it was seen
But now 'twould make a ploughman stare
In wonderment to see one there...
Now of Duke Francis I would speak
But words are powerless and weak...
The emphatic farmers' patron
Was well succeeded by Duke John
The Woburn annual gathering
Must ever him to mem'ry bring...
(Discusses improvements to farm implements, made by Saunders, Ransome, Williams, Barrett, Exall, Plenty, Chandler)
And Batchelor, thy memory will
Live in connexion with the drill
No letters patent did he take
For great improvements in the make
The efforts of his genius free
To agriculture's cause gave he...
If you will grant a moment now
I'll speak of England's Champion Plough
An enterprising farmer's son
The highest honour well has won
Some sixteen years at least ago
At Bedford's agricultural show
That plough then won the highest fame
Immortalizing Armstrong's name...
And still the palm bedecks that plough
Of Armstrong's, made by Howard now." (continues with Armstrong's harrows, and Armstrong's rake).
Excuse the time I've taken now
And bear with one bred from the plough."
Hungerford: printed by & for the author.
Date free text
1857
Production date
From: 1857 To: 1857
Level of description
item