About the author
Frank Moore was a journalist and Revolutionary historian. He published a number of books on the American Revolution during his career in the mid-19th century, including Songs and Ballads of the American Revolution, Diary of the American Revolution and The Patriot Preachers of the American Revolution.
“Lord North’s Recantation” was written by “a gentlemen of Chester,” England, and first appeared in the London Evening Post. The appendix to the “Political Duenna” contains it, as do many of the newspapers published in 1779.
Lord North’s Recantation
WHEN North first began,
With his taxation plan,
The Colonies all to supplant;
To Britain’s true cause,
And her liberty, laws,
O, how did he scorn to recant.
Oh ! how did he boast,
Of his pow’r and his host,
Alternately swagger and cant;
Of freedom so dear,
Not a word would he hear,
Nor believe he’d be forc’d to recant.
That freedom he swore,
They ne’er should have more,
Their money to give and to grant;
Whene’er they address’d,
What disdain he express’d,
Not thinking they’d make him recant.
He armies sent o’er
To America’s shore,
New government there to transplant;
But every campaign
Prov’d his force to be vain,
Yet still he refus’d to recant.
But with all their bombast,
They were so beat at last,
As to silence his impious rant;
Who for want of success,
Could at last do no less,
Than draw in his horns, and recant.
With his brother Burgoyne,
He’s forc’d now to join,
And a treaty of peace for to want;
Says he ne’er will fight,
But will give up his right
To taxation, and freely recant.
With the great General Howe,
He’d be very glad now,
He ne’er had engag’d in the jaunt;
And ev’ry proud Scot,
In the devilish plot,
With his lordship, are forc’d to recant.
Old England alas !
They have brought to such pass,
Too late are Proposals extant;
America’s lost,
Our glory at most
Is only that – tyrants recant.
