Database of Poems
A Young Lady's Lament on the State of London Society
1832: Representation of the People Acts
Author: Anon
Publication: Aberdeen Journal, and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland
Published: 27 April 1831
Place of publication: Aberdeen, Scotland
Publication type: Newspaper/Periodical
Featured individuals:
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845)
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (1792-1878)
No full copy of this poem is available.
Archive/Library: Aberdeen University Library
Classmark(s): Microfilm
Pages(s): 4
The speaker of this poem expresses their exasperation towards the politics of the time, stating that they are growing 'thinner and thinner' with all of the talk of reform and retrenchment. Even at Devonshire House, where the speaker expected 'one agreeable night', there was talk of carrying the Bill. There is a clear suggestion here that talk of reform has been imported from France, and the references to Russell and Grey are in French. There is also a (more subtle) suggestion that reform is feminising the nation: everyone is now wearing the 'dresses' and 'chapeaus' of reform, we are told. This poem also appeared in the two Glasgow conservative papers: the Glasgow Courier on the 29th of March 1831, under the title 'Plus de Politique', and the Glasgow Herald on 4th of April 1831.