Defiance to Hard-hearted Law (1828)
A SONG [FROM BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE.]
[Master Blackwood seems to have a strange hankering towards this country. We hope we shall yet have the pleasure to see him amongst us, for he is truly worthy character. We insert the following song, introduced into his Magazine, to the tune of "Erin go Bragh."]
There stood on the shore of far distant Van Diemen,An ill-fated victim of handcuffs and chains,
And sadly he thought on the country of freemen,
Where the house-breaker, thieves, and pickpocket reigns. For the clog on his foot met his eye's observation,
Recalling the scenes of his late avocation,
Where once 'ere the time of his sad transportation,
He sang bold defiance to hard-hearted law ! Oh, hard is my fate ! said the much injured felon,
How I envy the life of the gay kangaroo,
I envy the pouch that the little ones dwell in,
I envy those haunts where no blood-hounds pursue. Oh ! never again shall I nightly or daily,
Cut throats so genteely, pick pockets so gaily,
And cheerfully laugh at the ruthless Old Bailey,
And sing bold defiance to hard-hearted law ! Oh, much loved St. Giles ! even here in my sorrow,
How often I dream of thy alleys and lanes,
But sadness, alas, must return on the morrow,
A morning of toil or of fetters and chains. Oh, pitiless fate ! wilt thou never restore me
To the scenes of my youth and the friends that deplore me !
Those glorious scenes, where my fathers before me
Sang fearless defiance to hard-hearted law ! Where are my picklocks, my much-loved posession ?
Minions of Bow-street you doubtless can tell ;
Where are the friends of my darling profession ?
Thurtell and Probert I hear your death knell ! How little we thought when in harmony blended.
Of hearts thus dissevered and friendships subtended,
That the brave and the noble should ever have ended
In being the victims of hard-hearted law Yet e'en in my grief would I still give a trifle,
Could I only obtain one glass of the blue !
With the soul-stirring draught all my sorrows I'd stifle,
Brethren in England, I'd drink it to you ! Firm be each hand, and each bosom undaunted,
Far distant the day when you're told you are wanted ;
Glorious the song which by flashman is chaunted-
The song of defiance to hard-hearted law ! Notes From the Tasmanian Newspaper The Colonial Advocate 1 Aug 1828 p. 30.