Placard For A Poll Bearing An Old Shirt

Wordsworth was deeply interested in the successive parliamentary elections for Westmoreland (see his “Addresses to the Freeholders of Westmorland, 1818,” in the Prose Works.) He particularly disliked Lord Brougham’s candidature. The following squib is in MS. at Lowther Castle. He wrote on the MS.--“For a version of part of B.’s famous London Tower Speech see opposite page.”--ED.

If money’s slack, The shirt on my back Shall off, and go to the hammer: Though I sell shirt and skin By Jove I’ll be in, And raise up a radical clamor!