Broadside ballads entitled 'The Triumph of Reform' and 'A New Song'

Commentary

The first ballad begins: 'Ye sons of Scotia, raise your voice, / And let the world hear; / We'll make the tyrants tremble, / For their day of judgment's near'. The woodcut above the title depicts a 'Punch and Judy' like figure.

The second ballad begins: 'Saw ye Johnnie comin, quo she, / Johnnie Russell comin ; / The Reform Bill in his hand, / And a' the Tories rinnin, quo she, / And a' the Tories rinnin?' The text preceding this reads: 'Dedicated to the Reform Committee of Dalkeith in honour of the triumph of Reform.' The woodcut at the top of the column seems to be of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

This two songs have the theme of reform in common which is often associated with the Whig Party. The official Reform Act was eventually passed in 1832 and it increased Britain's voters from 6% to 12% of the total population. Broadsides were often sold with two songs on the same sheet. This would have seemed like better value for money as the sheet would still have sold for a penny, increasing its potential market value and making it a more attractive purchase.

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