Mercer Chronicle

22 THE MERCER CHRONICLE.
So that his new-found brothers he withstand
And resist those who firmly would command ! 5T
The peer does prove the kindness is his own,
But "duty" is from British 58 mast-head shown.
Now I must end this chronicle too long ;
But Seannachie has it in his song,
The Mercer ceased when " Robert " named the race ;
And Margaret Mercer Elphinstone 59 had place !
To seniors I forbear to give advice ;
But their ingenuous young are not so nice !
Their candid minds will serious truth receive ;
And what is truth they surely will believe.
The muse may pause in wisdom's ways when dark,
The backslidings of any race to mark,
The Mercers thought that with the great to be,
Was but the greatness, which they were to see.
But now the sword of truth is in the sheath.
With " Mercer " dropped ; while added, yet, is Keith. 60
This might they have known by law of nature seen,
The larger draws the smaller drop, I ween.
Now let us on the Russells G1 cast our eyes,
Nor be astonished at their lawful rise.
67 This can of course only occur in such regiments where there may
chance to be a weak commanding officer.
58 " England expects every man to do his duty" (Admiral Lord Nelson).
In this sentence but one fault ; not the half of- one of the Isles, but all
the Isles of Britain expected men to do their duty. Use the word
Britain, expressive of Ireland, England, and Scotland, and you take one
of the best and most poisoned arrows from the quiver of the Roman
Jesuit ! In these Isles it is time that differences of race, and with them
causes for dissension, though not for honourable emulation, were removed.
Many, we venture to say, would conform to the Church of Great Britain
who now avoid the Church of England !
69 The Baroness Nairne and Keith, married to the French Count
Flahault Billardrie.
60 See notes 32 and 33.
61 The apparent presumption of the Irish Sennachie will be pardoned
when it is recollected that the history of the Russell family is not only
a well-known one, but instructive at the present time, when the political