Poetry of the Anti-Jacobin (Revolution and Romanticism, 1789-1834)

The Anti-jacobin; or, weekly examiner came out regularly during the parliamentary session of 1797-8, with the purpose of 'assembling and refuting the falsehoods of the Week.' It was edited by William Gifford, and written by a group of young Tory wits, notably Canning, Frere, and Ellis. Poetry was from the first a major weapon. Collected in 1799 as Poetry of the Anti-jacobin the parodies reflect a moment when Bonaparte was taking over and British public opinion was turning decisively against the ideals of the Revolution. Among the best are The loves of the triangles, guying Erasmus Darwin, and the wonderfully funny Schiller spoof, The rovers.