Loyal Natives Club, Dumfries

Cromek wrote: 'At this period... when political animosity was made the ground for private quarrel, some foolish verses were circulated containing an attack on Burns and his friends for their political opinions. They were written by some members of a club styling themselves the 'Loyal Natives' of Dumfries, or rather by the united genius of that Club, which was more distinguished for drunken loyalty, than either respectability or poetical talent.' One of the pieces of jingle handed to Burns was:

"Ye sons of Sedition, give ear to my song,
Let Syme, Burns and Maxwell persuade every throng,
With Craken, the attorney, and Maxwell the quack,
Send Willie, the monger, to hell with a smack."

'Willie, the monger' was, of course, the Prime Minister, William Pitt. Burns replied:

"Ye true 'Loyal Natives', attend to my song.
In uproar and riot rejoice the night long.
From envy and hatred your corps is exempt;
But where is your shield from darts of contempt?"