Madam,
You mistake my situation: I am not the “patron,” but a poor servant of
the _Days_--engaged to attend their goings out and comings in, and to
teach people to pay proper respect to them. Mine is no trifling post,
Madam; for without disrespect to you, many of your ancient family were
spoiled long ago, by silly persons having taken undue notice of them;
and in virtue of my office, I am a sort of judge in their court of
claims, without authority to enforce obedience to my opinions. However,
I shall continue to do my duty to the _Days_, and to their friends, many
of whom are mere hangers-on, and, in spite of their pretended regard,
grossly abuse them:--but this only verifies the old saying, “Too much
familiarity breeds contempt:” such liberties must not be allowed, nor
must the antiquity of the _Days_ be too much insisted on. It is said,
“there’s reason in every thing,” but there’s very little in some of the
OLD _Days_--excuse me, Madam, _you_ are a _young_ one; and I have
something to excuse in you, which I readily do, on account of your
inexperience, and of your bringing up.
That you are “the _King’s-birth-Day_” is undisputed: you are stated so
to be in the almanac; as witness this line in _August_, 1825:--
“12. F. ~K. Geo.~ IV. ~b.~”
Can any thing be plainer than the ~b.~ or more certain than that it
stands for ~born~? So much then for your rank in the _Day_ family, and
at Court, where you are acknowledged, and received as the birth-_Day_
once a year, and “kept” as well as His Majesty _can_ keep you. A king
represents the majesty of the public welfare, and maintains the dignity
of the throne whereon he is placed by promoting the interests of the
people. His present Majesty regards your, and their, and his own,
interest by remembering you, when you are not entitled to especial
recollection with another day in the almanac, and this remembrance
stands in April 1825, thus--