Rolliad

The satire takes the form of a piece of literary criticism of an epic poem called The Rolliad which is extensively quoted.

The subject of the poem is John Rolle, MP for Devon, who is being guided around Parliament by Merlin who introduces the leading personalities to him.

Rolle, despite the fact that he was not a constant supporter of Pitt, was picked out for ridicule by the authors after he shouted down Edmund Burke in the House of Commons.

Joseph Richardson, a journalist, was the principal writer; George Ellis (an antiquary), Richard Tickell (a librettist) and French Laurence (Regius Professor of Civil Law at Oxford) also contributed.

There were contributors from the field of politics including Richard FitzPatrick who was very close to Charles James Fox and Lord John Townshend, a former Minister.