A little poem for a friend

Poem wrote by Sir William Gell in the notebook of James Burton before he left for Egypt:

“If you travel in Egypt ‘tis reckoned a fault
To be seen on the Nile without letters for Salt,
But be sure when you shew your credentials to say
What dropp’d from your intimate friend Castlereagh
Whom you met at the Travellers’ Club t’other day.
Who seem’d quite consoled when he thought that at Cairo
That good fellow Salt rul’d instead of old Pharaoh
Who he felt quite assur’d would take you by the hand
When he knew how allied to the Marquis you stand
That Sidmouth and Harrowby both were you cousins
And you reckon’d your friends in the Household by dozens.
Add that Hamilton once forc’d upon you a letter
But to burn it dear Liverpool hinted was better
Than that persons connected like you with the Court
Should be troubl’d by things of such little import.
Now a word of Mountnorris – that interest is past
Sense of favours conferr’d is not likely to last.
And hint not oh hint not one word about painting
Unless you would set the great Consul to fainting
But lock up your papers and hide all your drawing
If you would be safe from his pilf’ring & clawling
And whatever you do hold your head up in Alt
Or you’re likely to profit but little by Salt.”