Her fears dispell'd, and all her foes remov'd,
Her fertile grounds industriously improv'd,
Her towns with trade, with fleets her harbours
crown'd,

And Plenty smiling on her plains around;
Thus blest with all that commerce could supply,
America regards with jealous eye,

And canker'd heart, the parent, who so late
Had snatch'd her gasping from the jaws of Fate;
Who now, with wars for her begun, relax'd,
With grievous aggravated burthens tax'd,
Her treasures wasted by a hungry brood
Of cormorants, that suck her vital blood;
Who now of her demands that tribute due,
For whom alone th' avenging sword she drew.
Scarce had America the just request
Receiv'd, when kindling in her faithless breast
Resentment glows, enrag'd sedition burns,
And, lo! the mandate of our laws she spurns!
Her secret hate, incapable of shame
Or gratitude, incenses to a flame,
Derides out power, bids insurrection rise,
Insults our honour, and our laws defies;
O'er all her coasts is heard th' audacious roar,
"England shall rule America no more!"

Soon as on Britain's shore th' alarm was heard,
Stern indignation in her look appear'd;
Yet, loth to punish, she her scourge withheld
From her perfidious sons who thus rebell'd:
Now stung with anguish, now with rage assail'd,
Till pity in her soul at last prevail'd,
Determin'd not to draw her penal steel
Till fair Persuasion made her last appeal.
And now the great decisive hour drew nigh,
She on her darling patriot cast her eye;

His voice like thunder will support her cause,
Enforce her dictates, and sustain her laws;
Rich with her spoils, his sanction will dismay,
And bid th' insurgents tremble and obey.
He comes !-but where, th' amazing theme to
hit,

Discover language or ideas fit?
[ger,
Splay-footed words, that hector, bounce, and swag-
The sense to puzzle, and the brain to stagger?
Our patriot comes! with frenzy fir'd, the Muse
With allegoric eye his figure views!

Like the grim portress of hell-gate he stands,
Bellona's scourge hangs trembling in his hands!
Around him, fiercer than the ravenous shark,
"A cry of hell-hounds' never-ceasing bark!"
And lo! th' enormous giant to bedeck,

A golden millstone hangs upon his neck!
On him Ambition's vulture darts her claws,
And with voracious rage his liver gnaws.
Our patriot comes !-the buckles of whose shoes
Not Cromwell's self was worthy to unloose.
Repeat his name in thunder to the skies!
Ye hills fall prostrate, and ye vales arise!
Through Faction's wilderness prepare the way!
Prepare, ye listening senates, to obey!
The idol of the mob, behold him stand,
The alpha and omega of the land!

Methinks I hear the bellowing demagogue
Dumb-sounding declamations disembogue,
Expressions of immeasurable length,

Where pompous jargon fills the place of strength;
Where fulminating, rumbling eloquence,
With loud theatric rage, bombards the sense;
And words, deep rank'd in horrible array,
Exasperated metaphors convey!

There cannot be a stronger confirmation of the truth of the above account, than the following letter of Mr. Pitt:

Copy of a letter from Mr. Secretary Pitt to the several Governors and Councils in North America, relating to the flag of truce trade.

"Whitehall, August 24, 1760.

"Gentlemen, "The commanders of his majesty's forces and fleets in North America and the West Indies have transmitted certain and repeated intelligences of an illegal and most pernicious trade carried on by the king's subjects in North America and the West Indies, as well to the French islands as to the French settlements on the continent in America, and particularly to the rivers Mobile and Mississippi; by which the enemies, to the great reproach and detriment of government, are supplied with provisions and other necessaries; whereby they are principally, if not alone, enabled to sustain and protract this long and expensive war. And it further appearing, that large sums of bullion are

themselves, in open contempt of the authority of the mother-country, as well as the most manifest prejudice of the manufactures and trade of Great Britain: in order, therefore, to put the most speedy and effectual stop to such flagitious practices, so utterly subversive of all laws, and so highly repugnant to the well-being of this kindgdom:

"It is his majesty's express will and pleasure, that you do forthwith make the strictest and most diligent inquiry into the state of this dangerous and ignominious trade; and that you do use every concerned either as principals or accessaries theremeans in your power to detect and discover persons in; and that you do take every step authorised by law to bring all such heinous offenders to the most exemplary and condign punishment: and you will, as soon as-may be, and from time to time transmit to me, for the king's information, full and particular accounts of the progress you shall have made in the execution of this his majesty's commands, to the which the king expects that you pay the most exact obedience. And you are further to use your utmost endeavours to trace out and investigate the various artifices and evasions by which the dealers in this iniquitous intercourse find means to cover their criminal proceedings, and to elude the law; in order that from such lights due and timely considerations may be had what further provision may be necessary to restrain an evil of such extensive and pernicious consequences. I am, &c."

With these auxiliaries, drawn up at large,
He bids enrag'd Sedition beat the charge;
From England's sanguine hope his aid withdraws,
And lists to guide in Insurrection's cause.
And lo! where, in her sacrilegious hand,
The parricide lifts high her burning brand!
Go, while she yet suspends her impious aim,
With those infernal lungs arouse the flame!
Though England merits not her least regard,
Thy friendly voice gold boxes shall reward!
Arise, embark! prepare thy martial car,
To lead her armies and provoke the war!
Rebellion wakes, impatient of delay,
The signal her black ensigns to display 4.

To thee, whose soul, all steadfast and serene, Beholds the tumults that distract our scene; And, in the calmer seats of wisdom plac'd, Enjoys the sweets of sentiment and taste; To thee, O Marius! whom no factions sway, Th' impartial Muse devotes her honest lay! In her fond breast no prostituted aim, Nor venal hope, assumes fair Friendship's name: Sooner shall Churchill's feeble meteor-ray, That led our foundering demagogue astray, Darkling to grope and flounce in Errour's night, Eclipse great Mansfield's strong meridian light, Than shall the change of fortune, time, or place, Thy generous friendship in my heart efface! O! whether wandering from thy country far, And plung'd amid the murdering scenes of war; Or in the blest retreat of Virtue laid, Where Contemplation spreads her awful shade; If ever to forget thee I have power, May Heaven desert me at my latest hour!

Still Satire bids my bosom beat to arms,
And throb with irresistible alarms.

Like some full river charg'd with falling show'rs,
Still o'er my breast her swelling deluge pours.
But Rest and Silence now, who wait beside,
With their strong flood-gates bar th' impetuous tide.

ON THE

UNCOMMON SCARCITY OF POETRY

IN THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE FOR DECEMBER LAST, (1755.)

BY I. W. A SAILOR.

THE springs of Helicon can Winter bind, And chill the fervour of a poet's mind?

4 Luca Pitt continued at Florence, presuming upon his late alliance, and the promises which Pietro had made him;

But amongst all the changes that ensued upon this revolution, nothing was more remarkable than the case of Luca Pitt, who soon began to experience the difference betwixt prosperity and adversity, betwixt living in authority and falling into disgrace. His house, which used to be crowded with swarms of followers and dependants, was now as unfrequented as a desert; and his friends and relations were not only afraid of being seen with him, but durst not even salute him if they met him in the street; some of them having been deprived of their honours, others of their estates, and all of them threatened.

What though the low'ring skies and driving storm
The scenes of Nature wide around deform,
The birds no longer sing, nor roses blow,
And all the landscape lies conceal'd in snow;
Yet rigid Winter still is known to spare
The brighter beauties of the lovely fair:
Ye lovely fair, your sacred influence bring,
And with your smiles anticipate the Spring.
Yet what avails the smiles of lovely maids,
Or vernal suns that glad the flow'ry glades;
The wood's green foliage, or the varying scene
Of fields and lawns, and gliding streams between,
What, to the wretch whom harder fates ordain,
Through the long year to plough the stormy main!
No murmuring streams, no sound of distant sheep,
Or song of birds invite his eyes to sleep:
By toil exhausted, when he sinks to rest,
Beneath his sun-burnt head no flow'rs are prest:
Down on his deck his fainting limbs are laid,
No spreading trees dispense their cooling shade,
No zephyrs round his aching temples play,
No fragrant breezes noxious heats allay.
The rude rough wind which stern Æolus sends
Drives on in blasts, and while it cools, offends.
He wakes, but hears no music from the grove;
No varied landscape courts his eye to rove.
O'er the wide main he looks to distant skies,
Where nought but waves on rolling waves arise;
The boundless view fatigues his aching sight,
Nor yields his eye one object of delight.
No "female face divine" with cheering smiles,
The ling'ring hours of dang'rous toil beguiles.
Yet distant beauty oft his genius fires,
And oft with love of sacred song inspires.
Ev'n I, the least of all the tuneful train,
On the rough ocean try this artless strain,
Rouse then, ye bards, who happier fortunes prove,
And tune the lyre to nature or to love.

DESCRIPTION OF A NINETY GUN SHIP,

[FROM THE Gentleman's magazine, may, 1759.] AMIDST a wood of oaks with canvass leaves, Which form'd a floating forest on the waves, There stood a tow'r, whose vast stupendous size Rear'd its huge mast, and seem'd to gore the skies, From which a bloody pendant stretch'd afar Its comet-tail, denouncing ample war; Two younger giants' of inferior height Display'd their sporting streamers to the sight:

The magnificent palaces which he had begun to build were abandoned by the workmen; the services he had formerly done to any one were requited with injuries and abuse; and the honours he had conferred, with infamy and taunts. Many who had made him valuable presents, now came to demand them again, as only lent; and others, who before used to flatter and extol him to the skies, in these circumstances, loaded him with contumely and reproaches of ingratitude and violence; so that he heartily repented, though too late, that he had not followed Nicolo Soderini's advice, and preferred an honourable death to a life of ignominy and contempt. Mach. Hist. Flor.

'Fore and mizen masts.