Here oft the red-breast hops along the way, And now the covert ends in open ground, And now,—for now the breeze and noontide ray Far, far o'er all extends the aching eye, Where azure mountains mingle with the sky: There seats or homesteads, plae'd in pleasant shades, There green-rob'd huntsmen o'er the sunny lawn Lead home their beagles, from the chase withdrawn, And ploughs slow moving turn the broad campaign, While on steep summits feed the fleecy train. But wintry months few days like these supply, And their few moments far too swiftly fly: Dank thaws, chill fogs, rough winds, and beating rain, While history's hand her sanguine record brings, With woes of nations fraught, and crimes of kings ; Plague thins the street, and Famine blasts the plain, War wields his sword, Oppression binds his chain; Curiosity pursues th' unfolding tale, Which Reason blames, and Pity's tears bewail. While Fancy's powers th' eventful novel frame, Then with bold Voyagers our thought explores Now seeks sweet isles, where lofty palm groves wave, Nor less than books th' Engraver's works invite, Where past and distant come before the sight; Where, all the Painter's lively tints convey'd, The skilful copyist gives in light and shade: While faithful views the prospect's charms display, From coast to coast, and town to town, we stray; While faithful portraits human features trace, We gaze delighted on the speaking face; Survey the port that bards and heroes bore, Or mark the smiles that high-born beauties wore. Cease these to please? Philosophy attends With arts where knowledge with diversion blends; The Sun's vast system in a model shows; Bids the clear lens new forms to sight expose; Constructs machines, whose wondrous powers declare Th' effects of light, and properties of air; With whirling globes excites electric fires, And all their force and all their use inquires. O Nature! how immense thy secret store, Beyond what ev'n a Priestley can explore! Such, Friend, th' employments may his time divide, Whom rural shades from scenes of business hide; While o'er his ear unnotic'd glide away The noise and nonsense of the passing day! The exportation of our manufactures. Voyage through the Channel, and by the coast of Spain. View of the Mediterranean. Decay of our Turkey-trade. Address to the factors there. Voyage through the Baltic. The mart of Petersburg. The ancient channels of commerce to the Indies. The modern course thither. Shores of Afric. Reflections on the slave-trade. The Cape of Good Hope, and the eastern coast of Afric. Trade to Persia and Indostan precarious, through tyranny and frequent insurrections. Disputes between the French and English, on the coast of Coromandel, censured. A prospect of the Spice-islands, and of China. Traffic at Canton. Our woollen manufactures known at Pekin by the caravans from Russia. Description of that journey. Transition to the western hemisphere. Voyage of Raleigh. The state and advantages of our North American colonies. Severe winters in those climates; hence the passage through Hudson's Bay impracticable. Inquiries for an easier passage into the Pacific Ocean. View of the coasts of South America, and of those tempestuous Seas. Lord Anson's expedition, and success against the Spaniards. The naval power of Britain consistent with the welfare of all nations. View of our probable improvements in traffic, and the distribution of our woollen manufactures over the whole globe. Now, with our woolly treasures amply stor❜d, *The Poem, from which this Extract is taken, was first published in the year 1757. It is divided into four books, descrip |