By which this blessing we inherit,

That no man thinks he wants his merit.
Tho' strange, 'tis true, the self-same eye
Can lessen, and yet magnify;
And while by Vanity's directions,
We scarce discern our imperfections,
Each smallest grace in our possession
Is magnified beyond expression.
Were it not so, poor wretched elves!
We all should hang or drown ourselves.
Would Ross, or Cavan, think you, live,
Did they their own defects perceive?
Would R-

-h, to all peers disgrace,

Dare show his coronet or face?
Tho' avarice might make him falter,
He'd strain a point to buy a halter.
'Tis this makes Beckford think he's fit
To speak in the same house with Pitt,
And Knight, the jest of every pew,
Dare mount the pulpit after you.
Did ever lady leave her glass,

Quite out of humour with her face?

Even Lum, when she is trick'd out snugly,

Cannot persuade herself she's ugly;

And Mack, tho' blasted, ugly, old,

With faults too hideous to be told,

So nauseous, that were she thy lot,
She'd turn thy hardened stomach, Scott!
Mindless of all her plots miscarried,.
Still fancies that she may be married.

But chief and most, I know it well,
We scribblers in this gift excel,
Perverting still, and changing blindly
To ill, what nature meant us kindly;
And spite of reason's wise instructions,
Each author treats his own productions,
As fond Tyrone, her squinting heir;—
The boy has such a roguish leer.
Kind self-conceit will thus assert you,
Each vice to be its neighbouring virtue;

The very slightest plea will serve us :-
If our harsh verse runs rough, 'tis nervous;
If easy flow the senseless line,
'Tis music, melody divine;
Obscurity's poetic diction,

Low vulgar cant best suits affliction;
To prove it, Jones brings Horace, pat in,
For Mounteny has taught him Latin.
Fustians sublime, pert dulness, humour,
I could produce you, not a few more;
Such instances, that every poet,
Alas! I by experience know it!
Blind with self-love, himself abuses,
And still his own defect excuses.
Such the disease-now let us try,

To point you out the remedy;

I've found the means, which, well applied, Checks always my poetic pride.

And brethren, if you would be cured,
Probatum est-your health's insured-
Whene'er I, after scribbling, find
Conceit begin to infest my mind,

Or hope of fame my bosom fire,
Straight to my study I retire,

And there search out what bard soever,
Has best performed what I endeavour.

If tragic flights my thoughts engage,
One scene in Shakspeare quells my rage;
If I have got the heroic stilt on,
I read a page or two of Milton;
And viewing my own bombast after,
Trust me, I scarce refrain from laughter.

117

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Grattan accompanies Lord Charlemont to the North.-Review of the volunteer corps.-Arrival of Lord Camden.-Address to him, and his reply. His opinion on Ireland.-Address to Mr. Grattan, and his reply. The Lord Lieutenant to Lord Hillsborough.-Services of Mr. Broome.-Astonishing increase of the volunteers.-Good effects of the same. The Mutiny Bill.-Mr. Grattan's conduct on the occasion. -The Lord Lieutenant's account of the debate on the Bill.-Disappointment but not despair of the patriots.-Mr. Grattan's advice to constituencies.-Resolutions in consequence.-Conduct of the Government thereon.-The Viceroy reproved by the British Minister. -Resolutions of the citizens of Dublin.- Meetings on College Green.-Expressed opinions of the nation.-Parliament prorogued.

IN July Lord Charlemont and Mr. Grattan went down to the North, and the different volunteer corps of that quarter were reviewed by them;those in Westmeath were reviewed by the Earl of Belvidere; those in Sligo and Galway by Lord Clanricarde; those in Londonderry by Lord Erne; the southern corps by Lord Shannon; the Limerick and Clare by Lord Kingsborough and the Earl of Inchiquin, whose corps bore as their motto, Hibernia tandem libera." The Dublin and Wicklow corps were reviewed in the county Wicklow by Lord Powerscourt.

At this time, Lord Camden, who took a great interest in Irish politics, and was in some degree connected with the country, came over to Ireland. Several of the Dublin corps were reviewed at the Phoenix Park in his presence. He expressed his surprise and satisfaction at their military appearance; and the opportunity was taken to present him in the field with the following address :

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD CAMDEN. MY LORD,

We, the colonel, officers, and privates of the Liberty Volunteers, associated for our mutual defence against foreign and domestic enemies, and firmly determined, at the hazard of every thing we hold dear, to maintain the rights of the people, and support the real interest of the crown of Ireland, take the earliest opportunity to congratulate your lordship on your safe arrival in this kingdom.

We are happy, in every opportunity to show our respect to virtuous men, especially at a time when honour, spirit, and virtue seem to have forsaken their native soil. Your lordship, who has never deviated from the path of virtue, justice, or manly support of your country, claims every mark of respect and gratitude which freemen can bestow, and conspicuous merit deserves.

Parade, July 4, 1780.

GENTLEMEN,

EDWARD NEWENHAM,

Colonel of the Liberty Volunteers.

(ANSWER.)

I am very happy that my public conduct has deserved the approbation of so respectable a corps as the Liberty Volun

teers of Dublin-respectable, not only in themselves as individuals, but more eminently so, as they are a part of that noble association for the defence of their country, in these times of danger and distress.

This compliment to me, is as flattering as it was unexpected; and I hope you will be pleased to accept, as the only return in my power, my poor but grateful acknowledgments for so high and undeserved a mark of your

esteem.

I have the honour, gentlemen, to be

Your most obedient and humble servant,

CAMDEN.

This answer was cautious and proper; Lord Camden's legal mind could justify these associations only from the exigency of the times; but his opinions on the subject of Ireland were in unison with those of Lord Charlemont and Mr. Grattan. They met at Marino, and Lord Chancellor Lifford was of the party. The conversation turned upon the politics of the day. The Lord Chancellor was proceeding to praise the Irish Government, when Lord Camden observed to him: "America has been lost, because she has bad governors; and Ireland may one day be lost for the very same reason— from bad government."

This was a remarkable sentence from a man who was not very bold in advancing opinions.

Afterwards, Lord Camden went to Belfast, and attended the review of the volunteers that took place there; when Lord Charlemont, and Mr. Grattan