1776.

PUBLICATIONS THIS MONTH, Befides thofe that bave been reviewed. AMERICAN AFFAIRS and POLITICAL. BSERVATIONS on the Nature of

Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Juftice and Policy of the War with America, By Dr. Price. 2. Cadell.

Confiderations on the American War, addreffed to the People of England. Is. Becket.

An Address to the People, on the Subject of the Contest between Great Britain and America. 3d. Wilkie.

The Hiftory of the Old Fringed Petticoat; a Fragment. Tranflated from the MS. Greek of Democritus: with an Epiftle on Lord N, 6d. Bew.

HISTORY.

The Hiftory of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; by Edward Gibbon, Efq; Volume the First. From the Reign of Trajan to that of Conftantine, 11. Is. Cadell.

The Inftitutions, Manners and Customs of the ancient Nations. Tranflated from the original French of M. Sabbathier. By Percival Stockdale. 1s. 6d. Becket. MEDICA L.

Speculations and Conjectures on the Qualities of the Nerves, by Samuel Musgrave, M. D. F. R. S. 2s. 6d. Payne.

MISCELLANEOUS.

An Account of the Weather and Diseases of South Carolina, by L. Chalmers, M.D. 5s. Dilly.

105

A Grammar of the Arabic Language, in which the Rules are illuftrated by Authorities from the best Writers ; principally adapted for the Service of the Hon. Eaft India

Company, by John Richardfon, Efq; F.SIA, 10s. 6d, Murray.

Reflections, Critical and Moral, on the Letters of the late Earl of Chesterfield, by Thomas Hunter, M. A. 45. Cadell,

Thoughts on the prefent State of the Poor, and the intended Bill for their better Relief and Employment, by a Kentish-man. Is. Conant. NOVEL S.

The Loves of Califto and Emira; or the fatal Legacy. Published from the Originals, by John Seally, Gent. 2s. 6d. Becket. POETRY.

Poetical Amufements at a Villa near Bath, 2. vols. 6s. Dilly.

Variety, a Poem. Is. DodЛley. Speculation, a Poem. 1s. Conant. An Election Ball, in poetical Letters, in the Zomerzetshire Dialect, from Mr. Inkle, a Freeman of Bath, to his Wife at Glou cefter; with a Poetical Addrefs to John Miller, Efq; 25. 6d. Dodfley.

APoetical Epiftle from the late L. Melcomb, to the Earl of Bute, with Corrections, by the Author of the Night Thoughts, written in the Year 1761. Is. 6d. Becket.

Infancy, a Poem, Book the Third, by Hugh Downman, M. D. Kearly.

An ODE to FANCY.

I.

RIGHT Fancy hail! celeftial fair,

Bo come and touch thy heavenly lyre,

As once in Shakespear's ravifh'd ear,

And wrap my tranced foul in fire.
Let others pant for glitt'ring hoards,
For fretted roofs, and fumptuous boards,
I deem 'em gilded cares and fears,

Like dazzling rays of flaming light,
Which but opprefs and dim the fight,
Thy mild and genial luftre chears.
II.

Under the op'ning lids of morn,

When crimson blufhes ftreak the east,
When crystal gems each flower adorn,
With thee, thofe balmy fweets I tafte.
Such joys I revel on, nor dread
The fting of care, when blifs is fled.
Here nature, lavish of her treasure,

Spreads her bounties far and wide,
Hither, you fons of wealth and pride,
Hither bead your fearch for pleasure.
III.

The gurgling fount, the blooming rofe,
Her glowing cheek in tears of dew,

The fragrant breath which zephyr blows,

Oft in fome deep embow'ring fhade,
Which old romantic oaks had made,
I fhun with thee the noontide beam,

The dripping grot, the tinkling rill,
Mean time my breaft with rapture thrill,
Kindling the mufes facred flame.
IV.

When fober eve from gelid wings,
Sheds the grey mift o'er lake and fount,
When Philomela gladly fings,

And shepherds pipe across the mount,
Then, goddess, beam keenly intense,
On every naked, quickning fenfe;
Let Sylvia's form, and accents wake;
The trembling flutterer in my breast,
In fmiles alone, fhe'll then be dreft,
And all the throbbing blifs partake.

ALETTER fent with a HARE.
Dear Sir,

BA

Y the coach, I have sent you a hare; And hope it will prove acceptable fare; And, fince you have married a daughter of

Feb. 1776.

Р

And

106

too late,

town.

On Mr. THOMAS WESTON, Comedian.

A

STANZAS

Written on Christmas-Day, 1775. THILE Briton's fons, with feaft and

WHIL Fong,

The gloomy day beguile,

With wine the hours of night prolong,

And make old winter fmile:

While cards, and mirth, and mufic wake
The heart of man to joys,
And all the general good partake,

Which all thofe hearts employs :
Say how, beyond th' Atlantic tide,
The wretched hours are spent,
Where trade in triumph us'd to ride,
Health, plenty, peace, content:
Where manliness, with open arms,
And virtue with her lore,
Has courted beauty's native charms,
On freedom's latest fhore:
Where fair religion's fmiling train
In various forms advance,
Free from the rigid laws of Spain,
Or monkish rules of France.
Say why, when thus on Britain's inle

The chearful hours are spent,
Should half her empire cease to smile,
With rage internal rent?
Britons for fhame!-In time be wife,
Your friends, your brethren fave:
Nor let whole nations close their eyes
In one untimely grave.

On JANUARY. ECEMBER's blafts have spent their keenest rage,

DE

Now Janus ushers in the infant year; The cloud-capt mountains direful forms prefage, [pear. Whilft flow defcending fnow-flakes do apNow on the flipp'ry furface of the lake By froft conglutinated firm and strong; Where polish'd fkates the whiten'd furrow make, [throng. The fnow defcends, and cheats the jocund The flakes fall thicker, and with speed defcend

And far around extend their white domain; The careful fwain his tim'rous flocks attend, Save those who've lucklefs wander'd from the plain!

The traveller now arriv'd, grotesque appears, And bears the femblance of the fculptur'd ftone;

Or iv'ry image, which Pygmalion rears,

Then fondly loves it in a female form.
My mufe must now affume a bolder ftrain,
Th' impetuous whirlwinds fweep along the
heath;

The roaring billows vex the tortur'd main,
Large veffels bulge, and threaten inftant
death.

The night approaches, night ill-boding found! To weary traveller, far from house or home; When fparkling glow-worms lead him devious round, [roam. Impell'd thro' fear o'er rugged paths to No glow-worms now perplex the wanderer's fight, [ploy; Sad gloomy thoughts his lab'ring mind emHis foul anticipates eternal night,

When torn from friends and every social joy. What shall he do? befet with fear around,

Terrific phantoms 'fore his eyes appear; The form increases, rattling hail rebound; All hopes are loft, no friendly aid is near. He can no more-his drooping fpirits fail, How fhall this laft dire conflict now be borne ?

The ftorm redoubles, dreadful whirls affail,
And now he falls quite helpless and forlorn.
But now again the gath'ring ftorm invades,
By heav'ns decree his destiny is told;
This night his foul muft mix with kindred
fhades,

The virgin-fnow muft his pale corfe enfold, Ye fons of wealth, who share the rich repast, Whilft you with laughter shake the fplendid dome; [laft, 'Half-famifh'd wretches groaning breathe their Whom timely aid had refcued from the tomb:

Let not the humble fuppliant plead in vain,
. Nor ftop your ears when helpless orphans
crave,

The trifling pittance meanly ne'er restrain,
For know your states are equal in the grave.
Cumberland,

HUMANUS. THE

E

I.

II.

He fings of cliffs, the pining fun,
The wond'rous things that we have done,
To hufh the din of war,

Our sweet pathetic love for foes;
Our kindred friends, now turn'd our foes;
Our love beyond compare.
III.

Britannia weeps, nay almost dies,
(In this, indeed, he tells no lies)
To fee her cards misplay'd;
To fee the finking common weal,
In hands not fit to hold a deal,

Which makes her fore afraid.
IV.

Chear up fair maid, thy fpirits raise,
And take a cup of fack with Bays;
Next year he fhall proclaim,
Thy Colonies have acted right,
Thy fun again holds forth his light,
To fhew the rogues to blame.

The fweet profpect! what a fine parterre! Soft buds, fweet flowers, bright tints, and fcented air! [To the boxes.

A vale where critic wit fpontaneous grows!

[To the pit. A hill which noife and folly never knows! [To the galleries.

Let cits point out green paddocks to their • fpouses,

To me, no profpect like your crowded houses, If, as juft now, you wear thofe fmiles en⚫ chanting,

[panting:

But when you frown, you fet my heart aPray then, for pity, do not frown to night; I'll bribe-but how-Oh, now I've hit it right.'

Secrets are pleasant to each child of Eve,
I've one in ftore, which for your smiles I'll
give.

O lift; a tale it is, not very common,
Our poet of to-night in faith's a woman;
A woman too untutor'd in the school,
Nor Ariftotle knows, nor fcarce a rule,
By which fine writers fabricate their plays,
From fage Menander's, to these modern days.
How he could venture here I am aftonish'd,
But it was in vain the mad-cap I admonish'd;
Told her of fqueaking cat-calls, hiffas, groans,
Off, offs, and ruthlefs criticks damning moans:
I'm undifmay'd, the cry'd, criticks are men,
And fmile on folly from a woman's pen ;

107

Then 'tis the ladies caufe, there I'm fecure,
Let him who hiffes, no foft nymph endure;
May he who frowns, be frown'd on by his
goddess,
[boddice.

From pearls and Bruffels point, to maids in
Now for a hint of her intended feaft ;
'Tis rural, playful, harmless 'tis at least ;
Not overstock'd with repartee or wit,
Tho' here and there perchance there is a bit;
For the ne'er play'd with bright Apollo's fire,
Nor mufe invok'd, or heard the Aonian lyre ;
Her comic muse, a little blue-ey'd maid,
With cheeks where innocence and health's
display'd;

Her Poll in petticoats-a romping boy,
Whofe tafte is trap-ball, and a kite his joy:
Her nursery the ftudy where she thought,
Fram'd fable, incident, furprife and plot.
From the furrounding hints fhe caught her plan,
Length'ning the chain from infancy to man:
Tom plagues poor Fan, the fobs, but loves him
ftill,

Kate aims her wit at both with roguish skill: Our painter mark'd thofe lines which nature drew;

Her fancy glow'd, and colour'd them for you; A mother's pencil gave the light and shades, A mother's eye thro' each soft scene pervades ; Her children rofe before her flatter'd view, Hope ftretch'd the canvas, whilft her wishes drew.

We'll now prefent you drapery and features, And warmly hope you'll like the pretty

creatures; [dollies, Then Tom fhall have his kite, and Fan new Till time matures them for important follies." [The lines in inverted commas are omitted at the Theatre.]

Thus fix'd on faith's unfailing rock,

Let us endure a while, Misfortunes rode impetuous fhock, And glory in our toil.

Ill fortune cannot always laft,
Or, though it should remain,

Yet we each painful moment hafte,

A better world to gain.

Where calumny no more fhall wound,
Nor faithlefs friends destroy,
Where innocence and truth are crown'd
With never fading joy.

LONDON.

Proceedings at Guildball, on the Refignation of she late Chamberlain, and on the Election of

a new one.

IN Tuefday the 4th inftant, a court of aldermen was held at Guildhall, when John Smith Bridgen, Efq. waited on the Lord-Mayor with the compliments of Sir Stephen Theodore Janffen, Bart. defiring his lordfhip to Jay before the court his defire of refigning his office of chamberlain, on account of his bad state of health, which rendered him unable to attend the duties of his office; his lordfhip complied with his requeft, the court accepted of his refignation, and appointed Tuesday the 20th inftant for holding a common hall for the election of another in his room.

The aldermen Wilkesand Hopkins, and Mr. Paterfon, declared themselves candidates for the above office; but Mr. Paterfon foon declined, and left the two aldermen to conteft the point.

On Tuesday the zoth, the day appointed for the election, there was the most numerous appearance of real liverymen affembled at Guildhall, perhaps ever known upon any occafion, the number prefent being estimated at about 4000.

About one o'clock the Lord-Mayor, attended by aldermen Wilkes, Bull, Crosby, Thomas, Efdaile, Rawlinfon, Plomer, Hart, Hopkins, &c. together with the two fheriffs, afcended the huftings, when after the common cryer had opened the business of the common hall, the recorder came forward, and acquainted the livery with the occafion of their being affembled. The Recorder defcribed to them in general terms, that the qualities for this important office were juftice, firmness, and application. He then read the following letter from Sir Stephen Theodore Janffen, addreffed to the livery of London.

"Gentlemen, There is nothing I more ardently defired than to have an opportunity of paying my duty, in perfon, to this refpectable affembly, on the prefent occafion: but as the illnefs with which I have been fo long afficted, and by which I am now confined, deprives me of this happiness, I must take this method of requesting your petition to furrender the office of Chamberlain of the city, which your fuffrages, uninfluenced, unfo

Feb.

licited, fo generously conferred on me. I then affured you, that I would do my utmost to convince you, by a faithful and affiduous attention to the truft repofed in me, that you had not mifplaced your confidence. How far I have complied with this affurance, muft be left to your determination.

"I humbly hope it will not be deemed oftentation in me juft to intimate, that during the space of eleven years, in which upwards of 60,000 perfons have attended me on office business, I do not recollect more than three or four inftances that the parties were difsatisfied. Yet, after fo many marks of your approbation, I should think myself unworthy of them, did I entertain the least wish to hold a post of such importance, the duties of which I am no longer able to discharge.

"I think it my duty not to pass over in filence the affront put on your whole body, foon after my election. I need not inform you, that all the chamberlains, for the space of near fourfcore years, down to 1765, except a few years in the adminiftration of Sir Robert Walpole, enjoyed the receivership of the land-tax for London and Middlefex. I could do no less than petition the Lords of the Treasury to fucceed my predeceffor in that poft, but no notice was taken of it. Left I fhould be charged with having loft, through indolence or neglect, what had been always understood as a compliment to the city, I renewed my applications to the two fucceeding boards, and met the like fuccefs. Such, indeed, was the complexion of the times, that for my own part I needed not fuch treatment to confirm me in opinion, that a staunch friend to the auguft house of Hanover had little to hope for, especially one who had fo remarkably exerted himself in the fuppreffion of the Scotch rebellion in 1745, as to receive the particular thanks of his royal highness the prince of Wales, father to our present king, as alfo thofe of the then prime minifter.

"Notwithstanding this difappointment, you will, I am perfuaded, do me the juftice to believe, that as I never was fwayed by lucrative motives, fo the loss of a poft, attended with fuch confiderable emoluments, which on many accounts, I might with reafon have expected, did not give me near fo great concern as the indignity fhewn to the capital of the British empire, whofe fpirited and truly patriotic citizens were fo inftrumental in promoting the Revolution, and ever fince that

glorious