Thalia, though she blush at many a page, Mourns her lost state when Farquhar quits

the stage,

Sees Dulness re-assume her leaden reign, Till Sheridan shall banish her again."

66

The First Part of the Poem ends with a prophetic address from King Alfred to Erin, his native country; which, passing through the glories of Elizabethan triumphs, thus concludes: "O! waft me to those happier days of peace, [shall cease. When feuds and groundless jealousies Then if the Gaul's fell treachery prevail, And dastard Europe in her duty fail; If Erin, whom each novelty beguiles, Deluded listen to the serpent's wiles, Britain alone shall from her daring height See the storm lour, nor tremble at the

sight;

Shall bid her pilot boldly seize the helm, And guide the tow'ring vessel of the realm, Westward, with swelling sail, she makes her way,

The flag of Union eager to display:

She rolls her thunder o'er Rebellion's

waves,

And hapless Erin from destruction saves. Hence sister isles shall to Time's latest

hour,

Regardless of a restless tyrant's pow'r, Nor meaniy yield, nor fearfully despair, But equal perils, equal triumphs share."

The Second Part describes "Lough Allen, the Source of the River Shannon, the grand Feature of the Inland Part of Erin, dividing it into East and West the Places of Note on its Banks and its Neighbourhood, and the Historical Subjects alluding to them a Description of an Irish Fair, &c.-the Beauties and Advantages of the Shannon enumerated its present State described, and future Glory announced.” And the Poem concludes with a Description of the Lake of Killarney, and an Irish Wake.

INDEX INDICATORIUS.

WE have not been inattentive to G. W. L.'s second hint respecting a Portrait of our worthy friend Mr. GOUCH. An attempt has been made; but, we are sorry to say, has not succeeded.

We have long witnessed and admired the talents and the meritorious exertions of Mr. DIBDIN; were present at the first representation of "The Padlock;" have listened to his Ballads at Ranelagh; and applauded his Tyrtæan Elegies in Leicester Fields and, with such sentiments, cannot possibly have an inclination in the slightest degree either to injure the Veteran Minstrel or to wound his feelings.

:

We

PHILOMATHES is too ludicrous.

Our Country Correspondent's BALANCE shall be paid to the SOCIETY in CRAVENSTREET. His Letter was so far advanced in the press, that it could only be corrected, not wholly omitted.

VERITAS asks whether there is any fund in London for Clergymen's Widows, without their husbands having been subscribers?-Answer. There are many, which may be solicited as gifts, but none that can be claimed as matter of right.

A Son of the late Mr. Beckwith, Editor of "Fragmenta Antiquitatis," and nephew of the late Mr. Thomas Beckwith, of York, F. A. S. possesses a complete MS copy of Domesday Book so far as relates to that County, with a good Index, transcribed from one formerly belonging to the late Dr. Burton, of York, which is perfectly useless (because unintelligible) to himself; but might be regarded as a help to an Antiquary in his Topographical researches, and a great curiosity by others. The MS. may be seen at Mr. Carpenter's, Bookseller, 314, Holborn.

In Rees's Cyclopædia, art. Flute, it is asserted, on the authority of Mr. Castillon, that the Flutes of the Antients were sounded by a Reed; and that there were two sorts of them, in one of which the Reed was visible, as in our Hautboy, but concealed in the other. This is directly contrary to the opinion of Dr. Burney. If any gentleman would consult Berlin Memoirs 1774, vol. V. and give an abridgment of Mr. Castillon's proofs, he would oblige the Writer of this article, who is engaged in preparing for the press a work on Acoustics. C. J. S.

M. C. PR asks for a method of destroying the large grey snails which infest cellars, and other damp situations.

To A. B. who asks, whether SIR FRANCIS BURDETT had the privilege of frankmg letters when confined in the Tower; we answer, that he doubtless had, as the House gave no order to the contrary.

The FOREIGN COIN sent from Ipswich is too trifling to be worth engraving.

S. K.'s miserable Scratches would not be worth using, even if they were genuine. Nor do we wish for any DRAWINGS that are not good, and well authenticated.

K. (from Woodville Lodge) is received, But we do not recollect the Coin.

We do not by any means think ourselves obliged to give Reasons to any Anonymous Correspondents, for omitting, or even not acknowledging, articles that are wholly useless. Nor can we undertake to return them, as they are in general sent back to the POST OFFICE.

Mr. HAMPER's View of BEACONSFIELD CHURCH, Bucks, in our next; with a Plan of the LONDON BOTANIC GARDEN; HORATIO; &c. &c.

ODE

ODB for the Encænia at Oxford, performed in the Theatre July 3.

By EDWARD COPLESTON, M.A. Professor of Poetry.

IN mute amaze the tranced Roman lay,

What time on Afric's sultry zone,

In visions of the night was shewn
To his rapt mind celestial Glory's way.
Before his wondering view was spread
The green Earth's lap, and Ocean's
bed;

He nark'd how broad the barren Main
Stretch'd its inhospitable reign;

How wide o'er all the chequer d land
Lay wastes of snow, and seas of sand;
How thin dispers'd the space between,
Where fields and peopled towns were

Exhaust his mighty heart in one last sigh, And rally life's whole energy-to die!

"Unfear'd is now that cord, which oft

ensnar'd

The baffled rival whom his falchion spar'd; Those clarions mute, which, on the murd'rous stage, [rage; Rous'd him to deeds of more than martial Once pois'd by peerless might, once dear to fame, [his frame: The shield which could not guard, supports His fix'd eye dwells upon the faithless blade,

As if in silent agony he pray'd,

"Oh might I yet, by one avenging blow, Not shun my fate, but share it with, my foe!" [descend!

Vain hope! the streams of life-blood fast That giant arm's upbearing strength must bend;

Yet shall he scorn, procumbent, to betray One dastard sigh of anguish or dismay, With one weak plaint to shame his parting breath,

In pangs sublime, magnificent in death! "But his were deeds unchronicled; his tomb [doom,

No patriot wreaths adorn; to cheer his No soothing thoughts arise of duties done, Of trophied conquest for his country won; And he, whose sculptur'd form gave deathless fame

To Ctesilas he dies without a name!

"Haply to grace some Cæsar's pageant pride

The hero-slave or hireling-champion died, When Rome, degenerate Rome, for barbarous shows,

Barter'd her virtue, glory, and repose, Sold all that Freemen prize as great and good,

For pomps of death and theatres of blood!

For his dark brow no comely wreath is twin'd, [bind." But iron crowns and blood-stain'd laurels "Far other objects here around us rise, The monuments of uobler victories. This splendid dome, yon goodly piles behold, [old

This favour'd ground adorning, which of Our first great Chief, a patriot hero, chose For Learning's triumph o'er her barbarous foes;

These are her honourable trophies; here No spoils of plunder'd provinces appear } Our hallow'd fanes, our lofty spires, were built

By pure and bounteous hands, unsoil'd with guilt; [springs Pure also was the source; the bounty From holy Prelates, from religious Kings; Who in the peaceful walks of life pursu'd Their godlike occupation-doing good; And taught us, careless of a transient fame, [claim Like them, to seek a worthier meed, and Th' immortal recompence that Heaven [peace. For charitable toils and generous works of

decrees

"Is there, who, nurtur'd in this happy seat, [retreat; Loves yet the mansion, Learning's choice Who yet these groves will honour, where his youth

Was early train'd to Virtue and to Truth; Who liberal Art and useful Science woos, And, by the Muse belov'd, protects the Muse;

Whose patient labour, unabated zeal, Pursues that noblest end, his Country's weal;

Watchful and resolute in her defence With counsel sage and manly eloquence; For him fair Fame her clearest voice shall raise,

'Till her high trumpet labours in his praise ; He, 'bove the Conqueror's name, shall be renown'd;

Him Glory still shall follow, and around Laurels unstain'd, unfading palms shall spread, [honour'd head." Such as he now prepares for Grenville's

PROLOGUE TO

"INNOVATION; or, The Cross Destroyed." (See vol. LXXX. p. 425.)

Inscribed to his Grace the Duke of
NORFOLK.

OUR sage Projectors, bred in times of
yore,
[o'er ;
Review'd their plans and projects o'er and
With Wisdoin's eye approv'd what Art
design'd,
[bin'd;

And model'd grace with public use comWith skilful hand the firm foundation laid, And bade the Pile ascend by Judgment's aid; [rear'd,

Saw o'er their native town, by Genius The charter'd Dome, the cloister'd Fane rever'd;

Saw rural Commerce pour her golden tide; Saw Justice o'er their Mart and Cross preside;

Religion's zeal their sacred Altar raise, And dedicate their Church to prayer and praise.

Such our Forefathers' antiquated rules, Bred in the rusty lore of Gothic schools; Dull, pious souls! on whose saturnian days [rays. Just gleam'd the dawn of Reason's solar Science they just descry'd with prying

[prize!

--

to

eyes, Their civil rights just understood The Briton's boast, bequeath'd without a flaw,