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1798.]

Mr. Houfeman's Tour continued.

fence, are alfo made here in great numbers. Moft part of the town of BIRMINGHAM is quite modern, and its population is faid to be now near 70,000 inhabitants. Were that numerous affembly of people employed in cultivating the wafte lands in the kingdom, they would render a much more effential fervice to the public in return for their fupport. This town stands in a fine, open, and very pleafant fituation, and the country around it is cheerful: a canal, which communicates with different parts of the country, comes up to it. The streets are moftly uniform, pretty wide and clean, but not univerfally fo. Coals are cheap and plentiful here, which is very favourable to the manufacturer. New buildings, and even new ftreets, are rifing on almost every fide of the town. An idea may be found of the progreffive increase of inhabitants from the number of births and burials at different periods: in the year 1555 there were 37 births and 27 burials; in 1690 there were 127 births and 150 burials; and in 1791 there were no fewer than 3,310 births and 3,280 funerals.

Auguft 11, I went from BIRMINGHAM to WOLVERHAMPTON, in Staffordshire, 14 miles. The country extremely populous, large villages filled with manufacturers of guns, piftols, locks, buttons, buckles, nails, &c. wages are very high, even the women in thefe manufactures earn confiderably by filing. The war is ufeful to most of thefe bufineffes. The buildings in this diftrict are good, made with brick and tile, but look dirty and black, as do the inhabitants, which is probably the confequence of their employ; the furface is generally level, the afpect of the country pleasant, rather open, but it is far from being deftitute of wood. The foil - various, but chiefly clay with a mixture of fand, and in feveral parts rather barren; but it abundantly compenfates for that defect by affording plenty of fine coals, which are got clofe by the road. This is the firft coal county I have met fince I left the North. In travelling on this road, I was furprised to fee a number of fmall fires burning in a field of oats; on enquiry I was told, that the field contained feveral old coal-pits, which, by fome means or other, were fet on fire, and could not be extinguished. Here are feveral large works for forging iron, which belong to Mr. Wilk infon, of Cattlehead, in Lancashire. Warwickshire is much noted for iron and fteel manufactures, but I did not observe any fuperio

39

rity in its agricultural department: it contains feveral elegant feats of noblemen and gentlemen, parks, and tracts of woodland; its air is pure, water generally plentiful, and buildings good. The farms are of all fizes, but more land in fmall than in large ones. The furface of the country pretty level, with here and there a little elevation: foil contains much clay, but not, in general, of the most fertile nature, and it need not be repeated that it produces free-ftone and coal. WOLVERHAMPTON is a large manufacturing town, and is fupposed to contain near 20,000 inha bitants: its manufactures are chiefly the heavier forts of hardwares, such as axes, gridirons, trowels, fmoothing irons, locks, &c. there are alfo fome manufactures of fpectacle cafes. The ftreets of this town are very narrow and dirty, but many of the houses are pretty good, and the furrounding country is pleafant. A canal comes up to this town. It is very remarkable that in thefe fouthern counties the poor and labouring claffes of people have a great hatred to canals: thefe canals, fay they, are the ruin of the country; the farmers by their means can fend the corn, and other productions of their farms, where they pleafe, at a trifling expence, and thereby keep up the prices; feveral refpectable tradefmen alfo entertain the fame fentiments, and further add, that canals fpoil and deftroy much good land. Thefe people view the fubject with a microfcopic eye; for did they confider the effects of canals with refpect to the kingdom in general, they would fee that whatever contributes towards leffening labour, reducing the number of horses, and facilitating the conveyance of different articles from places where they are lefs wanted to other parts where they are more wanted, at a small expence, is a great national gain and convenience. thefe navigations are occafionally abused in conveying corn more fnugly out of the kingdom when wanted at home, the fault is not in the canais, but in the criminal negligence of the officers who are appointed to fuperintend the exportation bufincfs. I took a walk one pleafant evening into a field near Wolverhampton, and looking to the N. W. faw a mountain at a distance, and afterwards two or three more; thefe I understand were the Shropshire hills, and were the firft eminences I had feen, that could be called mountains, fince I left Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

(To be continued.)

If

ORIGINAL

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Pregnant with life, my fadden'd foul they chear,

Creation (miles, the woods, the hills, the vales, Hail the pure morning of the new-born year. Expand, ye groves, your renovated bloom; Warble, ye ftreams; ye (welling buds unfold; Waft all the plenty of your rich perfume;

And wave, ye florets, wave your leaves of gold.

'Rapt in the maze of nature's boundless charms, I gaze infatiate, wonder, and admire; Ah, how they footh th' impaffion'd hearts alarms,

And wake to tranfports fhort the woe-ftruck lyrel

But foon the profpect blackens on the view, Thefe fcenes of beauty, man, infenfate, mars; Cloaths fmiling nature with a mournful huc, Blafts all her blooms, and with her mufic jars.

O might the moral spring but once evolve

It's infant bloffoms 'mid the noontide blaze, Barbaric paffion's low'ring mifts d ffolve, While dawn'd pure reafon with ferener rays! O fool to think it ! winter, bleak and foul,

There broods eternal, hope creates in vain Fantastic forms, which chear the cheated foul, Poor air-built fabrics of the poet's brain. Sce, life and health enliven all around,

O'er lawns and woods,the eye delightedroves; While pour an artlefs harmony of found

Flocks from the fields and warbiers from the groves.

Luxuriant verdure here adorns the plain,

There the grey fallows, and the toiling team, The farms neat manfion, and the village fane, Whofe mofs-clad tower reflects the folar gleam. But ah

while nature pours th' enlivening

breath,

Paints her fair forms, and (preads her treafures here;

O'er other thores black fweeps the cloud of death,

Glares the red faulchion and the murtherous fpear.

Ev'n now perhaps embattled armies meet,

Loud beat the drums, and thundering can

nen roar,

Rocks the dire field bencath unnumber'd feet,

And teror waves her locks bedropt with

gore : Through duft, in whirlwinds driven, inconftant feed,

Thick fath the words, the frequent victim

falls,

While o'er his mangled trunk and glatly mien, Hofte trampling ruth, where maniac fury

calts.

Say, Foldier, fay, grim spectacle of pain, What fyren ur'd thee from thy peaceful home,

POETRY.

To leave thy poor, thy smali domestie train,
For toils of arms o'er billowy dreps to roam?
No beams of glory chear thy baplets lot,

Thy name defcends not to a future age, Impelled to combat for thou know'it not what, And urg'd to flaughter by another's rage. Thy widow'd wife, thine o phan children weep, And beg their fcanty meal from door to door, While, gash'd with wounds, thy limbs dishonor'd Леер,

And waste and moulder on a foreign fhore. In vain, ala's, we boaft of civil worth,

And vaunt of virtue, in religion's robe, If calm we view ambition ifluing forth. Her brood of fcorpions to infeft the globe: The bonds of nature we afunder part,

Led by the blaze of paffions fanguine ftar, Peace on the lips, and murder in the heart, To favage, fell, accurft, infernal war. Hark! a glad found my wandering thoughts recalls,

The diftant fheep-bell fills the quivering

breeze,

The fhade, flow-deep'ning, o'er the landscape falls,

And veil'd in mifts the dim horizon fees. As the poor fhepherd folds his fleecy care,

Loud chaunts the nightingale his evening lay; Sing on, fweet warbler, homeward I repair, Warn'd by thy requiem to the closing day. SYDNEY. Of the above elegy, the three first stanzas are fet to mufic by Mr. Wheeler, and the 12, 13, 14, by the Rev. Richmond, of Trin. Col. which will appear in the nit publication of the Cambridge Harmon Society.

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With many a hue the verdant landscape glows And breathir 3 fweets along the cultura vale, Steals the freth fragrance of the blushing rofe. The roaring billows of the stormy deep,

Huth'd to repofe, their hoftite rage forbear; And the low winds on the calm furface dep, Cooling the ardor of the tepid air.

No fumn or fcenes; alas, no vermil bloom. Sooth the fick foul, by every ill opprefs'd: To wander cheerlets through the midnight gloom,

To brave the terrors of the wintry blaft, (Whofe fwelling guits ideal woes impart,)

Are fcenes more fitted-for a broken heart Edinburgh. AUGUSTA

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There while its branches whiffle as they wave,
That tree, O Connal! marks thy lonely grave:

On the bleak hill when wild winds howl around, It strews its green leaves o'er thy hallow'd ground.

There if the folitary hunter go, In filent mufing melancholy, flow, When the dim twilight fpreads its veil ferene, The throwded fpeétres ita'k along the green. Through rolling ages who thy fires can trace, And who recount the fathers of thy race? See the tall oak from yonder mountain rife, And lift its leafy banners to the skies; The lurid light'ning with tremendous glare, Scatters its rifted banners in the air! Thus, Connal! did thy family excel,

They rofe, they flourith'd, and in thee they fell.

Mourn'ul thy wars, O Fingal! 'midft the flain Here Connal preis'd the blood - enamelled plain;

Here was the din of arms, and ftain'd with gore,

Here fell the mighty to arife no more.
Strong was his arm as tempefts of the main,
His height, like rocks that overlook the plain;
His fword a meteor in the low'ring sky,
A fiery furnace glow'd his wrathful eye;
And loud his voice as when the furges oar,
With foamy billows on the founding shore;
In carelets playtulnefs the thoughtless child
Crops the gay rhiftle in the flow'ry wild,
Thus Connal's faulchion feal'd the warrior's
doom,

His tranfient glories withering ere they bloom.

As rolling thunder in the noon-day skies, Dargo the Mighty to the battle flies, Dark and contracted was his fullen brow, And his funk eyes feem'd hollow caves below. Bright rofe their clafhing fwords with wild alarms,

And dire the clangor of refulgent armis.

The fair Cremona, heavenly maid! was near,
Daughter of Rinval, mafter of the spear,
Who cas'd in mail had follow'd from afar
Her much-lov'd Connal to the din of war;
Whilft her loofe treffes negligently flow,
Her beauteous hand fuftains the quiv'ring bow;

On Dargo now the draws the erring dart
Ah, hapless mad! it cleaves thy Connal's heart.
So falls the giant-oak, the valley's pride,
So ritted rocks roll down the mountain's fide.
In deep defpair th' unhappy virgin strays
Through tangl'd paths and unfrequented
ways,

While chilly vapours throud the moon's pale

beam,

All wild the wanders by the murm'ring ftream; Counal, my love! Connal, my friend! the cries, She finks the faints-he trembles-and

the dies.

Here, earth, thou doft the lovelieft pair inclofe,

That ever f.pt in un fifturb'd repofe;
Within thy chilly bofom, here reclin'd
Their memory tufhes on my mufing mind,
And while the fait tear trickles from mine eyes,
The wild wind whistles, and the rank weed
fighs.

MONTHLY MAG. XXVII,

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While riting throudlefs from their watry graves, Aerial forms along the billows fweep!

Hark, loud, and louder ftill, the tempeft raves, And yet I hear thee from the dizzy steep. Edinburgh. AUGUSTA.

AN IMITATION OF A CANTATA OF METASTASIO.

COME penfive fair, whilft foft approaching

night

From ocean's mirror, view departing light, O'er weary'd nature draws her filent fhade,

Whilft varying forms in cloting darknels fade.

Plac'd on a rock, which occan gently laves,

Mark the flow changes of the lefs'ning fail, Whilst cooling zephyrs flightly curl the waves, Enjoy the sweetness of the paffing gale. Yon azure yault bright twinkling gems adorn, Their borrow'd lustre gilds the envious deep, Along her ftudded path pale Cynthia's borne, Whofe icy beams upon the billows fleep: Leave then, fair nymph, your flock and thady bow'r,

And share the tranfient glories of the hour.

BOTANY-BAY ECLOGUE. EDWARD AND SUSAN.

Time, Evening.

SUSAN.

L. E.

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SUSAN.

Original Poetry.

Nay, Edward, fink not thus in vain diftrefs, Torturing my heart with needlefs wretchedness; Hadit thou been doom'd, an outcalt wretch, 10go

Where endiefs winter piles the plain with fnow,
I would have lull'd thee ever there to reft,
Pillowing thy forrows on thy Sufan's breast.
Or were we le to fojourn on fome thore,
Where the woods echo to the lion's roar,
Though danger fcream'd in every paffing wind,
Still I were bleft if Edward were but kind.
Here we are fafe, on this pacific thore
No tvgers prowl, no mighty lions roar,
No howling wolf is heard, nor fecret brake
Conceals the venom of the coiling (nake;
Indulgent heaven a milder brood bestows,
A milder clime to foothe the exile's woes.
Soft as in England, fmile the fummers be e,
As gentl winters clofe the dying year;
Nor here is heard th' autumnal whirlwind's
breath,

Nor vernal tempefts breathe the blast of death.
Could I one fmile on Edward's face but fée,
This humble dwelling were the world to me.

EDWARD.

Ah, Sufan! humble is indeed this cot, And well it fuits the outcaft's wretched lot; Well fuits the horror of this barren fcene, A mind as drear as comfortless within. 'Tis just that I fhould tread the joyless fhore, Lift to the wintry tempeft's fullen roar, Plough up the ftubborn and ungrateful foil, Earn the feaut pittance of a felou's toil, And fleep fearce fhelter'd from the nightly dew, Where howls around the difmal Kangaroo. This I have merited, but then to know Sufan partakes her barbarous husband's woe, Unchang'd by infult, cruelty, and hate, Partakes an outcaft's hed, a felon's fate, To fee her fondly ftrive to give relief, Forget his crimes, and only fhare his griefAnd then on all my actions paft to dwell, My crimes, my cruelties 'tis worfe than hell.

SUSAN.

Oh fpare me, fpare me! ceafe to wound my breaft,

Be thou content, and we fhall both be bleft.
What are to me the idle's gay reforts,
The buz of cities and the pomp of courts ?
Without one vain regret to call a tear,
To wake one with, I feel contented here;
And we hali yet be happy: yonder ray,
The mild effulgence of departing day,
As gayly gilds this humble dwelling o'er,
As the proud domes on England's diftant shore;
As brightly beams in morning's op'ning light,
As faintly fading finks in fhadowy night.

EDWARD,

Sink, glorious fun! and never may I fee Thy bleed radiance rife again on me! There was a time, when cheerfully thy light Wak'd me at morn,and peace was mine at night, Till I had lavished all! till mad with play, I turn'd a villain, from the villain's prey; Till known and branded-Oh that heaven would hear

My heart's deep with, my laft and only prayer!

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RUST not" he laid, "the dangerous fea, "Which fmiles too often to deceive, "Ah! dearest Laura, think on me,

"Nor once the fafer fand-beach leave." Laura's fond heart, too full to fpeak,

To Arthur figh'd a foft adieu!
Love's gentle tear stole down her cheek,
As Arthur mournfully withdrew.
Laura, at ev'ning's hour ferene,

Lov'd by the murm'ring fea to ftray;
And there, by all unheard, unfeen,

To faithful love her homage pay. In vain her gay companions fought

To tempt her on the fmiling main, "I cannot e'en," the faid, " in thought, "Give Arthur's heart one moment's pain. "O then, forbear to urge me more;

"Beneath yon cliff's impending brow, "I'll for your fate return to thore,

"To ev'ry Nereid off'rings vow." Impatient Arthur, from the cares

Of worldly bus'nefs now releas'd, With ardor to the pot repairs,

Where all his cares in rapture ceas'd. With beating heart, and falt'r ng tongue,

"Where is my Laura?" Arthur cries"Wandering, the fea-bound fhore along"Like light'ning, Arthur thither Aies. "Beneath yon cliff, there fits my love!" But ah, fond youth! no more for theeThe mountain torrent bursts above, And bears its victim to the sea.

O'erwhelm'd with grief, long Arthur stood, And on the cliff still fix'd his eye; Then madly cry'd," In yonder flood, "Shall Arthur with his Laura die. "It is by my ill-omen'd care,

"That Laura finds a watry grave, "I fee, I fee yon boat's crew there

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Securely ride the briny wave. "They land !. and with them Laura's friend' "Again I hear the torrent roar, See her t'wards me her foctfteps bend, "Oh heaven -he fell, and rofe no more ANNABELLA PLUMPTRE. ORIGINAL

1798.]

( 43 )

ORIGINAL ANECDOTES AND REMAINS

OF

EMINENT PERSONS.

This Article is devoted to the Reception of Biographical Anecdotes, Papers, Letters, &c. and we request the Communications of fuch of our Readers as can affift us in these objeЯs.]

SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE LATE

JOHN WILKES, ESQ. HIS prefent majefty afcended the throne of thefe realms amidft the plaudits of his fubjects. His elevation was accompanied by a feries of aufpicious Occurrences, and every appearance augured a fortunate and happy reign. A change in the dynafty had taken place in favour of his family, and the doctrine of popular election, by a practical and memorable exemplification, was juftly preferred to a pretended hereditary right. But George I was unacquainted with our laws, and even with our language. Thefe circumstances, added to his partiality for Hanover, and the enaction of the Septennial Bill (the first infringement on public liberty during the reign of a houfe exprefsly called in for its protection) rendured him at times unpopular. The latter part of the reign of George 11 was uncommonly brilliant; but he alfo was accused of an over-weening fondnefs for his electoral dominions, and confidered, even on the throne, as a foreigner.

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A happier fate attended his grandfon, who, in his firft fpeech, gloried in being "born a Britor." His youth, his graceful perfon, the memory of a father dear to the nation, and, above all, the early promite of a government fonded on the practical bleffings of liberty, endeared the new king to his people. Indeed, there is not a fingie inftance in all our hatory, of a prince, who attained the throne of thefe kingdoms with brighter prospects; it was accordingly predicted, in the fervor of ench haf, that the fway of a Trajan, or an Alfred, was to be reaewed in the perfon of George III >.

One of the first acts of his majesty's reign was uncommonly gracious. By the demife of a king, the patets of the judges were confidered as having expired; but this grofs defect was remedied by the generous interpofition of the young prince. A fincere regard to truth obliges the writer to acknowledge, that in this instance, one good, wholefome, conlitutional advice, has been attributed to the late W. Murray, earl of Macclesfield, Chief Juftice of the King's Bench, &c.; and the merit would have been ftill greater, had it been entirely

His majefty found the country engaged in a juft and fortunare conteft with the houfe of Bourbon. The war was conducted by a ftatefman who proved uncommonly fuccefsful in fubduing the armies and navies of France; for we pointed the thunders of an united nation, with terrible and irrefiftible effect on its humbled monarchy. A change of men and councils, indeed, faved the enemy from utter ruin; but this very circumftance gave a decided turn to the current of popularity, which had hitherto flowed around, and afforded a facred barrier to the throne.

On the retirement of William Pitt, 1761, majefty femed fhorn of its rays; and its luftre being intercepted by the fudden interpofition of a malignant planet, it appeared to experience almoft a total clipfe! The fecret views that Id to the peace of Paris are ftill inveloped in obfcurity, and the particular motives which fuperinduced fo many facrifices are, at beft, but equivocal. It was, indeed, in fome meafure, fanctioned, by a majo riv, obtained by means not difficult to be geeffed at in a veni age; but it proved the most finifter treaty in our annals, and, from a variety of circumftances, became pecularly odious to the nation.

The adminiftrtion of the earl of Bute gave general difgot. Clofe, infinuating, cunning, rapacious, and revengeful, he was faid to have enjoyed the unlimited confidence of his royal mafter, and the people aff éted to confi ter him as the minion of the crown, rather than the minif- ter of England. Hieremies, however, could not deny that he was amiable in private life; the most zealous of his friends, on the other hand, muft confefs, that, if not criminal, he was at least unfortunate,

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