Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

more than half a dozen voices hailed me with "Have you got the ftate of the poll?" This was enough; I decamped inftantly, and determined to leave town: in purfuance of this refolution, I went to-day to dine with a friend at Hackney.-Here, thought I, I shall be fafe. I had not, however, been half an hour in the houfe, before my hoft very anxioufly inquired, "if I was not a freeholder?"

Alas! thought I,——

Incidi in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdin

which may be tranflated, I have efcaped the City, only to be devoured by the County.

Such, Sir, is my unfortunate fituation at prefent; and nothing fupports me under this preffure of miffortunes, but the hopes that it will foon be over; for, although I read your paper with pleasure at all times, yet nothing can ever be a greater delight to me, than to read Final Clofe of the Poll, which, when it happens, I beg you will print in large letters, that they may, at one glance, catch my eye, and rejoice my heart. I am, Sir, yours,

THOMAS MEEKLY.

Fenchurch Street.

NAVAL GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.
[From the Oracle.]

Difpatches on Tuesday Morning arrived at the Political Admiralty, brought by Captain Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod Frigate, from Rear-Admiral Report, dated Palace-Yard Bay, 6th of March 179-. They contain the following Account of the Action of that Evening, from Admiral Conftitution.

[ocr errors]

AT half paft four we difcerned the enemy almost close to the Sunken Rock, called Oppofition Bench, in full force, forming a line of battle. I ordered the

Spencer,

Spencer, as headmoft fhip, to lead the van, being determined at once to bear down upon their centre, with the Loughborough, in the judgment of whofe commander, Captain Wedderburn, I had the most implicit

confidence.

"The object which the Spencer had in view was attempted to be fruftrated by the Ruffell, one of the enemy's line of battle fhips. But the refiftance was fo feeble, that fhe fell back, and allowed the Spencer to obtain what the aimed at.

66

Difappointed in this refiftance, the Ruffell made a manœuvre, as if the meant to give up the contest; but the Spencer faw through this, and being feconded by the Hood, the Clarence, and the Loughborough, the enemy changed their pofition, and drew off; but in a fhort fpace of time renewed the battle on a different tack, the Ruffell having the Admiral's flag flying on

board.

"They came down with an intent to break our line; but the Grenville arrefted their progrefs, and poured fuch a broadfide into the Ruffell, that he was obliged to make fignals of diftrefs, which brought two heavyfailing fhips, the Guildford and the Norfolk, to her relief; but their artillery was fo ill pointed, that a fingle fhot did not hit; and though the Derby and the Albemarle came down to affift, they were all obliged to strike.

"One of the men of war under my command deferted the Conftitutional ftandard on this occafion, and went over to the enemy--it was the Carlisle. It seems he took umbrage at my refufing him a private Scal. We did not lay hold of him; and I understand, he has changed the name of the fhip he commanded, from the Loyalty to the Whig Club.

"I must particularly commend the ability of the Captain of the Spencer, the Captain of the Grenville, the Captain of the Hood, the Captain of the Clarence,

c' 5

and

and the Captain of the Loughborough, whofe wellpointed guns foon convinced the enemy that all refiftance was vain.

"The Bedford is materially injured in her mainmaft-fhe is a good-looking fhip with a black head. The Norfolk, when the ftruck, was lee gunwale under water-fhe was half-feas over. The Guildford will make a good bulk. She is fo heavy in the head as not to be fit for any other fervice. The Derby has loft her rudder, and her ftern appears to have fuffered from the rot. She may make a tolerable hospital ship.

"The Albemarle is a new frigate-but built on a very flimfy plan. She may be cut down to a floop, and, in that state, might be ferviceable.

"In this engagement, the enemy loft all their reputation, and I am happy to fay the Conftitutional fhips under my command preferved theirs.

"I have the honour to be, &c. &c. &c."

ODE TO PITT AND DUNDAS.

BY PETER PINDAR, ESQ.

PITT and DUNDAS, I now forgive you both,

For taxes and th' et ceteras of State;

Nipping the root of GALLIA's giant growth,
Ye juftly give the foul ARCH-FIEND her fate.
She gafps-the Monster's nearly dead,
And not a tear by PITY fhed

What have I faid, "no tear has flow'd?"-
Ye Gods, 't is gladnefs, glorious gladness;
Triumphant how the BEGGAR rode,

And trampling ftung the world to madness
Yes, I forgive you from my heart;
But, gentle STRS, before we part,
Say how it poffibly could be,
That 'midft the men of ferling merit,
Rewarded for their wits or Spirit,

You never once remember'd ME!

"Thou

"Thou liar," cries the world, with monftrous coil, 66 Long haft thou been a Penfioner, O PETER! Courts on thy gridiron long have ceas'd to broil, Long has a handsome penfion gagg'd thy metre." By all the POWERS of POETRY I swear,

COURTS have not made me one brass farthing richer; But yet, O WORLD, a whisper in thine ear— I cannot fay I like an empty pitcher. So that if that good man, the KING, Would offer me a handfome place, I think 't would be fo much the thing, I could not well refufe his GRACE.

There really is a charm in meat,

And BARDS, like vulgar folks, must eat.

LINES SAID TO BE WRITTEN BY PETER
PINDAR, ESQ.

ADDRESSED TO MISS HANNAH MORE, DR. P, AND
THE BLUE STOCKING CLUB, ON THEIR PERUSAL OF
HIS LATE PAMPHLET, ENTITLED, NIL ADMIRARI!"

A1

66

H! why Mifs HANNAH, wherefore, Maiden fage,
Has naughty PETER caus'd the tear to flow?

Why has he put thee in a tow'ring rage,

And to hot charcoal chang'd thy bofom's fnow.

Why doft thou fquat like TABBY i' the adage!

Why doft thou figh and weep, and grunt and mourn?
Why like poor Snip, that is bereft of cabbage,

Look'ft thou quite chap-fall'n, and like him forlorn?
Why does the BISHOP foam against poor PETER-
PETER, who meant not to offend his Grace?
Oh! wherefore does he fpurn the harmless metre,
And shroud with anger that most saint-like face?

Why kindles thus his wrath? alas! he's mad;
For, lo! he rends in twain his ample wig!
Ah! Bishop P-

[ocr errors]

this is very badThine anger PETER values not a fig. c 6

Now,

Now, wrinkled Dames, I'll take one peep at you,
Who doubtless have perus'd Nil Admirari;
Yes, I will venture, 'midft the fage Bas Bleu,
But of my bones methinks I'd best be wary.

Zounds! what a noife, what an aftounding din!
'Tis fcreech from owls' and ravens' croaking throats;
Or MILTON's hounds howling beneath foul Sin,
Or choir of Giles's dames that bawl their notes.

Say, PETER, what hath vex'd Mifs HANNAH thus ?
What haft thou faid to raise the Bishop's hate?
What is 't hath put the Bas Bleu in this fufs,
And made thee dread the fafety of thy pate?

Why, PETER fimply told Mifs HANNAH MORE,
That all fhe wrote was wrote by hook or crook
Nay, PETER Vows, as he hath vow'd before,
That of another's brains fhe form'd her hook *.
PETER has blam'd the Doctor's fulfome stuff,
In praife of HANNAH's education theme:
PETER has made the Bas Bleu Club look bluff,
Because he told them they were in a dream.

Thus truth on PETER's head hath vengeance drawn,
Of HANNAH, P
and the toothlefs crew :

Yea, of the Maid, and Bishop clad in lawn,

And eke the fapient Dames of fam'd Bas Bleu.

LINES

OCCASIONED BY PETER PINDAR'S LATE ATTACK

THE BISHOP OF L

PRESUMPTUOUS, foul Detractor, hence!
Fiend of envenom'd impudence!
Hence to the lake from whence thou 'rt fprung,
And gnaw thy facrilegious tongue!

But thou, great injur'd Prelate, hail!
Thee, weigh'd in truth's unerring scale,

* "Strictures on Female Education."

ON

We

« ZurückWeiter »