The beam of all-creative wisdom shone,

And spake fair order into birth.

At Wisdom's call she roll'd yon glittering skies, Attun'd the spheres, and taught consenting orbs to rise. Angels wrapt in wonder stood,

And saw that all was fair, and all was good.
'Twas then, ye sons of God, in bright array
Ye shouted o'er creation's day ;

Then kindling into joy,

The morning stars together sung;
And through the vast etherial sky
Seraphick hymns and loud hosannas rung.

TO THE EVENING PRIMROSE.

BY MARY RUSSELL MITFORD.

Lov'D flow'ret, rear thy drooping head,
And wake thy beauty pale!

Thy lovely blossoms haste to spread,
And woo the fragrant gale!

Soon shall the ev'ning breezes blow,
Soon fall the ev'ning dews,
Then raise thy petals fainting low,
Thy modest charms diffuse.

Yon flaunting sun-flower, by thy side,

In starry radiance gay,

Spreads her rich breast in beauty's pride,

And courts the noon-tide ray.

Whilst, shrinking from the fervid glow,

Thy modest colours fly,

Each graceful flow'ret drooping low,

Thy silken blossoms die.

But fairer than proud Phœbus' flower
In noon-tide beauty bright,

Art thou, in evening's pensive hour,
By Cynthia's trembling light.

When faintly gleams the western star,
And ev'ning's gentle breeze,

Like sweetest musick heard from far,
Sighs softly through the trees,

Then lovely in the silver beam
Thy flow'rets, glist'ning fair
With pearly dew-drops, brightly gleam
Resplendent through the air!

CORRESPONDENCE.

After a number of coarse and unfinished engravir with which the Polyanthos has been disfigured, it is wi much pleasure that we present our patrons with a finis portrait, engraved by Mr. John R. Smith from a painti by that unrivalled artist Gilbert Stewart, Esq. R.. The capital of New-England is honoured in being residence of such professors of the fine arts.

Presuming that the decorations of this number will satisfactory to the publick, we shall in the course of next month, publish a proposal for enlarging the Poly thos to an octaw, when the subjects of future engravin the extended design of the work, the sources from wh the materials will be derived, and other particulars, be more fully developed.

THE

POLYANTHOS,

FOR

AUGUST, 1812.

MR. DUFF.

Or the private life of this gentleman we know but very little. He is a native of Ireland, and was intended for the profession of the law. It appears however that his youthful mind was more engaged by the study of Shakespeare and the modern comick writers, than with that of Coke and Blackstone. He began his theatrical career four years ago, but at what place we are not able to state. In the summer of 1810, when Mr. Dickenson was in. England engaging recruits for the Boston Theatre, Mr. Duff was recommended to his notice by Mr. Cooper. An engagement followed, and he arrived in Boston shortly after, where he has for two seasons performed as great a variety of business in his profession, as has ever fallen to the lot of an individual. In February last he visited Philadelphia, and exhibited bis principal characters with VOL. 2.

N