by another Naval Poet, who now is scarcely known out of the profession, Captain THOMSON,* the celebrated yet anonymous Author of many Sea Songs. Some naval officers are of opinion, that this Ode, however sublime, is not sufficiently correct, in the terms of Navigation, to be assigned to so able a seaman as FALCONER: he might not, however, in these lines, have introduced the nicety of that science in so great a degree as he has done in THE SHIPWRECK: thus far, at least, is certain, that he used to repeat, with particular pleasure to his friends, A Life of this Officer appeared in the Naval Chronicle, (vol. vi. p. 237, and vol. vii. p. 93.) He was born at Hull, in Yorkshire, and received his education from Dr. Cox, at Hampstead. Sir Home Popham, and Sir T. B. Thompson, were brought up under him. He died Commander of the Grampus, off the Coast of Africa, January 17, 1786. Captain THOMSON was the Author of The Top Sails shiver in the Wind, written about 1780; and of Loose every Sail to the Breeze,-Behold, upon the gallant Wave, &c. He published, in 1764, a Poem, called the Soldier; in 1765, the Courtezan, a Poem, and the Demirep; in 1766, his Sailor's Letters; in 1776, an edition of Whitehead's, and also of Andrew Marvel's Works, and a humourous Poem, called the Electric Eel; in 1778, a Collection of Poems called the Muse's Mirror. He was also the Author of many dramatic Pieces; and in 1773, with Mr. John Macmillan, began the Westminster Magazine. some lines of a similar Poem, which had then appeared, and always considered The Storm as a sublime subject for such a composition. Before I conclude the account of FALCONER'S literary life, previous to the year 1762, I beg leave to present the reader with the following excellent little Poem, descriptive of the abode and sentiments of a Midshipman. It was originally called by our Author simply the Midshipman; which name has since been lost in the more technical one of ORLOP, or the Deck immediately over the Hold: where, far removed from the light of day, and at a considerable distance below the surface of the water, the Cabins, or Births of the Midshipmen, are placed: THE MIDSHIPMAN. Aid me, kind MUSE! So whimsical a Theme, Boldly I venture on a Naval Scene, Nor fear the Critic's frown, the Pedant's spleen: Be such their subjects; I another choose, Deep in that Fabric, where BRITANNIA boasts Bending beneath a hammock's friendly shade, Crack'd o'er and o'er by awkward clumsy hands; Cautious he treads, least some unlucky slip Hark! yonder voice in hollow murmur swells: In canvassed Birth, profoundly deep in thought, His efforts still by some intruder crost: Now o'er a field of Logarithms bends, At once the Sage, the Hero, and the Cook, He wields the Sword, the Saucepan, and the Book. With RICHARD's pangs th' ORLOPIAN CAVERN shake! No more the Mess for other joys repine, When Pea-Soup entering shews 'tis time to dine. Whence sprung the Guardians of THE BRITISH FLEET: Which formed to martial acts-an HAWKE! an How!* We now approach the most important event in the literary life of FALCONER; who, like both his friends, Captain and Lieutenant HUNTER, urged on his course through every threatening obstacle: with. out becoming dependent on any assistance but that of Providence, he emerged at length from obscurity, and gained the utmost summit of his ambition. The first edition of THE SHIPWRECK was printed in quarto, by MILLAR, in May 1762; and was dedicated to His Royal Highness EDWARD, Duke of York, who then had hoisted his Flag, as Rear-Admiral of the Blue, on board the PRINCESS AMELIA, of 80 guns; attached to the Fleet under Sir EDWARD HAWKE. This Fleet was sent after M. DE TERNAY, and afterwards cruized off the Coast of FRANCE. The Poem succeeded from the moment it appeared; its Author * Captain HowE, in 1755, commanded the ALCIDE in a memorable action with the Lys. He also led the van in the MAGNANIME, 1757, under Admiral KNOWLES, in the attack on Aix. |