OPPOSITION TACTICS.

English as well-testoons of Mary,
And all the heads of Will and Harry.
Death stopp'd him in his proud career,
And laid him on his funeral bier :
We hope it was to set him fast in
A blooming garden everlasting,
And transplant him there anew
In a brighter heav'nly Kew,
Where lily, or imperial crown,
Are never subject to lie down.
To all he left a brilliant sample
Of skill and diligence most ample.
To Aiton he bequeath'd his name,
His trivials, and his love of fame;
To Knights and 'Squires his just opinion
Of Buonaparte and his minions;
And for his patron's fost'ring care,
"T was all he had-a dying pray'r !

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OPPOSITION TACTICS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE Public ledger, &c.

SIR,

[Dec. 10.]

I HAVE been much pleased with some shrewd remarks in your paper of last week, on the military Tactics of our Opposition-papers, and the frequent changes of opinion which their favourite Massena imposes upon them. But I do not, at the same time, think that your writer has done all the justice to the ingenuity of the Opposition-writers which it seems to deserve. Their sudden changes, which tend somewhat to throw an air of ridicule on their labours, appear to me to be the very circumstance which distinguishes them as men of ingenuity and talent. Why Massena should be so great a favourite with them I know not; but as they know much less of his proceedings than of Lord Wellington's, it is really surprising, that, either

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either from correspondence or conjecture, they are able to follow his movements so closely as to discover superior strength and talent in them all. There is something ingenious in this versatility; and, indeed, upon a recollection of it, for some weeks past, I am inclined to think it truly wonderful.

If they do not hear of a battle on the day on which they have fixed it, they tell us that Massena will not fight with Lord Wellington, because Lord Wellington is not able to fight with Massena! If the subject be the probable issue of this long campaign, they ask, what we can do with "such a handful of troops? but if the stale subject of invasion be started, Ministers ought to have their heads cut off for not bringing home so gallant and numerous an army." If it be reported that Massena is retreating, we are told, that it is "one of those fabrications by which the hopes of the country are deluded;" but if the intelligence be true," it is one of the wisest things he could have done, and a proof of his superior wisdom." If we hear that the French are deficient in provisions, we are told, "that no nation in Europe can bear starving better or longer." If they get provisions by pillaging a whole country," no Generals have the art of con ciliating the population" like the French. If the Portuguese allies are numerous, they want discipline and steadiness;" if they fight bravely, "only think what an expense it must be to keep them " If Lord Wellington be silent for a week or two, our conjectures have been correct; and, as we said, nothing has been done:" and, if he send over dispatches,

how do these agree with our private correspondence?"; It has long been the complaint, that, with the best of men, we have no officers who have seen service; and now that a school has been established, in which they are taught to understand, and cope with, "the first troops. of Europe," the cry is, that we always were against

foreign

foreign expeditions-English troops can do nothing on the Continent."

From these few specimens, which might have easily been increased in number and value, I hope, Sir, you will perceive that I do no more than common justice to the Opposition-writers, when I attribute to them a considerable portion of that ingenuity, which is never at a loss; which objects from the habit of ob-jecting, and grumbles most where there is least room for complaint.

One objection, however, I must make to their productions. I love Opposition-politics in the Senate and in the Papers. Much good is done by watching public, men and measures, although with jealousy and suspicion, carried to the very extremity of what is neither fair nor impartial; yet, as to the events of war, I would caution these gentlemen against giving too much way to that spirit of prophecy with which some of them seem to be inspired. It is dangerous at all times, particularly in the present crisis, when perhaps they may find it convenient to wheel round with a rapidity which even Massena has not yet imposed on them. They may be assured, that the first measure of the new men, to whom they are looking up, will not be to order the English army home directly; and if not, Lord Wellington must change characters with Massena, which will require a great quantity of very fine writing.

But this is not all, nor the worst danger that' environs the spirit of prophecy. Men who are perpetually foretelling disasters to their country, say what they will, cannot be very well pleased, if they are disappointed by its good fortune. They may profess what they please; but the sun will sooner cease to shine, than a Prophet of Disasters be able to conceal his regret, if the event should prove to be in flat contradiction to his prophecy. Now, how far this is a state

of mind for which even party-spirit can be an excuse, I leave to the determination of those who, whatever their attachments be, stick to the primary principle-Love to our country.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

MEDIUS.

EFFECTS OF PREACHING.

[From the British Press, Dec. 25.]

GOOD Doctor, a word," cried an impudent knave, "Do you know, in our village, they style you the Grave?" "The Grave!" said the Doctor, why where is the jest?” Why, they say that your hearers are always-at rest !"

THE BERNE BEAR: A TALE.

WH

[From the Morning Chronicle, Dec. 25.]

"Honi soit qui mal y pense.”

WHEN Switzerland was free, we learn,
A powerful Canton once-call'd Berne-

With anxious zeal, and ceaseless care,
Kept (with the public purse) a Bear.
So gentle, he with ease was led !
And yet so pamper'd and high-fed,
That strangers, far and near, did feast
Their wond'ring eyes upon the Beast:
For Somerville's fat kine would seem
Like Pharaoh's lean, compar'd with him;
Though he his fat did never spoil
With cramming grease in cakes of oil!
This many a living wight can tell,
Who saw the Bear, and knew him well;
Which doth the faithful Muse enable
To say, this Tale is not a Fable.

Not that the animal was shown
To please the public gaze alone!
Since, though he play'd not any tricks
In aught regarding Politics,

Historiographers

THE BERNE BEAR: A TALE.

Historiographers relate

He was connected with the State;
Which fear'd that all might go to ruin,
If any harm befell poor Bruin.

Thus, that no mischief might ensue,
Berne's Bruin had a leader too,
Who taught him all he had to do.
So I my readers can assure
He did not hold a sinecure,

Which, being now grown out of fashion,
Puts every Patriot in a passion :
Besides, the Leader must provide
A successor when Bruin died;

That none might controvert the lie,
"That the Berne Bear can never die !"
Yet, as this world will have its rubs,
Berne lost at once both Bear and Cubs;
And, since the ills that man betide
Ne'er single come, the Leader died.
A fatal stroke since people said,
He never once the Bear misled!
Happy could I the same relate
Of ev'ry other Bear of State!
But since, my Muse! it is not wise
Before your time to moralize,
With all the pathos that is due
To the great Hero of your Story,
Dead in his plenitude of glory!
The sequel of your Tale pursue;
First making, with all just discretion,
Apology for this digression:

And here my word of honour giving,
The Berne Bear means no creature living.
Dark clouds of sorrow Berne o'ercast,
When hapless Bruin breath'd his last ;
Which, soon awak'ning all her fears,
Burst into deluges of tears;
While, in the anguish of despair,.
Shrill notes of woe thus rent the air-
"Or Berne must fall, or have a Bear!"
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