POETICAL ESSAYS.

TO

THE

trace,

PROLOGUE

EPILOGUE TO THE NEW COMEDY, CALLED

SAME. • ERRORS EXCEPTED.'

WRITTEN BY JOIN LITCHFIELD, ESQ.

SPOKEN BY MRS. LITCHFIELD, Written by Mr. Charles Didin, jun. and spoken by Mr. Young.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'VE oft heard say, PERUSE the fuirese page, and still you'll An Author's like a Merchant, and his Play

The bark in which is loig'd his precious That crror is the lot of human race;

store, E'en with the best, at Nature's last repose, Freighted and descin'd for some distant shore. • Errors excepted,' the account must close. Our Author's vessel's small, and light his No living man without some folly made is : cargo, And tho'sierntruth wont even spare the ladies, And what he dreads the most is your enbiet to their lot should trifling crrors fall, bargo. 'Look in their faces, you'll except them all! Just now, behind the scenes, the poor man Wisdom herself may err as well as Wit,

press'd me, Law's writ of error is not boly writ.

And said, all trembling, that if I address't The Doctor too has faults, but, happy lot,

ye, Physic's faux pas, when buried, are forgot! He could engage, however tempest tost,' In seeking Fortune's all-desir'd abode, His agitated bark should not be lost;' We meet cross paihs of error on the road. I smild of course, and told the factering Placarded invitations meet the eye

rogue, Ac every turn, with • Now's your time to I knew not how to speak an Epilogue buy,'

But here I am on deck, and thus before ye, And the mysterious charm of B. C. Y.; I'll cry in Sailor's language to implore ye: All to insure you, when the wheel goes for, though I never stirr'd a foot from shore, round,

I've learnt some lessons from the Commodore. Of blanes excepted, ninety thousand pound. So as a Gun voy, though no man of war, Authors to critical exceptions bow;

Let me look out, and see how matters are. And Critics candidly must allow, That, while they lash the faults of scribbling Lurks here nu rock on which our brig may

And firse I'll try my soundings in the Pit; elves, Txere well from error to clear themselves. split? To gou (to ibe Audience) whose approbation to No quicksands, shoals, or fats, nor no leeobtain

shore, Our bard has sought, and sometimes not in Where many a vessed has been wreck'd

befere? His cause he offers, as at Mercy's shrine, in yonder quarter (upper end of the Pit) lo! a ' To err is human-to forgive, divine :'

storm seems brewing Let Mercy's intiuence, then, your bosams That threatens to involve us all in ruin; sway;

A skip prepares for action--h! beware, Ex:opt his errors, bus acups his play, Moreny bus ta'en dis stáciou there

vain;

His name is Critic-'tis, I see him now, How different is the rest of him
I know him by the Gorgon at his prow; Whose mind is fraught with deadly sin:
A heavy sailer, but his tire is galling,

He rises from his restless bed,
And no one ventures near without a mauling: His soul convulsid with secret dread;
His head all snakes-a-110 wonder that the shot Wild fancy forms unnuinber'd woes,
Sent from his cannon comes so hissing hot: To end this life che maniac goes.
See how he lowers his jib--nay,do not frown, The moon had gain'd a little height,
Nor cut our rigging up--nor run us down. And threw around her silver light,
(To the Front Boxes) 'That in the otting there When, lo! I saw, it made me shrink,
is call'd the Rover,

This wretch was at the horrid brink, Who never fights but when he's half-seas Forward I rush'd and seiz'd his arm, over ;

And forc'd him back, secure from harm.
And is well known on our dramatic ocean Amaz'd, I cried, insect man!
By his rough sailing and unsteady motion. How wav'ring is thy every plan;
He has but just left port, for well I wot Thinkst thou the fury of an hour
His upper works are dashag'd by grape-shot. Can all thy ills of life devour?
Two other signs he has, howe'er he got 'em, How much mistaken is thy pride,
A head well brazen'd, and a copper bottom That does in that false hope confide,
(pointing to the fuls).

Since God has form’d our dying day; (To ibe Gallery) But you, my honest friends, Refect on that, and go thy way.' stow'd in the shrouds,

With that I left grim misery's child; Who speak in thunder from your birth, the His eye-balls Aash'd, he scornful smild. clouds;

Contemptuous rcas'ner,' loud he cried,
You, like true sai ors, never hardly press And tore a picture from his side :
When you behold a vessel in distress,

Behold you this! O emblem dear,
For well you know, who rule the subject of sainted angels we revere!
wave,

My love by death to heav'n has fad, When it is time to punish, when to save Her body number'd with the dead. Eager the haughty open foe to bend,

Think after this that I'll exist!' As to chastise a neutral hollow friend :

His tears flow'd fast-the shade he kiss'd. If our ship's crazy, take her into tow,

Come, clasp me fast, noir welcome Death' Safely she'll sail under your weather bow; The king of terrors caught the breath, For should she prove, alas! a cast-away, For, lo! he sprang the dreadful steep, Our bard's third night will be a banyan day. In heav'n to love or hell to weep. (To the Side Boxes ---Ladies, between decks, Confus’d and fir'd each trembling limb, if your favouring goles

My soul pour'd only thoughts on him. You lend to fill the Poet's trembling sails, He's gone-ha's dead! a heartfelt sigh His summer royage won't turn out a dream; O'ercame my soul, and tears each eye. • His boat sails freely both with wind and So when amid the Ganges' roar, stream;?

The nighty eagle in his soar
Early the Critic sea she's wafted o'er, Views the young bird with piercing eyes
And gains triumphantly the wish'd-for shore. And, pouncing, dooms the thing to die,
I'll to the Author, and dispel his fear, The sailor hears its tender cries,
And say, his goods have found a market And pity darkens both his eyes.
here;

With sorrow'd heart my senses trac'd,
I'll say, too, for I think I guess aright, Nature by this foul dued defac'd.
Here you will rendezvous to-morrow night. I sigh'd a pray’r, to save liis soul;

For pray'r o'er Mercy has controul.-
Homewards I took my thoughtful way,
My memory here will often stray:

Sweet hope shall hover with her wings,
THE SUICIDE.
And mercy bring from King of kings.

I. S. P.
WHEN Twilight drew her mantle о'er,
And Day clos'd up his golden door,
My musing, -solema way I took
Where craggy rocks a stream o'erlook;
The dismal Owl, with bro!low voice,

ODE
Proclaim'd that darkness was her choice;
The Fox, wich prowling feartui mien,

ON THE SURRENDER OF DANTZIC.
Now pac'd the dewy, silent, green,
With hopes in sicer to catch his foes.

FAIR. heav'nly maid, immortal Poetry.

And then, while Pity's tear obscures my eye,

Come Deach, the weary wretch's friend, For hapless Dantzic's fa:e I'll deeply sigh.

Come quick to my relief; Once noble city! proud and free,

Open the grave, and make me room,

And let me be at peace. Blest with fair Liberty, thou stood : But war and carnage, stain’d with blood, Yet ah, be hush'd each murmuring words Their lances aimed at thee.

And cach rebellious sigh be still: Then fled bright Freedom with unsteady wing, Father, I bow beneath Thy rod, And thy brave Poles obey'd a Prussian king.

And yield my wishes to Thy will.

Sorura TROUGHTON Then didst thou murmur, and with high

disdain Scorn the proud victor, and despise his rein. Birt, now, far greater woes are thine; THE POOR MAN'S COMPLAINT,

In terrors clăd, thy foes surround And hurt thy turrets to the ground,

| Addressed to the assessor, on bis requiring bing With many a fatal mine.

to destroy bis dog, or to enter it, in order to And see, like Nero, false Napoleon stands,

pay for it.) Fell son of Mars, the bane of happy lands. WHILE the rich and the great in their

luxuries roll, Lo! D'Enghien's death hangs low'ring on his

And fortune's indulgences prove; brow,

Oh how can you wish to deprive me of peace, With Austria, Hanover, and Prússia's woe.

And take the poor dog that I love!
See murder, fraud, and cruelty,
Exulting in his deadly frown,

Misfortune on me all her vials has pour'd; Tear or displace each cott'ring crown;

And Law, with his aspect so grim, And menace woe to thee.

Has robb’d'me of all that could comfort For o'er thy tow'rs the tyrant rears his

bestow, sword,

And nothing is left but poor Trim. And death, or mean submission, is the word.

By a landlord severe I was turn'd from my

farm, And, ah! thy fainting warriors strive in vain

From comfort and competence hurl'd; The ills of doubtful battle to sustain.

A flaw in my lease gave the villain a plea No ally, now, can succour send

To turn me adrift on the world.
The chiefs upon thy walls appear,
An olive bough of peace they rear,

Two boys, the dear product of conjugal love, Unable to contend.

When they saw me gaunt Poverty's prey, Wide are thy portals to the victors thrown; Left me and my cot, and becook to the seas, And, ah! a tyrant's will becomes thine own.

And fell in Trafalgar's proud day.

The wife of my bosom, whom twenty years Affrighted, from the mournful view I turn,

since The rage of fickle Gallia's sons to mourn.

I led blushing to Hymen's blest fane,
And oh Thou Power that rul'st the seas!
Protect Britannia's gallant band,

O'erwhelm'd by the tidings, her mind felt a

shock, And save their navy-girdled land From horrors such as these;

And, to heighten my grief, grew insane. And grant their soy'reign, from his native What misfortune has left, and stern law. throne,

would not take,
May see the wiles ef ev'ry foe o'erthrown! Can you more inhuman desire?
MARY ELIZABITI Can justice, or reason, or policy claim

The sacritice which you require?
Nine years the poor cur my companion has

been,
LINES

There's no one can charge him with ill;

He never at midnight's still hour sought the WRITTEN BY MOONLICHT.

fold,

The innocent lambkin to kill,
WHEN shall my sorrows have an end,
When will my misery cease?

Ye sportsmen, my Trim never mari'd your
Where can I hope to be at rest,
Or where to meet with peace?

He never destroy'd a poor hare;

Nor e'er did my hand place the mischievous The midnight hour strikes on my ear,

wire The world is sunk in sleep;

The game which you prize to ensnare. But I my watchful vigils keep,

Now wbi'st you assess, forbear to oppress, Yet only wake is weep.

Nor strive to augment my thick gloom. Far absent every friend from me,

Why seek to destroy the small pitcance of And every joy is filed;

joy And keen Despair dwells in my breast, That is granted on this side the tomb. For even Hope is dead.

Haverhill, August 10, 1807,

JOHN WEBB

lov'd sports,

car.

state.

LINES

Therefore in time a warning take,
TO A YOUNG LADY,

Ye widow ladies great and smalig

Lest in the grass you find a snake, W bom the author by chance saw at a place of As was the case with Mrs. Hail. public amusement, an ; occurrence which can never be obliterated from bis mind. WHO lives o'er yonder distant hills, Ah! far beyond those flowing rills;

LINES Where yonder moon her lustre fills?

Tis Harriet.

ON SEEING A GENTLEMAN APPROACH A Who is the maid I chance did meet,

DISTRESSED FEMALE TO RELIEVE IIR. With lovely form and manners sweet, Who smiling kindly me did greet-?

'Twas Harriet.

AH! cease a while, poor mourner! to bewail

Thy poignant griefs, almost too great to Who wore a little tippet blue,

bear; When near her beauteous form I drew; Though many may reject thy pitsous tale, My heart cnraptur'd to her fiew?

One friend advancos now who'll lend an

Sweet Harriet! When my address she deign’d to take,

Soft Pity's dew-drop dims his azure eye, In my poor heart a wound did make,

Where mild benevolence doth eyer shine; Which I must bear for her dear sake.

Oh! Harriet!

His generous hand will all thy wants supply,

Soothe thy sad heart, and bid thee not 'Though many miles do us divide,

repine. I still will in the maid contide : Oh! let not ill my truth betide,

Then dry those trickling tears, unhappy fair! Dear Harriet!

Nor longer chus bemoan thy cruel fate; To this lov'd spot I'll oft repair,

But offer up to Heaven one graceful prayer When seasons diferent liveries wear,

For him, who say'd thee in thy wretched To Heaven l'll raise a suppliant pray's

For Harriet.

I kind relief from him can never know, The lonely star that cheers the night,

In silence I my sufferings must conceal; And adds a ray of twinkling light,

Nor seck for pity which he might bestow, Shall witness bear to all my plight

Or breathe a sigh that would those woes For Harriet.

reveal. The gentle zephyrs, as they fly

He knows On balmy wings, shall bear'a sigh,

ows not that I love, nor how a thorn And guard ic through the aerial sky

Consumes this bursting heart, and makes me
To Harriet.
August 3, 1807.

CAROLINE.
Ah! gentle maid! that sigh receive,
Twill say-1 for thy sake do grieve,
And how my troubled breast does heave;

Kind Harriet! Oh! to the gale one sigh consign,

FROM WORDSWORTH'S POEMS, And let me hope to call thee mine;

I TRAVELL D among unknown men, For thee I'd all the earch resign,

In bands beyond the sea;

My Harriet! Nor, England! did I know till then
July 29, 1507.

What love I bore to thee.
'Tis past! chat melancholy dream!

Nir will I quit thy shore
BALLAD

A second time ; for still I seem

Toiove thee more and more.
SUNG ET MRS. LISTON, IN ACT II. OT THE
NEW COMEDY

Among thy mountains did I feel
· ERRORS EXCEPTED.'

Thejoy of my desire;

And she I cherish'd turn'd her wheel
YOUNG Verdict was a la:vyer gay,

Beside an English fire.
Who o: our town surpassed .1;
He went oue ev'ning to the play,

Thy mornings show'd, thy nights concezi'!, And fell in love with Mrs. Hall.

mourn.

S.Y.

CALLED

The hou

FOREIGN NEWS.

1

East Prussia, July 14. July, in Kronstadt, by the resident ON the 11th instant, their majesties Americans, about forty in number, the king and queen of Prussia arrived Lewet Harris, the general consul of again at Memel.-The emperor Alex- the Uoited States, presided. Various ander passed through Riga on his return Russian officers were present, and toasts to Petersburgh on the same day. in honour of America and Russia were

St. Petersburgh, July 18. The em- drank; the last of those enumerated is, peror Alexander arrived here at eleven " The Freedom of the Seas.' in the evening of the 16th instant, and Since the 1st July, 0. S. the mani. not on the morning of the 15th, as was festo of last January, respecting the asserted. The mistake arose from a merchants of Russia, has been put in discharge of capnon at four on the execution to its full extent. morning of the isth, which was ima Warsaw, July 20. The Austrian plea gined to proceed from the arrival of the nipotentiary, zeneral St. Vincent, left emperor, but which, as we afterwards this city on the 15th instant for Vienna. learned, announced the celebration of Baron Von Stutterheim, who had been peace. On the 15th, thanksgivings sent to Tilsit with particular instrucwere offered up in every church on ac tions, arrived there on the gth, after count of the peace." Their majesties, the peace with Russia and Prussia had the empresses Elizabeth and Maria, been already concluded. Two days afwith the grand dukes and duchesses, terwards he again left Tilsit. repaired in the state carriage, accom. The queen of Prussia continued in panied by all the attendants of the Tilsit only twenty-four hours; she was court, out of the Taurus Palace, to the received at some distance from the town cathedral church of the Holy Virgin, by a battalion of French horse guards, where a solemn service was performed; who escorted her to the quarters at and in the evening the whole city was which she alighied with thể honours illuminated.

due to her. Yesterday, the 17th, the happy re. Milan, July 20. The intelligence of turn of the beloved Alexander was pub- the conclusion of peace has spread here licly celebrated again. His majesty, universal joy. We have learned at the the empresses Elizabeth and Maria, ac same time, that the Russian troops in companied by all the attendants of the Carraro have received orders to surcourt, repaired to the cathedral church, render that place, as well as Castel where the great officers of the empire Nuovo, to the French troops, and to emwere assembled, and attended divine bark immediately for Russia. worship. On his return, the emperor Berlin, July 23. The emperor Nap' was received with loud huzzas by the poleon has sent to the emperor of Rus?

sobulace whellentecorber from

in the grand duke Constantine