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Remarks.

In the first caft (as Surveyors call it) or calculation, if the eafting of the firft ftation happened to be lefs than the wefting at the 6th, the eafting of that ftation fhould be placed in the meridian distance column, the first lower number in place of 4.867, and then proceed as before to add the eaftings and fubtract the weftings, &c. This I call the fecond cafe, even when there are east and weft area, columns, as in the last calculation. By beginning at one of the four greatest extreme points of the furvey, negatives are avoided as much as poffible, and will be found to be the best mode of proceeding, as the Surveyor will be lefs liable to miftakes by ufing affirmative multipliers.

In the last calculation, or fecond cafe, the difference between the northing at the first station. and fouthing of the fecond (viz. 4.448) being placed with a negative fign for the fecond multiplier in the M. D. column, inftead of 0.0000, and then proceeding as before, to add the fouthings and fubtract the northings, &c. determines the area; but I chose to put the fouthing of the fecond station the lower number oppofite to that station in the M. D. column, in order to avoid negative multipliers.

By beginning at the extreme fouthern point of the land (viz. station 6.) the fouthing of the 5th station fhould be taken from the northing of the 6th, and the difference placed the meridian distance or multiplier of the 6th station, and then the northings being added and fouthings fubtracted, &c. determines the area, as before.

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THE poem opens with the ftory of Syrinx,

TH

or rather, with fome brief allufions to it, by way of illuftration. The author infinuating that as, from the melody of thofe reeds, into which the nymph of Theffaly was transformed, arofe the arrangement of that rudimental inftrument, the shepherd's pipe: In like manner, from thofe impreffions made upon him (the author) by the artlefs mufic of his own murmurs at his lot, fprung the harmony and arrangement (fuch as they are) of the present lines. Singular pleasures refulting from the regrets of a feeling mind in misfortune :-these contrafted with the defpair of a gloomy fpirit. The poet bids fuch fpirits avaunt; and on the other hand, expreffes equal abhorrence of cold, ungenerous minds. Defcribes the fimple confidence of a young and liberal mind; and its disappointment when firft undeceived. Picture of the conduct of weak, unfeeling hearts, when connected with a generous and feeling mind. This contrafted with the conduct of a kindred mind, whose friendship the author defcribes. Wishes his verses could procure him fuch. Confeffes a weakness.-Which leads to reflections on the forefight and memory of man. The writer ftates the evils which may

THE MURMUR.

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On his astonish'd ear the sweetness stole,

be afferted to arife from them; but confiders (O power of found!) and trickled to his foul:

thefe endowments, on the whole, as bleffings. VOL. IV. August 1794.

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❝ live:

"The tender cruelty, that feeks to fave "Thy lafting forrows from thy timeless grave. "In vain th' inclement grafp of monftrous "death

"Would stem the fragrant current of thy "breath:

"For ever fhall endure thy voice and name, "Immortal, as of echo, or of fame., "From these wild notes, the task of love fhall "be,

"To forge th' heart-ruling chain of melody. "'Mid fhades that o'er the freshening Ladon* "blow,

"Thy voice mall foothe the fhepherd's fimple 66 woe:

"Thy melting accents charm the filent hour; "O'er the fwol'n mind th' affuaging comfort 66 pour;

"Tame headlong rage, and thaw the froft of 66 cares,

"To fond regrets, and tenderness, and tears "And to my bofom call thee, gentle fhade, "Till Syrinx heal the wound that Syrinx "made."

His fav'rite, thus, the God confol'd, and mourn'd,

While foft, approving fighs, the fhuddering "reeds return'dt.

Ev'n thus, while late I gave my lot a tear, The sweet wild note of forrow ftruck mine ear;

(Th' unbidden melody, th' heart-iffuing tone Of grief, alas! not foreign, but my own :) Even thus combined the fimple ftrains of woe, And ranged to verfe, thro' these plain numbers flow:

For forrow hides, within the heaving figh,
A fecret principle of harmony;

NOTE S.

* Syrinx was daughter of the river Ladon. The ftory of Pan and Syrinx, in Ovid's Metamorphofes, book i. fab. 10. fuggefted to the author the materials for their illuftrative intro duction to his poem; which is not, however, a tranflation from Ovid, or even intended as an imitation.

Thefe first thirty-eight introductory lines appeared alone in an early number of the Anthologia, but are here reinferted, as necessary to the completeness of this poem.

And oft, while ills the lab'ring bofom tear,
Soft fall their accents on the lift'ning ear;
As where the fretful ftreamlet works its way,
Thro' the pleas'd sense the languid murmurs
ftray;

Or, as the waves, that vex the rolling deep, Soothe, as they heave, and murmur round the steep.

Thus let my verfe a fecret charm impart, While wandering thro' my cares the feeling

heart

Shall fteep in healing tears each penfive line, Paufe on my fate, and lofe its griefs in mine. The finall, fine touch of woe, 'twill often

meet,

If few strong lines of mifery mark my fate;
Nor yet the mufe my ftory fhall reveal,
Or link the trivial forrows in a tale :——
Enough, unfetter'd, if the rambling lay
My thoughts-my fentiments-myself convey;
While no ftrict rules the melody confine,
Nor cold exactness forms each cautious line.
Think how from artlefs fighs the numbers
fprung,

Nor vainly look for method in my song;
But as the paffing gale, that sweeps the
ftrings,

Wide o'er the air the carelefs fweetness flings,
Untaught and fimple, let each action flow,
As my heart vibrates to the gust of woe!

O fweet regrets! O ever genial show'rs! That o'er its griefs the pitying bofom pours! When the fond heart fpreads forth its poignant ftore

Of fecret pangs, and counts them fadly o'er; Sooth'd with the fentiment of inward worth, Calls, with a languid fmile, paft forrows forth; Then fighing, weighs its merits with its fate, And whifpers-" Fortune, thou art in my "debt."

O fingular delights! mild pleasures! known And tafted by the feeling breaft alone! When (hard to paint) the foften'd heart repels Th' affault of pain, and with fair comfort dwells:

Smiles amid fighs; repining, not defponds; Soars on the cares of life, and looks beyond: Even then, when drooping o'er its hoard of

care,

With calm felf-pity fwells, not wild defpair:
Pity-the growth of patience, worth and woes,
That afks of heaven, in every figh, repose§!
Not fo, the fombre fpirit, (while despair
Spreads his thick fhades o'er every lighter care)
Heedful each ray of comfort to exclude,
'Till o'er her hideous offspring fancy brood;
Cow'rs o'er the ruins of a finking fire,
Views the fparks linger, gleam and straight
expire ;

NOTE S.

Allufion drawn from an Æolian harp. Da placidam Juveni quietem !-GRAY.

While

While from without the fullen mastiff growls, And the show'r'rushes, and the tempeft howls. Hence with all fuch! but hence alike with thofe,

Whom while the world calls friends-the heart calls foes!

Thro' whose dim notions, wandering fadly on,
I meet not one opinion of my own:
Who cold and trivial, selfish, weak and vain,
Are monstrous worthy people, in the main!

The generous youth to all around him lends The warmth he feels within, and deems them friends.

Each tender want his own rich heart fupplies, But wafting, looks, at length, for fympathies. The charm then broke, the bright illufion ends,

And the fcar'd wretch looks round him for his friends:

Back on itself his wounded heart retires,
And friendship's pulse beats low, and joy ex-
pires.

Ah, late retreat! nor 'till the artful train
Have wrought flight favours to a magic chain;
Faft in the circle of your habits bound,
And fenced with whispered calumnies around*;
Nor 'till their curious malice hath divin'd,
And ficken'd at your different caft of mind :-
For generous warmth gives selfishness offence,
And cunning dreads the piercing glance of

fenfe.

A philofophick theme fhould DICTATE† chufe,
Or flutter round fome moral point abstruse;
Your vigorous genius grafps the lurking truth,
And for affent difplays it, thoughtless youth!
Your folid hearers denfe, Boeotian mind,
Vain felf-love warps, and prejudices blind;
And if, by ftrange mishap, he comprehends,
He's fure to loath you, for fuperior fenfe.
A fentimental strain fhould he prefer,
Think you his foul in unifon? You err:
Yet mark, alas! how idle words impofe !
Mark how your fimple, candid heart o'er-'
flows,

And every fecret, foft emotion fhews!

On fpotlefs worth does foul detraction feed?
Or haughty power avow th' oppreffive deed?
Quick from your eyes the lambent flashes
gleam,

And indignation kindles you to flame.
O! learn this inward ferment to conceal !
Your friend but talks:-'tis you, alas! that
feel.

NOTE S.

* I know of no method more ufual amongst fuch perfons as I am here defcribing, nor any more effectual for fecuring that afcendancy to which their tyranny afpires, than mifreprefenting your character flyly to the world: Who thus deterred from feeking accefs to you, abandon you to the defpotifm of your hoftile friends.

+ Under which name I perfonify such friends as I here describe.

In converse with the honeft and the wife,
Undaunted, forth the bright idea flies.
On wings of words, while genuine fympathy
Swells at the heart, and gliftens in the eye.
In converfe with the felfifh and the dull,
We speak with danger, or we speak by rule:
Our nobleft feelings lab'ring in our breast,
Truth's light obfcur'd, and virtue's cry fup-
prefs'd;

Elfe, firft each maxim folly misconceives,
Then flander propagates, and malice b'lieves.

Each tie, to these kind friends, but feems t

impart

A further privilege to break your heart.
Soon thro' your generous temper they defcry
The meeknefs that attracts a tyranny:
Soon envy whispers your imperious sense,
And pride records th' inexpiable offence.
Such friends their counfels lavishly bestow,
And, liberal! fcorn to afk the like of you:
Your worth they praise, talk highly of your
fenfe,

And never burthen with their confidence;
But, in return, their kindly zeal exprefs,
By pillaging your heart, thro' each recefs.
With harfhnefs now they goad, now soothe to
reft,

Then damp the rifing hope that warms your breaft:

Watch as it kindies, and, in hafte, throw on Cold fcorn, or fmothering blame, to keep it

down.

Your dark referve, if filent, they condemn,
Your fentiments, if frankly utter'd, ftem;
Your ev'ry with neglect, or fruftrate-true,
But then 'tis purely with a friendly view:
O! never doubt that, you 're esteem'd and
lov'd,

Tho' every scheme you form is difapprov❜d ; Nor deem, that while your talents are beprais'd,

Their inconfiftent actions speak you craz'd:
Wither your firm audacity of foul,
Your fpirit fhatter, intellect controll;
And fhrink th' expanfive energies that warm'd,
To fluggish awe, and timorous doubt tranf-
form'dt.

NOTE.

Ev'n

I fufpect that our (and I presume every) country is defrauded of more intellect and intrepidity than we are commonly aware of, by that breaking of the fpirit and vigour of the human character, which the poem here alludes to. It is pity that in the cafe of horses and dogs we are fo much more careful of breaking the animal's fpirit than in the cafe of men. Whether at the prefent momentous crifis, it be not material that the energies of our nation should be fofter'd, and kept alive, as a bulwark againft that republican energy, of which the French boast so much, might deferve confideration. Perhaps too, it is peculiarly unfortunate that from the fenfibility which attends on genius, S 2

thofe

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Savage device of cruelty refined !

Prefcriptive ufage of th' ungenerous mind! While bleak unkindness blots the outward fcene,

To bid the wretch beware of gloom within! So, from the famifh'd wretch, whose eye purfues

The envied morfel, their hard hearts refuse; Should craving nature force one languid groan, Such friends would ftraight the peevish haste bemoan :

To check thefe dreams of fancy recommend, And these unkind suspicions of his friend :'Tis from pure love that they deny him food; And, if he's ftarv'd, fure, fure 'tis for his good!

To me fuch counfels, and from minds like thofe,

When, let neceffities their laws impose;
While to the yoke my yielding spirit bends,
Mifchance is fure to gall these patient friends.
To me, whofe temper, eafy and ferene,
While fcarce the ftorm is past, shines out
again;

And quick the scatter'd gloom difperfing round, 'Till o'er th' expanfe of mind no fpeck is found;

Forth iffues fmiling Hope, and ftraight renews Her pleafing tafk; his paftime joy purfues.

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grace,

And keen regret fhall thy fad foul invade,
With a long lift of duties, all unpaid.
Then bid adieu to quiet, to content,
Adieu the consciousness of life well-spent ;
Adieu the blifs, that crowns with lafting peace,
À youth of virtue with an age of ease.
Farewell domeftic joys, ferene and mild,
The tender husband, and the fmiling child;
Ne'er fhall you feel th' exftatick mother's joy,
To 'tend your infant, rear the pleasing boy;
Exulting, fee the youth in riper years,
In grace and comelinefs furpafs his peers.
Ah, no! far diff'rent joys transport thy breast,
Now by the hug of prostitution preft;
That bofom, facred to a darling child,
Is now by luftful brutes' foul hands defil'd.
For what are those who walk the streets dull
round,

Short waistcoated, fhort-fighted, pantaloon'd;
Who claim the well-ftuff'd cravat's useful aid,
T'envelop evil in impervious shade;

Who

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