N. B. Essays, Squibs, &c. prepared on the shortest notice.

Nov. 28.

ARRIED-Lately, at Dumfries, the Lady Auch terfardle, to David Cushnie, Esq. of Overdum-fifidling, in the county of Dumfries.

EPITHALAMIUM CELTICUM.

OVERDUMFIFIDLING's Heir,

David Cushnie, 'clept Esquire,
Auchterfardle's Lady fair
Passionately did admire.
Overdumfifidling's Heir

Sought fair Auchterfardle's hand-
Hymen smil'd, and soon the fair
Buckled in his holy band.

Auld Dumfries! thy crest now rear,
Sing, and push about the nappy--
May Överdumfifidling's Heir

Make fair Auchterfardie happy!
From the roof of this fond pair
Still may smiling Fortune ward ill-
Soon Squire Cushnie have an heir
By fair Lady Auchterfardle!

[From the Morning Chronicle, Nov. 29.]

LINES,

OCCASIONED BY A QUOTATION FROM HORACE, IN

LATE DEBATE:

O navis, referent in mare te novi
Fluctus, &c.

[From the same, Dec. 3.]

ILL-fated ship, by tempests torn,

On wild and heady currents borne,
"T were wise the peaceful port to keep
While angry winds the ocean sweep!
в 3

Thy

Thy timbers strain'd, thy tackle rent,
Thy strength in useless fury spent,
Thy main-mast from its station riven,
And shatter'd by the stroke of Heaven,
No hopes of safety canst thou form
On him who weather'd once the storm:
A feeble crew, whom doubts o'erwhelm,
And strifes distract, have seiz'd the helm.
Boast not the trust that once was thine
In England's oak and Scotia's pine;
For while they steer, 't will swell their pride,
And lead their blindness further wide;
'T will hasten and confirm the more
That fate which threaten'd thee before.
Of foes the mock, of fools the sport,
O seek in time the peaceful port;
And mayst thou ne'er thy course renew,
Till mann'd by helismen tried and true!

EPITAPH ON DRYANDER.

[From the same, Dec. 8.]

BENEATH this humble tombstone lie
The mouldering bones of honest Dry;
A learned Swede of Linné's school,
Long us'd o'er botany to rule,

Plantarum genera et species,
Varieties ad usque decies;

Who left his native garden, Sweden,
To seek, in Soho Square, an Eden.
Many an author well he knew,
From Tournefort to Jussieu ;
Gerarde, Johnson, and all such,
From Tabermontan in High Dutch,
Down to the secrets that we come by,
In the receipts of Mother Bumbey.
For current coins he well could barter,
Whether Chinese and Mancheou Tartar;
Or Persic, Arabic, Napaul,

Where struck, and when, he knew them all.

3

R. R.

English

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 opinions
Of Buonaparte and his minions;
And for his patron's fost'ring care,
"T was all he had-a dying pray'r !

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,

E 4

either

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.

be true,

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 "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 cons 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 objecting, 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 suspi-cion, 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