The DECISSION.

CLA

A TALE.

LARISSA, fprightly once and gay, Now figh'd the tedious hours away: She mourn'd the kindeft husband gone, The husband much but more the man. Dark weeds conceal'd the fair from view, Yet mightily became her too! She veil'd her pretty blubber'd face, And wept her dear with fuch a grace! But lo! young Florimel appears To dry the joylefs widow's tears: His fuit fhe heard with warm difdain, Protested all his hopes were vain ; Her bands the wrung, her robe the rent, And wept, and "wonder'd what he meant!" Yet thro' the drop that drown'd her eye, 'Tis faid, there thone a spark of joy; And fage diviners could foretell, That Florimel might yet do well.

A fcruple now disturb'd her head, Whether it were a fin to wed? Queries and doubts her brain poffeft, And bufy confcience broke her reft. So, to refolve this knotty cafe, She feeks the Curate of the place; A cafuift?-deep. Of judgment?-found, Yes, fam'd for parts-the parith round. CLARISSA, with the rifing fun, Approach'd her friend, and thus begun; "Full fixty times hath yonder light Arofe, as oft hath funk in night, Since the lamented hour that gave My faithful confort to the grave: And fure no fecond love fhall e'er Efface that image, ftill fo dear: Clariffa, to his memory juft, For ever shall revere his duft. Yet cruel Prudence may require What else were foreign to defire; And, midst a weight of cares, you know, What can a helpless woman do? My heedlefs fervants flight my call, My tenants break, my houfes fall; And Florimel, with winning air, Tells me they want a husband's care. What does my learned Doctor fay?" "Why, marry fure, without delay."

But thould the lover prove unkind, A tyrant o'er a tender mind,

How hard my lor, condemn'd to mingle Tears with my cup!" Why then live fingle

Yet what if an obdurate fair,

Should drive a lover to despair?

You know the foolish freaks of men; -Nay take him

I dread the thought!

then."

But should he squander my eftate,
And pawn my jewels, rings, and plate!
And witleis I, by folly led,
Be turn'd adrift to beg my bread!

The Doctor, vers'd in woman-kind,
Perceiv'd the working of her mind.

Madam, he cries, when truth we feek, All argument is often weak: When reafons weigh on either part, Opinion vainly tries her art;

་

So till defeending truth prevails,
She fits fufpended o'er the fcales.
A way more fpeedy fhall be try'd;
A tongue fhail fpeak that never ly'd,
Know, Madam, then, my parish-bell
Is famous for advising well;
Whate'er the point in question be,
It hits the matter to a T.
Thus, as it dictates by its tone,
You fure muft wed, or lie alone '
Now tow'rd the church in haite they go,
The widow chearful?-but fo fo.-
Yet vows, whate'er the answer giv❜n,
She piously will yield to Heav'n."
The Doctor too exhorts the fair,
To liften, and decide with care.
And now the mystery to unfold,
He turn'd the key, the bell he toll'd.
The widow mus'd, and knit her brow,

Well, Madam, pray what think you now?" (Here, firft the fobb'd, and wip'd her eye, Then labour'd out a doleful fiigh ;). "Think, Doctor?Why the case is plain: Alas! I find refittance vain!

In heav'n 'tis faid our doom is feal'd:
Ah, Florimel!-and must I yield!
Yet not by choice-by fate I'm won,
The Will of Heav'n be ever done!
The bell ordains thee to my bed
For bark! it loudly bids me "wed ."
Dear Doctor then, (1 speak with forrow,}
Be fure you be at home to-morrow."
Think
you the fimple Tale too long?
Then hear the moral of my fong:
The moral, to no fex confin'd,
Regards alike all human kind.

Sly paffion and diftemper'd fenfe
Uforp the form of evidence;
And truth and falfehood, good or ill,
Receive their tincture from the Will.
Man boats his reason's power in vain ş
The pageant drags a hidden chain;
A vary'd thape each object wears,
Juft as he wishes, hopes, or fears i
His deepest thought (his vaunted rule)
Is paffion's flave, or folly's fool.
'Tis hence we blindly can approve
The very faults of those we love:
'Tis hence we blindly can debate
The noblest deeds of thofe we hate.
Abroad thus works perverted Will,
At home our views are darker til;
And actions, deem'd abfurd in thee,
Are prudent, wife, and just, in me.
By the vain colour of a name,
We link at once the guilt and frame.
The prodigal is generous, free;
The Mifer boafis œconomy:

Gay, the debauch'd; the proud is great;
The bold oppreffor hates a sheat :
The fawning flave obliges all;
And mad revenge is honour's call.

Thus paffion shoots thro' every part;
The brain is tainted by the heart:
Weak judgment falls before temptation;
"And reafon is but Inclination."

ODES

O DE S

Sung in Conimemoration of the Institution of the MARINE SOCIETY, on Occafion of their Anniversary Dinner, at the London Tavern, on Thursday, March 9, 1780.

SOCIAL

OCIAL Virtue's liberal plan. Cheers the hapless race of man; O'er the poor's defenceless head, See! her healing wings are fpread! Plants from Britain's earth behold, Britain, parent of the bold; Snatch'd from Vice's horrid train, Chilling penury and pain!

Rais'd by Virtue's powerful arm, See! their throbbing bofoms warm! Sureft pledge, how well they'll prove What they owe to SOCIAL LOVE.

Hail! thou blessing most divine! Still, O fill thro' ALBION fhine; Whilft thy golden chain's unbroke, Her foes fhall bend beneath her yoke.

Sung at table, by the fame Choir. SEE thefe youths; now happy made Bulwarks of our wealth and trade! From this glorious fource will Яow Vigorous ftrength, to quell each foe. May fuch noble plans fuftain GEORGE's empire on the main! May rich Commerce, England's pride, Stil-adorn her fwelling tide!

While the guardians of our isle,
Favour'd by his gracious fimile,
Band of patriot-brothers, tie
The knot of focial amity.

Virtue hails the good defign,
She owns the impulfe is divine;
Bids her happy BRUNSWICK prove
The golden band of SOCIAL LOVE!

EPITAPH upon the late General WOLFE. Written in 1772, but never printed.

HERE lies the body

Of General Wolfe,

Who formerly made a very confiderable noife, Stir, and buffle,

In this world of ours:

But is now a few feet under old mother Earth,
And is as quiet and as fnug
As many other famous Generals have been
"before him.

He was generally looked upon as a very good fort of man,'

And figured tolerably high in military operations,

He understood the nature and frength of gunpowder,

And every thing elfe of an explofive quality, He gave learned and ample directions for a great number of people,

To be either wounded or quite knocked on the head;

And was thought to have made most glorious work,

For the whale order of Bone-fetters. Wercefter

A curious and delectable DIALOGUE between a certain NOBLE SQUIRE and a NEW JUSTICE Bouts Riméz. By Mr. John Hoadly, afterwards LL.D. Chancellor of Winchester, &c.

quarry,

Than have fuch a jade that never wore

Aocking,

To one of the Quorum fo curfed

provoking.

1

THOUGHT at the GRAVE of Jofeph Highmore, Efq. in Canterbury Cathedral, eb. 3 Mar. 1780, at. 88.

RTIST or Sage, by chance or leifure

A Ted;

To view thefe fond memorials of the dead, Paufe o'er this itone, to worth and genius just,

And learn what here is crumbling into dust!
An eye, a hand, whofe magic powers could
fave
[brave;

From age and death the beauteous and the
Could bid late times admire each⚫ Gunning's
charms,
[in arms:
And Wolfe and William bloom, ftill green
A head, which daily added to its flore
Ofufeful knowledge, and yet fought for more:
A heart, to pity prone, in age, in youth,
Warm'd with the love of virtue and of truth:

A inind—“ Not fo," RELIGION fmiling cries;

*That fpurns the grave, and triumphs in the skies."

But death on all your boasted charms I fee, And hence my Delia mourns your lofs with me. Ah, why did John difcard the generous bloom

Of hardier pinks, to give your frailties room? In friendships thus too hasty preference ends In faithlefs parasites, and treacherous friends! Thus you, too lavish of your promis'd grace,

With rofes and ribbands her lambkins atë

crown'd,

Awhile they refpectfully stand; Then on the gay lawn with a frolic they bound,

But first take a kifs from her hand.

'Mongft fhepherds in all the gay round of the year!

This, this is the principal day!

It gave Phillis birth, and pray what can appear,
More pleafing, or lovingly gay?

Hark! hark! how the tabor enlivens the fcene,
Ye lads with your laffes advance;
'Tis charming to fport on a daifey-drest green,
And Phillis fhall lead up the dance.
The fun and he thines in his brightest array,
As if on this festival proud;

In order to give us a beautiful day,

Has banish'd each travelling clould: The priest pafs'd along, and my shepherdefs figh'd;

Sweet Phillis!-I guefs'd what fhe meant; We ftble from the paftimes I made her my bride, Her figh! was the sigh of consent! An Motus circularis fit maximè naturalis? Af. By Dr. Matkham, now Abp. of York. Nfantem vagitu inopi lactentia aventem Ubera, nutricis blanda loquela fovet. Jamq. fcholam it, gemitus inter lachry mafque fequaces,

Et teftudines ducit eundo moras, [tor, Mox cantus iterat miferos nocturnus amáEt queritur fævas pervigil ante fores. Tum plenos numerans maturis viribus annos,

Deftituit patrium laudis amore focum ! Caftra amens fequitur, vitreoque infervit honori,

Lethalis quanquam fulminet ante tubus. Tum mira accedit gravitas, ventrifque rotundi Tardum, mollia agens otia, pafcit onus. Laudare antiquos mores; & facta juventæ, Per mille ambages, dinumerare juvat. Inde iter occiduum carpens declive fenecta, Ora movet tremulis emaciata fonis, Delirus tandem & fatuus; gyrumque recurfum

Claudit, ut incepto prodiit orbe, puer.

An omne Corpus componatur? Affirm.
By the fame.

OPULEO in ramo, aut patule fronden-
tibus ulmi

in vain ;

1 fow'd with pleafare, but I reap'd with pain.

THE BIRTH-DAY OF PHILLIS, a ballad. By the late Mr. Cunningham.

Hofpitiis, nidum fedula promit avis. Fundamenta locat, qua nec violentior æftus Torteat, aut gelida proluat imber aquæ. Jamque agros circum faliens,&fluminis oram, Mufcofo avellit fragmina lenta toto. Inde rapit fummo volitantes æquore plumas, Grandiaque obnitens framina tollit humo Nunc tenui fpoliat defertos vellere dumos,

Deciduofve jubis excipit ore pilos. His lentum admifcens annofo ftipite comum Dædalea lepidum conftruit arte lares. Non tam diversâ Capitoli regia moles Materie enituit, quam levis ista domus,

fested, I perceived the enemy were endeavouring to form a line of battle a-head upon the starboard tack; and as the day was far advanced, and unwilling to delay the action, at two P. M. I hauled down the fignal for the line of battle a-breast, and made the fignal for a general chace, to engage as the ships came up by rotation, and to take the lee-gage in order to prevent the enemy's retreat into their own ports,

At four P. M. perceiving the headmoft fhips very near the enemy, I made the general fignal to engage and clofe; in a few minutes the four headmoft thips began the action, which was returned with great brifknefs by the enemy. At forty minutes past four, one of the enemy's line of battle hips blew up with a dreadful explosion; every perfon periled. At fix P. M. one of the Spanish thips ftruck. The action and purfuit continued with a conftant fire til two o'clock in the morning, at which time the Monarca, the headmost of all the enemy's thips, having truck to the Sandwich, after receiving one broadfide, and all firing having ceafed, I made the fignal and brought to.

The weather, during the night, was at times very tempeftuous, with a great fea, which rendered it difficult to take poffefion of, and fhift the prifoners of thofe thips that had furrendered to his maiefty's arms. It continued very bad weather the next day, when the Royal George, Prince George, Sandwich, and feveral other thips, were in great danger, and under the ne celity of making fail to avoid the foals of St. Lucar; nor did they get into deep water till the next morning, when, having joined the convoy, and made Cape Spartel, I difpatched two frigates to Tangier, to acquaint his majesty's conful with our feccefs, that Great Britain was again mifics of the Straits, and defiring him to haden a fupply of ficth provifions for the garrifon. At fun-fet we entered the gut.

The gallant behaviour of the admirals, captains, officers, and men, I had the honour to command, was remarkably confpicuous: they deemed aft hated with the fame

irit, and were anxiously eager to exert themiclves with the umeft zcal to ferve his majefty, and to humble the pride of his enemies.

I may venture to affirm, though the enemy made a gallant defence, that had the weather proved but even moderate, or had the action happened in the day, not ore of their quadron had escaped.

Inciofed I, fend a lift of the Spanish fquadron, as Ikewife of his majetty's fhips, with the damage they received.

Philip Stephens, efq; G.B RODNEY.

A Lift of the Spanith fleet under the command of Don Jean de Langara. Phœniz-Don Juan de Langara, admiral,

Don Francifco Melgarefo, captain, guns, 700 men, taken and brought into Gibraltar.

San Auguftin-Don Vizente Dos, commander, 7c guns, 600 men, elcaped. San Genaro-Don Felix Te ada, commander, 70 guns, 600 men, etcared. San Jufto-Don Jofef, commander, 70 guas, 600 men, escaped, very much damaged.

San Lorenzo-Don Juan Araoz, comman der, 70 guns, 600 men, efcaped, very much damaged.

San Julian-Marques de Medina, commander, 70 guns, 600 men, taken, the officers thifted, and a lieutenant with 70 feamen pub on board, afterwards went on

fhore.

San Eugenio Don Antonio Dumonte, commander, 70 guns, 600 men, taken, the officers fhifted, but drove a-fhore on the breakers, and loft. Monarca-Don Antonio Ovarvide, commander, 70 guns, 600 men, taken and brought into Gibraltar. Princeffa-Don Manuel de Leon, commander, 70 guns, 600 men, taken and brought into Gibraltar.

Diligente-Don Antonio Abornoz, commander, 70 guns, 600 men, taken and brought into Gibraltar.

Ser Domingo-Don Ignacio Mendezabel, commander, 70 guns, 600 men, blown up in action.

St. Getrudie-Don Anibal Taffoni, com mander, 26 guns, 250 men, efcaped. St. Rofalia-Don Antonio Ortega, commander, 28 guns, 250 men, eícaped. G. B. RODNEY. Gibraltar-Bay, Feb. 4.

Sir, As the wind continued to blow hard wetterly, I thought it forwarding his majefty's fervice to make fure of the convoy's arriving fafe at Minorca, by fending three copper-bottom ships of the line to fee them in fafety of that ifland, where I am fure they must have arrived before this time, as the wind has continued to blow hard wef terly ever fince they failed.

Sir,

Gibraltar-Bay, Feb. 7.

I must defire you will pleafe to acquaint their lordships, that every attention poflible has been paid to the Spanish admiral and his officers; they are all extremely defirous of returning to Spain upon their parole of honour; but as I am informed that a great number of his majefty's fubjects are now prifoners in Spain, I have declined giving them any affurances till the British fubjects are released; and having received yefterday, by the Shrewtbury from Lithon, a letter from his majefty's conful-general in Portugal, acquainting me, that he had releafed 626 Spanish prifoners; and though frequent promifes had been made, he had not as yet received one in return; this letter from Sir John Hort has confirmed me