Imatges de pàgina
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But wherefore? say, does not thy heaven-blest soil
Bid golden plenty in each valley smile?
Has not each billow, in thy numerous bays,
Brought foreign riches from a thousand seas?
Was't not alone to bless thy new-found shore,
That freedom left the realms of light once more?
And are thy sons to prize the boon unskilled,
Or weak their arms the envied wealth to shield?
While all these blessings in her presence shine,
Can private grief claim sympathy divine ?
Alas! not causeless is the boding fear;

In times like these that starts the patriot tear
While wisdom points,-how near the dread array!
At empires crushed and nations in dismay,-
Half dares despair for this our favoured land,

Where heaven-sent freedom took her last firm stand.
For even here, though freedom must prevail,
Till faithful virtue in her succours fail,
Yet virtue, that is human, will repine
E en here, if learning and the arts decline.
Hence she already marks with watchful eyes,
What hopeful names among her sons arise;
What names, in whose protection to repose,
Though, marshalled near, she sees her Vandal foes,
What names to rescue truth's dishonoured cause,
And re-assert the majesty of laws;

To charm from faction's cause the simple throng,
Her falsehood listed, while they thought no wrong;
And without party craft persuade the crowd,
To know the policy, that seeks their good:
Among the great to check encroaching power,
And senates guide in each eventful hour,

From luxury's snares to guide her prosperous race,
And ancient manners by their lives replace.
But not the man, whose voice is oftenest heard,
In publick scenes, alone has she preferred;
Her eagle eyes the din recess pervade,
Where noblest minds their patriot labours shade,
Great souls, reserved for times of highest need,
For whom she smiling weaves her brightest mced.
And shall her eyes be tearless, when deprived
Of one, in whom her dearest hopes survived?
Ah, she may soon, my heart forebodes, repine,
O, WALTER, soon, for virtues such as thine.
For though by taste and studious habits made
To enjoy each pleasure of the classick shade,
Yet sure a breast, with generous passion filled,
From publick use its talents ne'er withheld;
True love of human kind, like his, could ne'er -
From active life its needed powers forbear.
Then say, so long why barred the genial day
The treasures of his meditations lay?
Unbidden gleams of light enough were seen
To prove the quickening mine was ripe within :
Sole foible of each generous mind, behold,
'Twas modest fear forbade his powers unfold.
But long the enlightened soul cannot confine
Its gifted radiance; forth its powers will shine,
But heaven forbid then an inferiour theme!
Then speak the ample field, the end supreme.

Lo, his lov'd country, her defence and fame!
'Tis theirs his full-grown energies to claim.
Alas, her hopes, how blasted in their prime !
Anticipation, in the work sublime

Marking a splendid course, look'd up to hear
A hovering glory shake its wings in air;
But ah, the rushing sound, through æther driven,
That spirit gave, which vanished into heaven!

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From converse with the immortal wise and good, Whose real presence claim'd his solitude, When to his friends he turned with looks serene,His looks announced perpetual calm within,How more instructive grew each social theme! With what new thoughts did every subject teem! His fluent reason seized the wandering thought, And back to truth and taste from errour brought; Within their minds, like dew upon the field, His more than mortal meanings were instilled; Hence, thoughtless whence the quickening force derived, Their noblest powers but by his culture thrived. Fondly their best propensities he'd tend,

But most the growths of liberal lore commend.

Oh with what care he'd guard the blooming round,
Where his fair influence cheered the favoured ground,
From every poisonous damp and every weed,
That blights the plant, or checks the genial seed?
But most from avarice; though its rind of gold
Belies the fruitlessness its leaves infold;
And though like gems its settling mildew glows,-
For lucre still will canker where it grows -
And still the seeds of sense and learning thrive,
But where the liberal passions all may live.
Nor was his genius of that cast severe,
Which keeps the gaieties of life in fear.
He'd join each circle grouped for festive joy,
As long as wit and innocence stood by ;'
As long as health could o'er the bowl rejoice,
And vocal mirth drown slander's jargon voice;
Long as the praise of merit could be heard,
Or one wronged character remained uncleared:
Yet still by pleasure's softening arts uncaught,
Constant the awe of virtue in him wrought.
Thus the fair elm-tree, stable, solid, vast,

Shakes not its trunk, though whirlwinds drive the blast;
Yet, to each breeze, the gentlest zephyr sends,

Graceful each branch, and low its summit bends.

How frequent I his well-known door have sought,

Though health yet claimed no pause from studious thought; Urged him, from classick themes, or legal toil,

To roam as taste or fancy might beguile?

Strayed we where wealth convenes the sons of care?

He'd teach to prize a well-stored mind c'en there!

If rural fields, the sun-bright day, we trod,

Oh, there I learnt to adore the works of God!
How blest along the lawn or shady streams
T'indulge in pastoral or in classick dreams;
Or, listening, sit beside him to prolong
The copious flow of his instructive tongue;

And thence with furtive ear that knowledge glean,
In boasted volumes sought, but sought in vain!
And oft, alas, when filled with torturing care,
Unsuited life's disheartening ills to bear,
Too weak the world's injustice to sustain,...
The world, that heeds alone the loud and vain ;
While other friends or thought me fancy-lorn,
Or lent that pity, which e'en woe can scorn,
He gave the balin, that healed my wounded soul,
Councils, that e'en the angry fates control;
Called forth the powers, that in the mind expire,
Unless bold effort test their latent fire;

Taught me that fortitude, which....ah, my breast!
Will it avail to soothe thy recent wounds to rest?

But stay my thoughts, nor range so near those scenes, That wake anew thy own peculiar pains. In vain...I see each loved memorial start, Rush at the hint, and occupy my heart. Still, still my hollow bosom swells with sighs, How quick the tear-drops gather in mine eyes! They ask that friend, whose ever-opening heart Was filled with all that nature could impart ; Whose glowing soul a brighter landscape drew Than even nature to the poets' view. How oft, alas, at summer's earliest hour, Ere light had tipt the city's highest tower, To where the morning broke, with golden light, Upon the distant mountain's utmost height, Together have we hied; with hasty tread Wound through the pathless grove or misty mead, Loitered adown the winding green lane, hedged With wild-rose briars, or with myrtles edged; Till from the pasture, scorched with noon-tide heat, The birds chirp faint, the panting cattle bleat; Then to the woodlands wild we'd bend our way, In converse sweet there talk away the day : There would I list that voice, whose silver tongue Leaf-touching breeze or warbling brook out-sung. That voice, as pure as is the faintest swell Of sweet love's lute, returned from echo's cell. Ah, now, like harp of dying bard, unstrung it lies; But list! it breathes a strain still sweeter in the skies.

Now must I haste, for solace of my woe,
To tasks that check, though not subdue its flow :
For to those labours, which through every age
Mourners have sought, their anguish to assuage,-
If I betake me in the vale of tears,

Where sleeping worth the willowy shade endears;
Perhaps in scenes where nature seems to mourn,
Each object droops, and wears a look forlorn,
My woes, poured out amid surrounding grief,
In many an echoed sigh may find relief.

Oh, there I'll haste to bend o'er WALTER's urn, Though friends at distance watch with deep concern; Or with the world, the heartless world, conceive, Madness alone can thus sincerely grieve. And though,-for such as friendship ne'er carest, How can they feel for the bereaved breast ?—

Though foes, with thoughtless ridicule, profane
The unguarded burstings of a heart humane:
Or, with foul hopes, when midnight lowers apace,
And fancy with strange horrours fills the place,
Safety beside that airy form to find,

Which e'er was known to be of gentlest kind,
I'll wait the white-robed image without dread,
By friendship missioned from the pitying dead.
Ah! every thought, that entered there my breast,
Should hallowing memory from its flight arrest,
Each passion note, each meditation prize,
Each impulse deem a message from the skies.
Yes, he'll be nigh, who best could teach the art
From whence affliction learns to mend the heart.
Thus, until morn the blest communion break;
Then to the cultured field I'd swift betake;
Collect the rose, that just begins to blow,
Upon his ever verdant grave to strew;

And thence the bay and rooted laurel bear,
And near that honoured head transplant with care;
That head, in life which destined seemed to own
Learning's bright wreath, and virtue's living crown.
February, 1807.

For the Anthology.

HESPER.

MILD Star of Eve, whose tranquil beams.
Are grateful to the Queen of Love.
Sweet Planet, whose effulgence gleams
More bright than all the Pow'rs above,

And only to the Moon's clear light
Yields the first honours of the night.

All hail, thou soft, thou holy Star,
Fair glory of the midnight sky!
And when my steps are wandering far,
Leading the shepherd minstrelsy,
Then if the Moon deny her ray,
Oh light me, HESPER, on my way!

No savage robber of the dark,

No foul assassin claims thy aid

To point his dagger to his mark,
Or guide him to his plundering trade.

My gentler errand is to prove
The transports of requited love.

THE

BOSTON REVIEW

FOR

FEBRUARY, 1807.

Librum tuum legi & quam diligentissime potui annotavi, quæ commutanda, que eximenda, arbitrarer. Nam ego dicere vero assuevi. Neque ulli patientius reprehenduntur, quam qui maxime laudari merentur. PLIN.

ARTICLE 5.

A Summary of the Law of Set-off: with an appendix of cases,argued and determined in the courts of law and equity upon that sub. ject. By Basil Montagu, Esq. of Gray's Inn, Barrister at Law. New-York: I. Riley & Co. Lexitypographick Press. 1806. pp. 123. 8vo.

THIS Summary treats of that branch of jurisprudence, which relates to the law of set-off. The author has collected the principles and cases into a small compass, and has treated the subject with good judgment. The paper on which this work is printed, the binding, and the typographical execution are much inferiour to many editions of law books, which have been published in the UnitedStates, and are in these respects, vastly beneath the London editions.* If our printers and book-binders wish to raise the character of their respective crafts, they must submit to a little more labour in their vocations, and perhaps to sacrifice a small portion of their immediate

• Messrs. I. Riley & Co's editions have been usually very favourable specimens of American work, and very deserving of encouragement.

gains. They ought to be particularly attentive to editions of works in the science of the law, as the reputation of these,even as authorities, is injured by the appearance of negligence in the typographical part of their execution. The gentlemen of the bar are accustomed to pay a high price for professional works, as they are intended for study and reference; and it is because of the superiour fidelity,neatness and strength of English editions, that those of our own country are not more encouraged.

In reviewing this Summary, we shall condense the contents into a small compass, that we may present to the profession a concise view of a system, which in Great-Britain approaches very near perfection, and which is but partially known and in use in this commonwealth. This must likewise supply the place of critical remark on the author and the work, to which however they are not liable.

The work is divided into two books: the first is appropriated to set-off at law, the second contains a few decisions on set-off in equity; the first book contains two sections, the first of which relates to set-off at common law, the second, to set-off by statute.

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