D E, INSCRIBED TO JOHN HOWARD, Esq. F. R. S. AV'RITE of Heaven, and friend of Earth! FAV Philanthropy, benignant Power! Whose fons display no doubtful worth, The pageant of the paffing hour! Teach me to paint, in deathless song, Ah! whither lead'st thou ?-whence that figh? What found of woe my bofom jars? Why pass, where Mifery's hollow eye Glares wildly thro' thofe gloomy bars? Is Is Virtue funk in these abodes, Where keen Remorfe the heart corrodes ; But whence those fudden facred beams? Oppreffion drops his iron rod! And all the bright'ning dungeon feems To speak the prefence of a God. Philanthropy's defcending ray Diffufes unexpected day! Lovelieft of angels !-at her fide Her favourite votary stands ;-her English pride, Thro' Horror's mansions led by this celestial guide, Hail! generous HOWARD! tho' thou bear A name which Glory's hand fublime Has blazon'd oft, with guardian care, In characters that fear not Time; For thee fhe fondly spreads her wings s For thee from Paradife fhe brings, More verdant than her laurel bough, Such wreaths of facred Palm, as ne'er till now The smiling Seraph twin'd around a mortal brow. I That That Hero's praise shall ever bloom, Who fhielded our infulted coaft; And launch'd his lightning to consume The proud Invader's routed hoft. Brave perils rais'd his noble name: But thou deriv'ft thy matchless fame Where in the dungeon's loathsome shade, The speechless Captive clanks his chain, His feeble cries have call'd in vain : Thine eye his dumb complaint explores ; Thy cares his ghaftly vifage clear From Death's chill dew, with many a clotted tear, And to his thankful foul returning life endear. What precious Drug, or ftronger Charm, In scenes, whence, muttering her alarm, * CHARLES HOWARD, Earl of Nottingham. LUCRETIUS. Nor Nor Charm, nor Drug, difpel thy fears: Temperance, thy better guard, appears : Her crystal cup from Nature's pureft rill; I fee the hallow'd fhade of HALES *, To fave thee from the fnares of Fate," the *STEPHEN HALES, minifter of Teddington: he died at age of 84, 1761; and has been justly called " An orna"ment to his profeffion, as a clergyman, and to his country, as 66 a philofopher." I had the happiness of knowing this excellent man, when I was very young; and well remember the warm glow of benevolence which used to animate his countenance, in relating the fuccefs of his various projects for the be nefit of mankind. I have frequently heard him dwell with great pleasure on the fortunate incident which led him to the discovery of his Ventilator, to which I have alluded. He had ordered a new floor for one of his rooms; his carpenter not having prepared the work fo foon as he expected, he thought the season improper for laying down new boards, when they were brought to his house, and gave orders for their being depofited in his barn; from their accidental position in that place, he caught his first idea of this useful invention. Commiffion'd Commiffion'd from the Eternal Throne : I hear him praise, in wonder's warmest tone, Thy foul supplies new funds of health, That fail not, in the trying hour, Above Arabia's spicy wealth And Pharmacy's reviving power. The transports of the generous mind, Feeling its bounty to mankind, Inspirit every mortal part; And, far more potent than precarious art, Give radiance to the eye, and vigor to the heart. Bleft HOWARD! who like thee can feel This vital fpring in all its force? New ftar of philanthropic zeal Enlight'ning nations in thy courfe! And fhedding Comfort's heavenly dew Friend to the wretch, whom friends difclaim, Authority |