“To a woman I never addressed myself in the language

of decency and friendship, without receiving a do. cent and friendly answer. If I was hungry or thirsty, wet or sick, they did not hesitate, like men, to perform a generous action : in so free and kind a manner did they contribute to my relief, that if I was dry, I drank the sweetest draught; and if hungry, I ate the coarsest morsel with a double relish."-Mr. Ledyard, as quoted by M. Parke in his Travels into Africa.

He was a younger son, for law design'd,

Happy our hero, when he could excite
With dauntless look and persevering mind; Some thoughtless talker to the wordy fight :
While yet a clerk, for disputation famed,

Let him a subject at his pleasure choose,
No efforts tired him, and no conflicts tamed. Physic or law, religion or the muse;

Scarcely he bade his master's desk adieu, On all such themes he was prepared to shine, When both his brothers from the world withdrew. Physician, poet, lawyer, and divine. An ample fortune he from them possess'd, Hemm'd in by some tough argument, borne down And was with saving care and prudence bless’d. By press of language, and the awful frown, Now would he go and to the country give In vain for merey shall the culprit plead ; Example how an English 'squire should live; His crime is past, and sentence must proceed: How bounteous, yet how frugal man may be, Ah! suffering man, have patience, bear thy woes By a well-order'd hospitality;

For lo! the clock-at ien the justice goes. He would the rights of all so well maintain, This powerful man, on business or to please That none should idle be, and none complain. A curious taste, or weary grown of case,

All this and more he purposed--and what man On a long journey travellid many a mile Could do, he did to realize his plan :

Westward, and halted midway in our isle ; Bat time convinced him that we cannot keep Content to view a city large and fair, A breed of reasoners like a flock of sheep; Though none had notice-what a man was there! For they, so far from following as we lead,

Silent two days, he then began to long Make that a cause why they will not proceed. Again to try a voice so loud and strong : Man will not follow where a rule is shown, To give his favourite topics some new grace, But loves to take a method of his own;

And gain some glory in such distant place; Explain the way with all your care and skill, To reap some present pleasure, and to sow This will he quit, if but to prove he will.

Seeds of fair fame, in after-time to grow : Yet had our justice honour; and the crowd, Here will men say, “We heard, at such an hour, Axed by his presence, their respect avowd. The best of speakers-wonderful his power." In later years he found his heart incline,

Inquiry made, he found that day would meet More than in youth, to generous food and wine; A learned club, and in the very street : But no indulgence check'd the powerful love Knowledge to gain and give, was the design; He felt to teach, to argue, and reprove.

To speak, io hearken, to debate, and dine : Meetings, or public calls, he never miss'd- This pleased our traveller, for he fell his force To dictate often, always to assist.

In either way, to eat or to discourse. Oft he che clergy join'd, and not a cause

Nothing more easy than to gain access
Pertain'd to them but he could quote the laws ; To men like these, with his polite address;
He opon tithes and residence display'd

So he succeeded, and first look'd around,
A fund of knowledge for the hearer's aid; To view his objects and to take his ground;
And could on glebe and farming, wool and grain, And therefore silent chose a while to sit,
A long discourse, without a pause, maintain. Then enter boldly by some lucky hit ;
To his experience and his native sense

Some observation keen or stroke severe,
He join'd a bold imperious eloquence ;

To cause some wonder or excite some fear. The grave, slem look of men inform'd and wise, Now, dinner past, no longer he suppress'd A foll command of feature, heart, and eyes,

His strong dislike to be a silent guest; An awe compelling frown, and fear inspiring Subjects and words were now at his commandsize.

When disappointment frown'd on all he plann'd; When at the table, not a guest was seen

For, hark he heard, amazed, on every side With appetite so lingering, or so keen;

His church insulted, and her priests belied ; But when the outer man no more required, The laws reviled, the ruling power abused The inner waked, and he was man inspired. The land derided, and its foes excused :His subjects then were those, a subject true He heard, and ponder'd--What, to men so vile, Presents in fairesi form to public view!

Should be his language ? For his threatening style Of church and state, of law, with mighty strength They were too many ;—if his speech were meek, Of words he spoke, in speech of mighty length : They would despise such poor attempts to speak : And now, into the vale of years declined, At other times with every word at will, He hides too little of the monarch mind:

He now sat lost, perplex'd, astonish'd, still. fle kindles anger by untimely jokes,

Here were Socinians, Deists, and indeed And opposition by contempt provokes ;

All who, as foes to England's church, agreed ; Minh he suppresses by his awsul frown,

But still with creeds unlike, and some without a And humble spirits, by disdain, keeps down;

creed : Blamed by the mild, approved by the severe, Here, too, fierce friends of liberty he saw, The prudent fly him, and the valiant fear. Who own'd no prince and who obey no law; For overbearing is his proud discourse,

There were reformers of each different sort, And overwhelming of his voice the force ; Foes to the laws, the priesthood, and the court ; And overpowering is he when he shows

Some on their favourite plans alone intent,
What floats upon a mind that always overflows Some purely angry and malevolent:

This ready man at every meeting rose, The rash were proud to blame their country's laws
Bonething to hint, determine, or propose ; The vain, to seem supporters of a cause ;
And grew so fond of teaching, that he taught One callid for change that he would dread to see
Those who instruction needed not or sought: Another sigh'd for Gallic liberty !

And numbers joining with the forward crew, Hammond they call him; they can give the came For no one reason-but that numbers do.

Of man to devils.- Why am I so tame! “How," said the justice, “ can this trouble rise, Why crush I not the viper ?"-Fear replied, This shame and pain, from creatures I despise ?" “Watch him a while, and let his strength be tried ; And conscience answer'd—“The prevailing cause He will be foild, if man; but if his aid Is thy delight in listening to applause ;

Be from beneath, 'tis well to be afraid." Here, thou art seated with a tribe, who spurn “We are call'd free!" said Hammond—“ doleful Thy favourite themes, and into laughter turn

times Thy fears and wishes ; silent and obscure,

When rulers add their insults to their crimes : Thyself, shalt thou the long harangue endure; For should our scom expose each powerful vice, And learn, by feeling, what it is to force

It would be libel, and we pay the price." On thy unwilling friends the long discourse : Thus with licentious words the man went on, What though thy thoughts be just, and these, it Proving that liberiy of speech was gone; seems,

That all were slaves ; nor had we better chance Are traitors' projects, idiots' empty schemes ? For better times than as allies to France. Yet, minds like bodies crammid, reject their food, Loud groan’d the stranger-Why, he must relate, Nor will be forced and tortured for their good !" And own'd, “ In sorrow for his country's fate."

At length, a sharp, shrewd, sallow man arose, Nay, she were safe," the ready man replied. And begg'd he briefly might his mind disclose ; “ Might patriots rule her, and could reasoners guide; " It was his duty, in these worst of times,

When all 10 vote, lo speak, to teach, are free, T'inform the govern'd of their rulers' crimes :" Whate'er their creeds or their opinions be ; This pleasant subject to attend, they each

When books of statutes are consumed in flames, Prepared to listen, and forbore to teach.

And courts and copyholds are empty names ; Then voluble and fierce the wordy man

Then will be times of joy : bui ere they come, Through a long chain of favourite horrors ran :- Havoc, and war, and blood must be our doom." First, of the church, from whose enslaving power The man here paused; then loudly for reform He was deliver'd, and he bless'd the hour; He call’d, and hail'd the prospect of the storm ; “ Bishops and deans, and prebendaries all,” The wholesome blast, the fertilizing flood He said, “ were cattle fattening in the stall; Peace gain'd by tumult, plenty bought with blood: Slothful and pursy, insolent and mean,

Sharp means, he own'd; but when the land's disease Were every bishop, prebendary, dean,

Asks cure complete, no medicines are like these. And wealthy rector : curates, poorly paid,

Our justice now, more led by fear than rage, Were only dull, he would not them upbraid." Saw it in vain with madness to engage ; From priests he turn'd to canons, creeds, and With imps of darkness no man seeks to fight, prayers,

Knaves to instruct, or sot deceivers right: Rubrics and rules, and all our church affairs : Then as the daring speech denounced these woes, Churches themselves, desk, pulpit, altar, all Sick at the soul, the grieving guest arose ; The jusiice reverenced-and pronounced their Quick on the board his ready cash he threw, fall.

And from the demons to his closet flew : Then from religion Hammond turn'd his view, There when secured, he pray'd with earnest zeal, To give our rulers the correction due ;

That all they wish'd these patriot souls might Not one wise action had these triflers plannid ;

feel; There was, it seem'd, no wisdom in the land ; Let them to France, their darling country haste, Save in this patriot tribe, who meet at times And all the comforts of a Frenchman taste ; To show the statesman's errors and his crimes. Let them his safety, freedom, pleasure know,

Now here was Justice Bolt compellid to sit, Feel all their rulers on the land bestow; To hear the deist's scorn, the rebel's wit;

And be at length dismiss'd by one unerring blow; The fact mis-stated, the envenomed lie,

Not hack'd and hew'd by one afraid to strike, And staring, spell-bound, made not one reply. But shorn by that which shears all men alike ;

Then were our laws abused ; and with the laws Nor, as in Britain, let them curse delay All who prepare, desend, or judge a cause : Of law, but borne without a form away“We have no lawyer whom a man can trust,"

Suspected, tried, condemn'd, and carted in a day; Proceeded Hammond, “ if the laws were just; 0! let them taste what they so much approve, But they are evil; 'tis the savage state

These strong fierce freedoms of the land they love.''* Is only good, and ours sophisticate!

Home came our hero, to forget no more See! the free creatures in their woods and plains, The fear he felt and ever must deplore : Where without laws each happy monarch reigns,

For though he quickly joind his friends again King of himself-while we a number dread,

And could with decent force his themes maintain. By slaves commanded and by dunces led ;

Still it occurred, that, in a luckless time, 0, let the name with either state agree

He fail'd to fight with heresy and crime Savage our own we'll name, and civil theirs

shall be." The silent justice still astonish'd sate,

. The reader will perceive in these and the preceding And wonder'd much whom he was gazing at;

verses, allusions to the state of France, as that country Twice he essay'd to speak, but in a cough

was circumstanced some years since, rather than as it

appears to be in the present date,-several years elapsing The faint, indignant, dying speech went off :

between the aların of the loyal magistrate on the occasion “But who is this !" thought he; "a demon vile,

now related, and a subsequent event that farther illusWith wicked meaning and a vulgar style : xates the remark with which the narrative commences

It was observed his words were not so strong, Now he could feel it cruel that a heart
His tones so powerful, his harangues so long, Should be distress'd, and none to take its part;
As in old times—for he would often drop

Though one by one,” said Pride, “ I would defy
The lofty look, and of a sudden stop;

Much greater men, yet meeting every eye,
When conscience whisper'd, that he once was still, I do confess a fear; but he will pass me by.”
And let the wicked triumph at their will ;

Vain hope! the justice saw the foe's distress,
And therefore now, when not a foe was near, With exultation he could not suppress ;
He had no right so valiant to appear.

He felt the fish was hook'd, and so forbore,
Some years had pass'd, and he perceived his fears In playful spite, to draw it to the shore.
Yield to the spirit of his earlier years,

Hammond look'd round again; but none were near,
When at a meeting, with his friends beside, With friendly smile, to still his growing fear;
He saw an object that awaked his pride ;

But all above him seem'd a solemn row
His shame, wrath, vengeance, indignation-all Of priests and deacons, so they seem'd below;
Man's harsher feelings did that sight recall. Ho wonder'd who his right-hand man might be

For lo! beneath him fir’d, our man of law Vicar of Holt cum Uppingham was he; That lawless man, the foe of order, saw :

And who the man of that dark frown possess'dOnce fear'd, now scorn'd; once dreaded, now ab- Rector of Bradley and of Barton-west ; horr'd:

A pluralist," he growl'd—but check'd the word, A wordy man, and evil every word :

That wariare might not, by his zeal, be stirr'd. Again he gazed—" It is," said he, “the same ; But now began the man above to show Caught and secure : his master owes him shame:" Fierce looks and threatenings to the man below; So thought our hero, who each instant sound Who had some thoughts his peace by flight to seekHis courage rising, from the numbers round. But how then lecture, if he dared not speak!As when a felon has escaped and fled,

Now as the justice for the war prepared, So long, that law conceives the culprit dead ; He seem'd just then to question if he dared : And back recallid her myrmidons, intent

He may resist, although his power be small, On some new game, and with a stronger scent; And growing desperate may defy us all ; Till she beholds him in a place, where none One dog attack, and he prepares for flightCould have conceived the culprit would have Resist another, and he strives to bite ; gone ;

Nor can I say, if this rebellious cur
There he sits upright in his seat, secure,

Will fly for safety, or will scorn to stir."
As one whose conscience is correct and pure ; Alarm’d by this, he lash'd his soul to rage,
This rouses anger for the old offence,

Burn'd with strong shame, and hurried to engage.
And scorn for all such seeming and pretence ; As a male turkey struggling on the green,
So on this Hammond look'd our hero bold, When by fierce harriers, terriers, mongrels seen,
Remembering well that vile offence of old, He feels the insult of the noisy train,
And now he saw the rebel dared t’intrude And skulks aside, though moved by much disdain ,
Among the pure, the loyal, and the good : But when that turkey, at his own barn-door,
The crime provoked his wrath, the folly stirr’d his Sees one poor straying puppy, and no more,
blood :

(A foolish puppy who had left the pack. Nor wonder was it if so strange a sight

Thoughtless what foe was threatening at his back,) Caused joy with vengeance, terror with delight; He moves about, as ship prepared to sail, Terror like this a tiger might create,

He hoists his proud rotundity of tail, A joy like that to see his captive state,

The half-seal'd eyes and changeful neck he shows, At once to know his force and then decree his fate. Where in its quickening colours, vengeance glows, Hammond, much praised by numerous friends, From red to blue the pendent wattles turn,

Blue mix'd with red, as matches when they burn ; To read his lectures, so admired at home;

And thus th' intruding snarler to oppose, Historic lectures, where he loved to mix

Urged by enkindling wrath, he gobbling goes. His free plain hints on modern politics:

So look'd our hero in his wrath, his cheeks Here, he had heard, that numbers had design, Flush'd with fresh fires and glow'd in tingling Their business finish'd, to sit down and dine;

streaks; The gave him pleasure, for he judged it right His breath by passion's force a while restrain'd, To show hy day, that he could speak at night. Like a stopp'd current, greater force regain'd Rash the design-for he perceived, too late, So spoke, so look'd he, every eye and ear Not one approving friend beside him sate ; Were fix'd to view him, or were turn d to hear. The greater number whom he traced around " My friends, you know me, you can witness all Were men in black, and he conceived they frown'd. How, urged by passion, I restrain my gall; * I will not speak," he thought; " no pearls of mine And every motive to revenge withstandShall be presented to this herd of swine !" Save when I hear abused my native land. Not this avail'd him, when he cast his eye

“ Is it not known, agreed, confirm'd, confessid,
On Justice Bolt; he could not fight, nor fly : That of all people we are govern'd best?
He saw a man to whom he gave the pain,

We have the force of monarchies ; are free,
Which now he felt must be returned again ; As the most proud republicans can be ;
His conscience told him with what keen delight And have those prudent counsels that arise
He, at that time, enjoy'd a stranger's fright; In grave and cautious aristocracies ;
That stranger now befriended-he alone,

And live there those, in such all-glorious state,
For all his insult, friendless, to atone;

Traitors protected in the land they hate?

was come

а

64

.

Rebels, still warring with the laws that give Exulting now he gained new strength of fame, To them subsistence ?— Yes, such wretches live. And lost all feelings of defeat and shame.

“Ours is a church reform'd, and now no more He dared not strive, you witness'd-dared not Is aught for man to mend or to restore ;

lift 'Tis pure in doctrines, 'tis correct in creeds, His voice, nor drive at his accursed drift: Has naught redundant, and it nothing needs; So all shalt tremble, wretches who oppose No evil is therein-no wrinkle, spot,

Our church or state-thus be it to our foes." Stain, blame, or blemish :-I affirm there's not. He spoke, and, seated with his former air, "All this you know—now mark what once be-Look'd his full self, and filld his ample chair; fell,

Took one full bumper to each favourite cause, With grief I bore it, and with shame I tell ; And dwelt all night on politics and laws, I was entrapp'd-yes, so it came to pass,

With high applauding voice, that gain’d him high 'Mid heathen rebels, a tumultuous class ;

applause.
Each to his country bore a hellish mind,
Each like his neighbour was of cursed kind;
The land that nursed them they blasphemed; the
laws,

TALE II.
Their sovereign's glory, and their country's cause ;
And who their mouth, their master-fiend, and

THE PARTING HOUR.
who
Rebellion's oracle?-You, caitiff, you!"

I did not take my leave of him, but had He spoke, and standing stretch'd his mighty am, Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him And fix'd the man of words, as by a charm.

How I would think of him, at certain hours “ How raved that railer! Sure some hellish

Such thoughts and such ;-or ere I could

Give him that parting kiss, which I had set power

Betwixt two charming words-comes in my father Restrain'd my tongue in that delirious hour,

Cymbeline, act i. sc. 4. Or I had hurl'd the shame and vengeance due Grief hath changed me since you saw me last, On him, the guide of that infuriate crew ;

And careful hours with Time's deformed hand But to mine eyes such dreadful looks appear'd, Have written strange defeatures o'er my face. Such mingled yell of lying words I heard,

Comedy of Errors, act v. sc. I. That I conceived around were demons all,

0! if thou be the same Egean, speak, And till I fled the house, I fear'd its fall.

And speak unto the same Emilia.

Toid. act v. sc.5. "O! could our country from her coasts expel Such foes ! to nourish those who wish her well: I ran it through, e'en froin my boyish days This her mild laws forbid, but we may still

To the very moment that she bade me tell it : From us eject thern by our sovereign will;

Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,

Of moving accidents, by flood and Geld; This let us do.”—He said, and then began

Of being taken by th' insolent foe A gentler feeling for the silent man;

And sold to slavery. E'en in our hero's mighty soul arose

Othello, act i. sc. 3 A touch of pity for experienced woes;

An old man, broken with the storms of fate, But this was transient, and with angry eye

Is come to lay his weary bones among you ; He sternly look’d, and paused for a reply.

Give him a little earth for charity. 'Twas then the man of many words would

Henry VIII. act iv. sc. 2. speakBut, in his trial, had them all to seek :

MINUTELY trace man's life; year after year To find a friend he look'd the circle round, Through all his days let all his deeds appear, But joy or scorn in every feature found;

And then, though some may in that life be strange He sipp'd his wine, but in those times of dread Yet there appears no vast nor sudden change : Wine only adds confusion to the head ;

The links that bind those various deeds are seen, In doubt he reason'd with himself—" And how And no mysterious void is left between. Harangue at night, if I be silent now?

But let these binding links be all destroy'd From pride and praise received, he sought to draw All that through years he suffer'd or enjoy'd ; Courage to speak, but still remain’d the awe; Let that vast gap be made, and then beholdOne moment rose he with a forced disdain, This was the youth, and he is thus when old; And then abash'd sunk sadly down again; Then we at once the work of time survey, While in our hero's glance he seem'd to read, And in an instant see a life's decay ; · Slave and insurgent! what hast thou to plead ?" Pain mix'd with pity in our bosoms rise, By desperation urged, he now began :

And sorrow takes new sadness from surprise. "I seek no favour-I-the Rights of Man!

Beneath yon tree, observe an ancient pair-
Claim; and I-nay!but give me leave-and I A sleeping man; a woman in her chair,
Insist-a man--that is--and in reply,

Watching his looks with kind and pensive air I speak.”-Alas, each new attempt was vain : No wife, nor sister she, nor is the name Confused he stood, he sate, he rose again ; Nor kindred of this friendly pair the same ; At length he growld defiance, sought the door, Yet so allied are they, that few can feel Cursed the whole synod, and was seen no more. Her constant, warm, unwearied, anxious zeal; “ Laud we,” said Justice Bolt, “the Powers Their years and woes, although they long have above;

loved, Thus could our speech the sturdiest foe remove." Keep their good name and conduct unreproved