110 The Gift of Neptune, or the Bulwark of England. A Vision. they were refolved to wake him, by ripping open his fat guts, and letting out the unaccounted millions; upon which Charles faid, nobody can deny but my brother and I let them out faft enough already. The minority fhewed the most cool and determined conduct upon this occafion. They faid, they wifhed as little for the intervention of mobs as the miniftry could, but they alfo wished to fee the occafion, which the miniftry had given for it removed. They joined heartily in every inquiry to difcover the caufes of the popular disturbances, because it would at the fame time difcover that the miniftry have been themselves the caufes and and first movers of them. Who hired the Irish mob at Brentford? who ftill retains the captain of that mob, John Broughton as Yeoman of the guards in the houshold service of his Majesty? who gives encouragement to future attempts of the like nature, by the pardon of the inhuman murderers condemned to fuffer for them by their country? Who has rewarded Capt. Fall, by a promotion, for his alacrity in raifing a mob on that occafion? Has the affembly, which affumes to prefide over popular elections, been afleep 'till now that it has never enquired into thofe dreadful riots, which the miniftry has in more than one inftance promoted; Witnefs both Prefton and Brentford. The inquiry would therefore (they faid) be most dreadful to the ministers; and it is indeed moft probable that this new fangled committee will never fit to do bufinefs. The Gift of Neptune, or the Bulwark of England. A Vision. Illuftrated with an elegant Copper-Plate defigned by Wale, and engraved by Grignion. Htions of Mirza late at evening, I HAVING been reading the vifunk into a profound fleep in my elbow chair; and thought myself immediately tranfported to the clifts of Dover. The fky being very ferene I had a very enlarged profpect of the ocean, and could not but admire the watery bulwark which furrounds this ifland. The waves on a fudden feemed to be in great agitation, and when the storm fubfided, I perceived a venerable form emerging from the waves and furrounded with Tritons. The Dolphins played in gambols round his car, and feftivity feemed to animate all the watery creation. On the top of the clift Bitannia was feated on a ball of wool, the ftaple commodity of this ifland. Behind me I heard a voice declaring that Britannia had received prefents from the other deities: That Ceres had given her the knowledge of agriculture, Flora had enamelled her plains with painted vegetables. Venus had peopled her ifle with beauties, and Mars had fored her with heroes: But what gift will Neptune beftow upon her? With this question the voice ceafed, and I became all attention. The eyes of a numerous affembly were now fixed on Neptune, who fmoothed his face with a fmile, and putting back, addreffed Britannia, informing her that the other deities had made her fuch valuable presents, that he was at a loss what to bestow, tho' upon recollection what he would be. ftow would be found more valuable than any that he had received; becaufe it would confirm and fecure thofe fhe was in poffeffion of; when the God had uttered thefe words, he placed his trident into her hand, faying, rule the waves, whilst thou preferveft this fovereignty, the riches of the whole world are at thy disposal, diftant nations fhall own thy power, and envious neighbours fhall not dare to attack thee. He then gradually waved his hand, and gradually dif appeared. I thought the prefent of a fingular kind, I breathed filent prayer that Britannia might always preferve the trident, but was awaked by a perfons crying out; how came Britannia to loose Falkland Island? Oxon ANTIQUARIUS. POETICAL By Mr. JOSEPH GILES. LOVELY fleeper! how ferene, How oft, thefe eyes which view thy grave, A reft, no hateful jars can break. The early, gen'rous, op'ning mind, Thy mind with every grace to form ; To struggle with affliction's storm. Like as a little bark expos'd, Down life's wide fea of troubles borne; No fteady friend, like me difpos'd Without a pilot, quite forlorn. For oh! this wretched, fpiteful world, And merit shares an envy'd life. O lovely fleeper! thou art free From all thofe bitter draughts of woe; How happy fhall I reft with thee! When I thy tranquil hate shall know. Oh! if thy gentle spirit knows, Till I thy bleft abode afcend. Methinks these tender fpires of grafs, Which on thy grave look fresh and green Tell how our fleeting moments pafs, While on this buly active scene. ESSAYS. For tho' the morn with sparkling dew, Yet, we alas! a change may view, Beftows kind nature's gen'rous boon; Before the fun hath reach'd its noon. Some fudden blaft, or scornful ray, May bring its vernal honours down; So we our toil may end to day, And peace may all our forrows crown. If, a new holy war with vice to wage, Some preacher quits the pulpit for the ftage, The rev'rend bard, with much remorse and fear, Attemps to give his ev'ning lecture here. The work engender'd to the world must. rife; The parish on this trick of youth might But yet the father may elude our eyes. frown, And thus, unown'd, 'tis thrown upon the town. At our director's door he lays the fin, Who fees the babe, relents, and takes it in; To fwathe and dress it first unftrings his purfe, Then kindly puts it out to you---to nurfe. EPILOGUE, Spoken by Mrs. Yates. ROM Otway's and immortal Shake F fpeare's page Venice is grown familiar to our ftage. Here, treason threat'ning to lay Venice flat, Grave candle-fnuffers oft in Senate fat. To-night in Venice we have plac'd our fcene, Where I have been-liv'd-died-as you have feen. Yet, that my travels I may not difgrace, Let me-fince now reviv'd-defcribe the place! Nor wou'd the tour of Europe prove our fhame, Cou'd every Macaroni do the fame. The city's felf-a wonder, all agreeAppears to fpring, like Venus, from the fea. Founded on piles it rifes from the Strand, Like trifles plaç'd upon a silver stand; ESSAY S. While many a leffer ifle the prospect crowns, Looking like fugar-plumbs, or floating towns. Horfes and inules ne'er pace the narrow street, Where crouded walkers elbow all they meet : No carts and coaches o'er the pavement clatter; Ladies, priefts, lawyers, nobles,-go by water : Light boats and gondolas transport them all, Like one eternal party to Vauxhall. Now hey for merriment !-hence grief and fear! The jolly carnival leads in the year; Calls the young loves and pleatures to its aid; A three months jubilee and masquerade! With gaiety the throng'd piazza glows, Mountcbanks, jugglers, boxers, puppetshows : Mafk'd and difguis'd the ladies meet their Sparks, While Venus hails the mummers of St. Mark's. There holy friars turn gallants, and there too Nuns yield to all the frailties-" flesh is heir to." There dear ridottos conftantly delight, And tweet harmonic meetings ev'ry night! Once in each year the Doge afcends his barge, Fine as a London mayor's, and thrice as large; Throws a huge ring of gold into the sea, And cries- Thus we, thy fov'reign, 66 marry thee. "Oh may't thou ne'er, like many a "mortal spouse, "Prove full of itorms, and faithlefs to "thy vows !" One word of politics-and then I've done |