HERE fond remembrance ſtampt her much lov'd names,
Here boaſts the ſoil its London and its Thames;
Throughout her ſhores commodious ports abound,
Clear flow the waters of the varying ground;
Cold nipping winds a lengthen'd winter bring,
Late riſe the products of the tardy ſpring.
The broken ſoil a labouring race requires;
Each barren hill its generous crops admires,
Where nature meanly did her gifts impart,
Yet, ſmiling, owns how much ſhe owes to art.
But keen as winds that guide the wintry reign,
All bow to lucre, all are bent on gain;
As chance decreed, their various lots are thrown;
Its houſe each acre, every mile its town;
With gilded ſpire the frequent church is ſeen,
Sacred to him that taught them to be keen;
Eternal ſquabblings greaſe the lawyer's paw,
All have their ſuits, and all have ſtudied law;
With tongue that art and nature taught to ſpeak,
Some rave in Latin, ſome diſpute in Greek;
Proud of their books, in ancient lore they ſhine,
And one month's ſtudy makes a learn'd divine;
Fond to converſe, with deep deſigning views,
They pump the travelling ſtranger of his news;
Fond of his wit, but fonder to be paid,
Each houſe a tavern, claims a tavern's trade;
While he that comes, as ſurely hears them praiſe
The hoſpitality of modern days.
Yet brave in arms, of enterpriſing ſoul,
They tempt old Neptune to the fartheſt pole;
In learning's walks explore the mazy way
(For genius here has ſhed his golden ray);
In war's bold arts thro' various conteſts try'd,
True to themſelves, they took their country's ſide,
And, party feuds diſmiſs'd, join to agree
That ſcepter only juſt that left them free.
Connecticut Courant, July 14, 1790.
Errors of the press.
The following paragraphs will shew how completely the sense is altered by the omission of a single letter of the word in Italics.
"The conflict was dreadful, and the enemy was repulsed with considerable laughter."
"Robert Jones was yesterday brought before the sitting Magistrate, on a charge of having spoken reason at the Barleymow public-house."
"In consequence of the numerous accidents occasioned by skaiting on the Serpentine River, measures are taking to put a top to it."