Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-16

One roll Shlpt by the adverse tatcS,
Mark'd ]" CoNsT1TuTIoN ofthe States
I his precious piece OF goods sis said,
Was never meant for foreign trade.
When first produced twas the presumption,
1t would be used Ter home consumption
But Ronapar,e's sly seductions,
Back'd bycxecutiye Instructions,
Sent up behind have passed law,
Which makes it nov not worth straw !:
|. lis, therefore, only put ahoat,
AS ballast for Old Charon's boat );
TO be thrown over III the Styx,
Where sinks the Spifit ofSeYenty-Six!
One cask, marked s Manly firm rcsistancc,' y
Shipt for Napoieon's assistance,
Long may the Corsican enjoy it;
Fer since our country won't employ 1t,
lis bestst' export it; with the same,
Go public honor, wealth and fame,
And every virtue which can rate
A people wise, and good, and great!
Spoke ship Colum6ia, in distress,
Winds high and squal!y, at S Wcs..
Our sails all under double reef
Could give the SuH 'rcTs no relief;
And no relief could they demand,
Who lun themselves upon the strand.
,Fhe Captain trusting his own arts
Despising all the ancient charts
At all good Mariners still scofilny,
Afraid to give the snip an otiiDg,
Lest he some Pirate should dcscrv,
That might, perhaps his metaitry-
Attempted, without fit assistance,
TO double hoisterous Cape Resistance;
But swamp'd the ship: and up broaLside
She went, with party's rolling tide,
Among the breakers: Oh the rock
OF loose experiment size struck,
Ard lab'ying, tilg'd. Fer nasts and sails
OF fortitude and glory fails;
On her beam ENDS Snc lies, wreck,
While seas and disco,l sweep her deck.
Sad state, unless the tempest ceases,
Before the vessel gees 10 pices.
The Captain cries, Hash trightcn'd face,
What can be done III such : CAGE?
The men, who ne'r felt gales before,
Jump overheard to swim ashore
And leav. their glory ali to fite,
Their ship to ioandey--siak their trade.
While OH her gun~ale are d few
Rough, staunch Oh seamcn, firm and true
Who erst in hurricanes CT old,
Said under WAshISGTcN, the bold,
Who stecr'd the ship when li;,tnihgs red
Flash Il terrors round and over head
Dread thunders roli'd and spread ,ismay,
Far worse ttan at the present day
These In the tempest calm and brave,
Are wishing still the ship TO save.
To case her OF her useless cargo,
Throw overheard the great embargo;
To try her pumps, her leaks stop tight,
Who knows but yet the shI p may right
An anchor lay to Mndward side.
In hopes that at return tide,
Though shatter' d much, she still may float,
And with tn assistance of the boat,
From Democratic rocks { relieve her,
And into deeper water he;ve her;
Where, alter she has been SURVEYED,
Her Seams all caik Z, an !, bottom pay'd,
New masts erected, and new stars,
Are placed aafi by faithful tars,
From ancient canvass new sails bent,
Unstopp'd by vile experiment;
Then to the windlass al hands pray,
10 get her once more under weigh.
Before the winds her canvass SPREAD
The admiration and the dread
Of foreign nations, she Shall sail,
Till wind itself, and tide shall fail.
Spoke ship Great Britain in the gale,
Still standing under easy sail,
For Port Success--and though the seas
Run mountsin high, she yet with ease
Makes good her course--whiie pirates stare,
And wish 70 board her, if they dare.
But fearing she might cook their bones
For supper to old Dayy Jones.
They tempt no more to check her motion,
But let her sail, and rule the ocean.
Spoke, six months out from Iyrant's Quay,
Where she for many ages lay,
The hulk of SPAN; with jury masts;
She buffctted the northern blasts,
And it was hoped when rigg'd anew,
AS she'swell mann'd with sailors true,