The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1825-12-29
LITERARY.

There has issued from the press Of Messrs IN
GRAHAM s. HEwEs, in State-stteet, says the hos
ton Centincl, and which for elegance neatness, |
and correctness does high credit the Boston
Press,-"Thc CONFLAGRATIONs" a Poem
written by GsoRsE MANNERS, Esq. British Con-
sui in Massachusetts, and published for the ben
eft of the New-Brunswick Sufferers by hre.
The classical science and poetic talent OF the
writer have long been known, and the etfusion
of feeling before us does not derogate from his
celebrity. 1t is introduced by the following neat
and pithy
DEDICATION.
ssTo the Citizens of Boston, the prompt and
munifcent CONSIDERS of the afflicted, whose Be
nevolencc it is difficult adequately to panegyrlzc,
and impossible to exaggerate, l dedicate tins
Poem.
In the Preface the writer says,
s'In the following lines two poetical essentials
are wanting-SIaTLE and FIcrIoS. Such is the
horriic sublimty of its subject, that the former
could not have been easily introduced without
diminishing the Grandeur Of Description; and
such the affecting incidents Of actual suffering to
which it audes, that the latter would in great
measure, have destroyed the interest and sympa.
thy which they are calculated to excite.
The Poem opens thus:-
sswhat bosom bleeds not o'erthe historic page
When Herculsneum's and Pompcii's domes
Sunk simultaneous in their flaming tombs;
When the Earth yawn'd convused, and, in one
grave
perish'd engulph'd Patrician-Freem reeman--Slave;
The letter'd Sage, the Maid in beauty's pride,
Th' exulting bridegroom andhs blooming Bride,
Th' unconscious Infant at its Mothers breast,
The honor'd Matron and the Lord she blest!-
Sad tale of woe But, all, the time has come
To ween seyerer horrors nearer homet
Lola dense cloud obscures the Northern skies,--
Hark! from New brunswick, piercing shrieks
arise;
The wild deer starts astonished from his lair,
The soaring eagle seeks purer air,
The wandering woodman stays his sturdy stroke,
His breath impeded by impervious smoke:
The moose, the bear, the wolfe, rush mingled bv,
And scared and screaming birds around him fiy!
A fearful warning of his dreadful fate
He strives to fy-but, ah, he strives too late;
In vain Despair his waning strength renews,
a food Of Flame on wings of Wind pursues-
Exhausted, painting, to the Earth he falls,
On his lov'd wife and helpless children calls,
But wife, alas, nor child again shall hear
The tender accents ofthai voice so dear:
O'erta'en, enveoped BY the ruthless fires,
The wretched man in agony expires!
1--WE forbesrto multiply extracts, lest it might
injure the sale of the Poem, which we hope will
run through several editions We shall there
fore only add that after vivid description of the
horrors of the General Scene which has excited
so much prase-worthy sympathy, the author
gives the following picture of individual woe,
which We hope has less Of truth in its details
than poetic excellence.-1
Though the full tide of gcn'ral anguish fiow,
The heart will dwell on individual woe,
And own warmer sympathy for grief,
BeVon1 the reach Of soace or relief
Such rs yon wretchcd outh's,-wthout control
sorrow triumphant revels in his soul
He ina moment reach'd Grcf's utmost bourne,
Caef mourner he, where all arc doom u g
mourn.
From Erin's isle. on wings of Love, he fed
With the dear partner Of his bridal bed
Long had they loved, and long they sought to
gain
A fathers sanction to their vows, in vain;
Proud Of his wealth, tn obdurate parent strove,
By cv'ry, art to thwart their blamelcss love;
Though ev'ry charm adorned her beateous face
Though her form boosted ev'rv winning grace,
Though purity of thought and taste refined
Bea'n'd in her eye,-the index of her mind,
One charm alone could his consent secure,
That one she wanted-sne, alas was poorl
Love proved resistless,-the fond lover prest,
And mutual faith secret marriage best.
Far o'er the Western main they sought re pose
In doom'd New -Brunswick's woods their cottag
rose;
There Peace and Love, awhile, dwelt unrc strain
ed,
And bliss, which fiction feigns, was there attain'd
Alas, while all was happiness and joy,
Fate seal'd her dire commission to destroy;
He, on the morning of the fatal day,
Had aunch'd his shallop in the neighb'ring bay
A parting tear had gemm'd her beauteous face
A sigh escaped her in their last embrace
(Alas their last indeedD-a boding gloom
Oppressed his bosom as he left his home,--
The weakness still upvi1ncr IN hrtr,y
Towards the beach he bent his lonely way.
Scarce had his bark approached the adverse shore
When his ear caught the rising whrlwind' ros
He sees the fires Hume the stormy West;--
Horror and anguish fasten on his breast;
Still hope he cherishes !-Avenging Heav'n
Had never mortal heart so sorey riy'n,-
Her angel virtues must protect his wife,
The flames must spare so pure, so dear life !
=. Such are his maniac thoughts-Alas how yan!-
tn wife his arms shall never clasp again
H bless she shreks, the all.devouring flame
Tee Is on her charms and racks her tender trn,n