Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-03-08
PHILADELPHIA TN 1880.

The November number Of the Historical Maga-
=tDe, which DIR. Zieber has handed TO us contains
peetleal description OF Phifsdephia ia $780, from
sfTitens Almanac which We here subj join
Goddess Of Numbers, who art wont to rove
Ger the Gay Landstip, or the smiling Groves
Who taught me first to sing in humble strains,
0f nurp'ring Fountains, and of fowery Plains,
ASSIST me now while / in Verse repeat
TIE heavenly Beauties of thy Fav'rite Seat.
Teach me, 0 Goddess, in harmonious Lays,
Tc sing thy much-lov'd PeaasgIeania's Prsiss
Thy Philadelphia's Beantes to indite,
Inverse as tuneful as her sons can write.
Such as from B''s*rs pen are wont to flow,
On more jHdicious Ts'''r's used to show.
Stretched on the Bank of Dclalgars's rapid Stream
Stands Phtladslpdia not unknown to Fame
Hsse the tall Vessels safe at Anchor ride,
And Eurepe's wealth flows in with every Tide
Tho each wide ope the distant Prospects clear
Iho veil baiit Streets are regularly fair:
Tbs Plan by thee contriv'd, o Penn, the scheme,
a Work immortal as the Foarder's Name
Ills here apollo does erect his Throne.
This his Parnassas, this his Heiicoa
Hefe solid sense does every Bosom warm,
Here Noise and Nonsense have forgot to charm.
Thy seers how cautious and how GraYely wise
Tbs hopeful Youth in Emulation rise:
Who (if the wishing Muse nspir'd does sing)
SisEll Liberal Arts 10 such Perfection bring,
Estyope shall mourn her ancient Fame declin'd,
All Philadelphia be the Athens of Mankind
Thy lo~ey Daughters unaffected shine,
Inaaeh Perfection, every Grace divine:
Beauty triumphant sits in every Eye.
And Wit shines forth but checked with Modesty !;
Decently Grave, which shows a sober Sense,
And cheerful, too, sign Of Innocence.
Bat what, o Pennsylvania, does declare
Thy Bliss, speaks thee profusely happy; here
Sweet liberty ber gentle influence sheds,
And Peace her downy Wings about US spreads
While War and Deselation widely reigns,
AID Captive Nations groan beneath their chains,
While half the World implicitly obey
Some lawless Tyrant's most imperiouE Sway,
No threatening Trumpet warns ms from afar
af hast'nipg Miseries or approaching War:
Fesrless the Hind ptlrsues his wopted Toll,
And cats the Product Of his grateful Soil:
80 ufstst ssaterce we have cause to fear,
No arbitrary Monarch rules US here
Our Lives, cur Properties, and all that's ours,
Our Happy Constitution here secures,
What Praise and Thanks, 0 PENN are due to thee
For this first perfect Scheme of Liberty
How shall the Muse thy just Apphuses sing
Or in what strains due Acclamations bring
Who can thy Charter read, but with surprise
Must strait proclaim thee Generous, .ust, and
Wise
Thro' every Page, thro' every careful Line,
How does the Friend, the Nursing Father shine ~
The Historical Magazine annotates this curious
effuson as follows
1t is probable that Titan himself was the author
of the ABOVE poetic efusion. The B+"ssl alluded
% as poet, doubtless Joseph Breintnal, a
friend of Benjamin Ftsnklin's. He was COPPER
Of deeds for seTiveners. He is represented as be-
ing good-nstured friendly men, very fond of read.
ng poetry, and writing some that was considered
Tery ingenious. The 'smore judicioGs T-'"er'' re-
erred TO, was probably Jacob Taylor, a sehoolmas-
er and physician. He was at one time Surveyor
,eneral of the province. He enjoyed good repu-
alton an almanac-maker. He wrote the poetic
illusions for his own almanacs He was also author
# ssPennsylvania, y poem published in l72S -
lr. Taylor died in 1886.