( 102 )

As on heaven's sacred hill, of hills the queen,
At thy command, contention foul shall ceafe,
Thy solar aspect, every storme serene,
And smooth the rugged wild of man to peace;
So here thy voice (fair earneſt of the blifs !)
Transform'd the savage to the meekly child.
Hell saw, with pangs, her hideous realm decreafe;
Wolves play'd with lambs; the tyger's heart grew mild;
And on his own bright work the GODHEAD, look'd and ſmil'd.

Hail Elliot ! Mayhew hail ! by HEAVEN inform'd
With that pure love, which clafps the human kind;
To virtue's path even Indian feet you charm'd,
And lit, with wisdom's beam, the dufky mind :
From torture, blood, and treachery, refin'd,
The new-born convert lifp'd MESSIAH's name.
Mid Choirs complacent, in pure rapture join'd,
Your praife refounds, on yonder ſtarry frame,
While fouls, redeem'd from death, their earthly favours claim.

Oh had the fame bright fpirit ever reign'd;
Nor trader villains foul'd the Savage mind;
Nor Avarice pin'd for boundleſs breadth of land;
Nor, with flow death, the wretches been confign'd
To India's curse, that poisons half mankind !
Then, O divine Religion ! torture's blaze.
Leſs frequent round thy tender heart had twin'd;
On the wild wigwam peace had caſt it's rays,
And the tremendous whoop had chang'd to hymns of praife.

Fierce, dark, and jealous, is the exotic foul,
That, cell'd in ſecret, rules the savage breast.
There treacherous thoughts of gloomy vengeance roll,
And deadly deeds of malice unconfefs'd;
The viper's poifon rankling in it's neſt.
Behind his tree, each Indian aims unſeen :
No ſweet oblivion soothes the hate impreſs'd:

320

( 103 )

Years fleet in vain: in vain realms intervene:
The victim's blood alone can quench the flames within.

Their knives the tawny tribes in flaughter fleep,
When men, miftruftlefs, think them diffant far;
And, when blank midnight fhrouds the world in fleep,
The murderous yell announces firſt the war.
In vain fweet ſmiles compel the fiends to ſpare;
Th' unpitied viſtim ſcreams, in tortures dire;
The life-blood ſtains the virgin's boſom bare;
Cherubic infants, limb by limb expire;
And filver'd Age finks down in flowly-curling fire.

Yet favages are men. With glowing heat,
Fix'd as their hatred, friendship fills their mind;
By acts with juſtice, and with truth, replete,
Their iron breaſts to ſoftneſs are inclin'd.
But when could War of converts boaſt refin'd?
Or when Revenge to peace and ſweetneſs move?
His heart, man yields alone to actions kind;
His faith, to creeds, whose ſoundneſs virtues prove,
Thawn in the April fun, and opening ſtill to love.

Senate auguſt! that ſway'ſt Columbian climes,
Form'd of the wife, the noble, and humane,
Caſt back the glance through long-afſcending times,
And think what nations fill'd the western plain.
Where are they now? What thoughts the boſom pain,
From mild Religion's eye how ſtreams the tear,
To fee ſo far outſpread the waſte of man,
And afk "How ſell the myriads, HEAVEN plac'd here!"
Reflect, be juſt, and feel for Indian woes ſeverè.

But ceaſe, foul Calumny! with footy tongue,
No more the glory of our fires belie.
They felt, and they redrefs'd, each nation's wrong;
Even Pequod foes they view'd with generous eye;
And, pierc'd with injuries keen, that Virtue try,

( 104 )

The favage faith, and friendfhip, ftrove to gain:
And, had no bafe Canadian fiends been nigh,
Even now loft Peace had ſmil'd on every plain,
And tawny nations liv'd, and own'd MESSIAH's reign.) 360

" Amid a circling marſh, expanded wide,
To a lone hill the Pequods wound their way;
And none, but Heaven, the manſion had deſcried,
Cloſe-tangled, wild, impervious to the day;
But one poor wanderer, loitering long aſtray,
Wilder'd in labyrinths of pathleſs wood,
In a tall tree embower'd, obſcurely lay:

Strait ſummon'd down, the trembling ſuppliant ſhow'd
Where lurk'd his vanifh'd friends, within their drear abode."

" To death, the murderer were anew requir'd,
A pardon proffer'd, and a peace affur'd;

And, though with vengeful heat their foes were fir'd,
Their lives, their freedom, and their lands, ſecur'd.

Some yielding heard. In faſtneſs ſtrong immur'd,
The reſt the terms refus'd, with brave diſdain,

Near, and more near, the peaceful Herald lur'd;

Then bade a ſhower of arrows round him rain,

And wing'd him ſwift, from danger, to the diſtant plain."

" Through the ſole, narrow way, to vengeance led,
To final fight our generous heroes drew;

And Stoughton now had pafs'd the moor's black ſhade,
When hell's terrific region ſcream'd anew.

Undaunted, on their foes they fiercely flew;

As fierce, the duſky warriors crowd the fight;

Defpair inſpires; to combat's face they glue;

With groans, and ſhouts, they rage, unknowing flight,

And cloſe their fullen eyes, in ſhades of endleſs night."

Indulge, my native land! indulge the tear,

That ſteals, impaſſion'd, o'er a nation's doom:

( IIo )

Oh hear, and from perdition rife,
And point your pathway to the skies !

20

Where western Albion's happy clime
Still brightens to the eye of time,
A village lies. In all his round,
The fun a fairer never found.
The woods were tall, the hillocks green,
The vallies laugh'd the hills between,
Thro' fairy meads the rivers roll'd,
The meadows flower'd in vernal gold,
The days were bright, the mornings fair,
And evening lov'd to linger there.
There, twinn'd in brilliant fields above,
Sweet filters! sported Peace and Love;
While Virtue, like a blushing bride,
Seren'd, and brighten'd, at their fide.

25

30

At distance from that happy way,
The path of fenfual Pleafure lay,
Afar Ambition's fummit roſe,
And Avarice dug his mine of woes.

35

The place, with eaſt and western fides,
A wide and verdant ſtreet divides:
And here the houſes fac'd the day,
And there the lawns in beauty lay.
There, turret-crown'd, and central, ſtood
A neat, and ſolemn houſe of God.
Acroſs the way, beneath the ſhade,
Two elms with ſober ſilence ſpread,
The Preacher liv'd. O'er all the place
His manſion caſt a Sunday grace;
Dumb ſtillneſs fate the fields around;
His garden ſeem'd a hallow'd ground;
Swains ceas'd to laugh aloud, when near,
And ſchool-boys never ſported there.

40

45

50

( III )

In the fame mild, and temperate zone,
Twice twenty years, his courfe had run,
His locks of flowing silver spread,
A crown of glory o'er his head.
His face, the image of his mind,
With grave, and furrow'd wisdom fhin'd;
Not cold; but glowing ſtill, and bright;
Yet glowing with October light:
As evening blends, with beauteous ray,
Approaching night with fhining day.

His Cure his thoughts engroſs'd alone :
For them his painful courſe was run :
To bleſs, to fave, his only care;
To chill the guilty ſoul with fear;
To point the pathway to the ſkies,
And teach, and urge, and aid, to rife;
Where ſtrait, and difficult to keep,
It climbs, and climbs, o'er Virtue's ſteep.

As now the evening of his day,
Retiring, ſmil'd it's warning ray;
He heard, in angel-whifpers, come,
The welcome voice, that call'd him home.
The little flock he nurſ'd ſo long,
And charm'd with mercy's ſweeteſt ſong,
His heart with ſtrong affections warm'd,
His love provok'd, his fears alarm'd—
Like him, who freed the choſen band,
Like him, who op'd the promis'd land,
His footſteps verging on the grave,
His bleſſing thus the Prophet gave.

" O priz'd beyond expreſſion here,
As ſons beſov'd, as daughters dear,
Your Father's dying voice receive,
My counſels hear, obey, and live!"

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

( 112 )

" For you my ceafelefs toils ye know,
My care, my faithfulneſs, and woe.
For you I breath'd unnumber'd prayers ;
For you I ſhed unnumber'd tears ;
To living ſprings the thirsty led,
The hungry cheer'd with living bread ;
Of grief allay'd the piercing ſmart,
And footh'd with balm the doubting heart ;
The wayward flock forbade to roam,
And brought the wandering lambkin home."

90

95

" And now, my toils, my duties done,
My crown of endleſs glory won,
Ev'n while, invited to the ſkies,
My wing begins through heaven to rife,
One solemn labour ſtill is due,
To cloſe a life, confum'd for you."

100

" Say, what the gain ? Oh ſearch, and ſay!—
To tread the fatal, ſenſual way ?
To briftle down in pleafure's ſtyle ?
To heap up filver, mountains high ?
With guilt to climb, with anguſh keep,
Ambition's proud, and painful ſteep ?
Should earth for your enjoyment roll,
Can earth redeem the deathleſs ſoul ?"

105

110

" This little life, my children ! ſay,
What is it ? A departing day ;
An April morn, with froſt behind ;
A bubble, burſting on the wind ;
A dew, exhal'd beneath the fun ;
A tale rehears'd ; a viſion gone."

115

" How oft too, in the bright career,
Which Pride, and Pleasure wanton here,
While Hope expands her painted wing,
And all around is health, and ſpring ;

120

( 113 )

How oft refounds the awful knell,
That feals to life a long farewell,
“ “ Thou fool ! diffolv'd in guilt and senfe,
This night, thy foul is fummon'd hence.”

“ Yet on this little life depend
Bleffings, and wocs, which cannot end.
For Faith and Penitence below,
Immortal life and rapture glow ;
For harden'd guilt, eternal ire,
And waves, that purge unfathom'd fire.”

“ Then rife from death's benumbing fleep !
See, spread beneath, the yawning deep !
Oh rife ! and let salvation call
Your time, your thoughts, and talents all.”

“ Two only paths before you spread ;
And long the way, your feet muſt tread.
This ſtrait, and rough, and narrow, lies
The course direct to yonder ſkies.
And now o'er hills, on hills, you climb,
Deſerted paths, and cliffs ſublime ;
And now thro' ſolitudes you go,
Thro' vales of care, and ſtreams of woc.
Tho' oft you wander fad, forlorn,
The mark of ſpite, the butt of ſcorn ;
Yet your's the ſweets, that cannot cloy,
The SAVIOUR's peace, the Seraph's joy ;
While nurture HEAVEN itſelf ſupplies,
And fruits depend, and ſprings arife ;
And Health and Temperance, ſifters gay,
Despife the leſſening length of way ;
And ſweet, tho' rare, companions ſmile,
Deceive the road, and loſe the toil ;
And Hope ſtill points th' approaching goal,
As magnets tremble to the pole.”

125

130

135

140

145

150

O

( 114 )

" As now at hand the realm appears,
Where pains retire, and cares, and tears,
Then smooths the rough, the rude refines,
The desert blooms, the steep declines;
Then bright, and brighter, spreads the plain,
Where Love begins her vernal reign.
And sweet as music of the skies,
When hymns of blefs'd Redemption rife,
Your FATHER's welcome hails you home;
The LAMB, the SPIRIT bid you come;
And all the Family around
Salute you to the blifsful ground,
The heirs of life, the sons of God,
And trophies of their SAVIOUR's blood."

155

160

165

" Full wide the other path extends,
And round, and round, serpentine bends.
To fenfe, bewitching flowrets bloom,
And charm, and cheat, with ftrange perfume;
Fruits hang diffolving poifon nigh,
And purpling death inchants the eye.
Companions, frolickfome and gay,
Laugh jocund on the downward way,
With wiles entice a thoughtlefes throng,
And, blinded, lead the blind along,
Where smooth, and treacherous, and steep,
It flides, impending, to the deep."

170

175

180

" At length, where Death dominion holds,
A wide and gloomy gate unfolds—
Thro' solitudes immenfely fspread,
The mourning manfions of the dead,
A dreary tomb, that knows no bound,
A midnight hung eternal round,
Their journey winds—No friend appears
To dry the fstream of endlefs tears.

185

( 115 )

Sweet Hope, that footh'd their pains before,
Returns to soothe their pains no more.
Thro' the long night, the eye looks on,
But meets with no returning fun;
While Peace resigns to blank Despair,
And light is chang'd to darknes's there."

190

" Then rife, and let salvation call
Your time, your thoughts, your talents all!"

195

" For this, the sacred page explore,
Consult, and ponder, o'er and o'er;
The words of endles's life discern;
The way, the means, the motives, learn;
The hopes, the promifes, enjoy,
That ne'er deceive, that cannot cloy;
Alarms to Guilt's obdurate mind;
Perennial blifs to Faith affign'd;
The precepts, by MESSIAH given;
His life, the image bright of Heaven;
His death, self-ruin'd man to fave;
His rife, primitial, from the grave;
Beyond all other love, his love;
His name, all other names above.
All duties to be learn'd, or done,
All comforts to be gain'd, or known,
To do, to gain, unceafing strive,
The book of books explore, and live,"

200

205

210

" When fmiles the Sabbath's genial morn,
Infunctive to the Temple turn;
Your households round you thither bring,
Sweet off'ring to the SAVIOUR KING.
There, on the mercy-feat, he fhines,
Receives our fouls, forgets our fins,
And welcomes, with refiftlefs charms,
Submitting rebels to his arms.

215

220

( 116 )

That chosen, blefs'd, accepted day
Oh never never caft away !"

" Let order round your houfes reign,
Religion rule, and peace fuftain ;
Each morn, each eve, your prayers arife,
As incenſe fragrant, to the ſkies ;
In beauteous groupe, your children join,
And ſervants ſhare the work divine :
The voice, as is the intereſt, one,
And one the bleſſing wreſtled down."

" Each toil devote, each care, and pain,
Your children for the ſkies to train.
Allure, reprove, inſtruct, reclaim,
Alarm, and warn, commend, and blame;
To virtue force with gentle ſway,
And guide, and lead, yourselves, the way.
Teach them, profanenefs, falſhood, fraud,
Abufe to man, affronts to God,
All things impure, obſcene, debas'd,
Tho' oft with high examples grac'd,
To ſhun beyond the adder's breath,
When hifſing inſtantaneous death;
But juſtice, truth, and love, to prize,
Beyond the tranſports of the ſkies."

" Teach them, that, brighter than the ſun,
Th' All-fearching Eye looks ſlaming on,
Each thought, each word, each act, deſcries,
And ſees the guilty motives rife;
A Witneſs, and a Judge, that day,
Whofe light ſhall every heart diſplay.
Live what you reach—the heavenly SEER,
Who ſpake, as man ne'er ſpake, when here,
Taught all things juſt, and wife, and true,
Shone, a divine example too."

( 117 )

" To all, around, your bleffings lend,
The sick relieve, the poor befriend,
The fad console, the weak fuftain,
And soothe the wounded fpirit's pain.
To you, think every bleffing given,
To fed abroad the alms of HEAVEN,
To blunt the ftings of human woe,
And build his kingdom, here below.

260

Let gentle Peace around you reign,
Her influence fpread, her caufe fuftain :
To railing, anfwers mild return ;
Let love, oppos'd to anger, burn :
Contention, ere begun, fupprefes,
And bid the voice of party ceafe.

265

The taleful tongue, the meddling mind,
The jealous eye, the heart unkind,
Far diffant, far, from you remove;
But ope your doors to Truth, and Love :
The meek eſteem, the humble prafife,
And Merit from her footſtool raife."

270

" By every act of peace, and love,
Thus win your way to climes above.
In this great work, fee all things ſtrive !
Nature toils that you may live :

275

" Lo, to aid you to the ſkies,
Seaſons roll, and ſuns arise;
Promis'd, fee the ſeed-time come,
And the harveſt ſhouted home !"

280

" All things, in their ſolemn round,
Morn, with peace and beauty crown'd,
Eve, with ſweet, returning reſt,
Toil, with health and plenty bleſs'd,
Help you on the ascending road,
Pointing, leading, ſtill to God :

285

290

( 118 )

Joys to endlefs rapture charm;
Woes, of endlefs woe, alarm."

" All things toil, that you may live—
Rulers peace and freedom give:
Seers diviner peace proclaim,
Glorious to th' Unutter'd NAME,
Good, to guilty mortals given,
Source of endlefs joy to heaven."

295

" See the Sabbath's peaceful morn,
(Sabbaths still for you return),
Opes the Temple to your feet,
Chaunting founds of Seraphs sweet—

300

" Heaven unfolds, and God is near,
Sinners hafte, and enter here"—
Grace and truth, from worlds above,
Fruits of suffering, dying love,
From the SACRED SPIRIT come,
Wilder'd flocks inviting home."

305

" Hark, what living muſc plays !
Catch the themes of heavenly praife ;
Themes, that tune ſeraphic ſtrings,
Notes, the bleſs'd REDEEMER ſings."

310

" " Rife, my ſons, and hither hafte !
Wintry time is overpaſ'd.

See afar the rains have flown !
See immortal ſpring begun !
Streams with life and rapture flow ;
Fruits with life and rapture glow ;
Love the door of life unbars ;
Triumphs crown your finiſh'd wars :
Fondly wait impatient ſkies,
O'er you to renew their joys."

315

320

" " Are you naked ? here behold
Robes of light, and crowns of gold !

( 119 )

Famish'd ? an eternal feast !
325

Weary ? everliving reft !

Friendlefs ? an ALMIGHTY FRIEND !

Hopelefs ? transports ne'er to end !""

" " Children, penitents, arife ;
330

Haften to your native ſkies :

Your arrival all things ſing ;

Angels meet you on the wing ;

Saints with fairer beauty ſhine ;

Brighter years in heaven begin ;

Round the SUN, that lights the ſkies,
335

More refulgent glories rife.""

" Thus, O my ſons ! MESSIAH's voice
Allures to never dying joys.

That voice of endleſs love receive ;

Thofe counſels hear, obey, and live." 340

" Thus, from the climes beyond the tomb
If GOD permit my ſoul to come,

Again my little flock to view,

To watch, and warn, and quicken you,

With transport ſhall my boſom glow,
345

To fee each houſe an heaven below,

My ſons ambitious of the ſkies,

And future faints, and angels rife.

And O, what brighter blifs ſhall bloom,

To hail you victors o'er the tomb ;
350

To guide you, all th' unmeafur'd way,

And welcome to the gates of day ;

To hear your bleſſed Euge found,

And fee th' immortals ſmile around ;

To ſtand, to ſhine, by you confefs'd
355

Your friend your earthly favour bleſs'd ;

To mingle joys, all joys above,

And warm with ever-bright'ning love !"

THE ARGUMENT.

INTRODUCTION. Farmer introduced. Villagers as-
fembled. He recommends to them an industrious and œconomical
life, the careful education and government of their children,
and particularly the eſtablishment of good habits in early life s
enjoins upon them the offices of good neighbourhood, the avoidance
of litigation, and the careful cultivation of parochial harmony.
Conclusion.

( 120 )

And all, who follow'd his advice,
Appear'd more prosperous, as more wife.

20

Wearied, at-length, with many a call,
The fage refolv'd to summon all :
And gathering, on a pleafant monday,
A crowd not always seen on Sunday,
Curious to hear, while hard they preſs'd him,
In friendly terms, he thus addreſs'd 'em.

25

" My friends, you have my kinderſt wishes;
Pray think a neighbour not ofſicious,
While thus, to teach you how to live,
My very beſt advice I give."

30

" And firſt, induſtrious be your lives ;
Alike employ'd yourselves, and wives :
Your children, join'd in labour gay,
With ſomething uſeful fill each day.
Thofe little times of leifure ſave,
Which moſt men loſe, and all men have ;
The half days, when a job is done ;
The whole days, when a ſtorm is on.
Few know, without a ſtrict account,
To what theſe little times amount :
If waſted, while the fame your coſt,
The ſums, you might have earn'd, are loſt."

35

" Learn ſmall things never to despife :
You little think how faſt they rife.
A rich reward the mill obtains,
'Tho' but two quarts a bufhel gains :
Still rolling on it's ſteady rounds,
The farthings ſoon are turn'd to pounds."

40

" Nor think a life of toil ſevere :
No life has bleſſings ſo ſincere.
It's meals ſo lufcious, ſleep ſo ſweet,
Such vigorous limbs, ſuch health complete,

50

( 125 )

A mind so active, brisk, and gay,
As his, who toils the livelong day.
A life of floth drags hardly on;
Suns set too late, and rife too soon;
Youth, manhood, age, all linger flow,
To him, who nothing has to do.
The drone, a nuifance to the hive,
Stays, but can scarce be faid to live;
And well the bees, thofe judges wife,
Plague, chafe, and sting him, 'till he dies.
*Lawrence*, like him, tho' fav'd from hanging,
Yet every day deferves a banging."

55

60

" Let order o'er your time prefide,
And method all your buſineſs guide.
Early begin, and end, your toil;
Nor let great taſks your hands embroil.
One thing at once, be ſtill begun,
Contriv'd, reſolv'd, purſued, and done.
Hire not, for what yourſelves can do;
And ſend not, when yourſelves can go;
Nor, 'till to-morrow's light, delay
What might as well be done to-day.
By ſteady efforts all men thrive,
And long by moderate labour live;
While eager toil, and anxious care,
Health, ſtrength, and peace, and life, impair."

70

75

" What thus your hands with labour earn,
To ſave, be now your next concern.
What e'er to health, or real uſe,
Or true enjoyment, will conduce,
Uſe freely, and with pleafure uſe;
But ne'er the gifts of HAVEN abufe:
I joy to fee your treafur'd ſtores,
Which ſmiling Plenty copious pours;

80

85

( 126 )

Your cattle fleek, your poultry fine,
Your cider in the tumbler fhine,
Your tables, smoking from the hoard,
And children smiling round the board.
All rights to uſe in you confpire;
The labourer's worthy of his hire.
Ne'er may that hated day arrive,
When worse yourſelves, or your's, ſhall live;
Your drefs, your lodging, or your food,
Be leſs abundant, neat, or good;
Your dainties all to market go,
To feaſt the epicure, and beau;
But ever on your tables ſtand,
Proofs of a free and happy land.”

90

95

100

“ Yet ſtill, with prudence, wear, and taſte;
Use what you pleafe, but nothing waſte:
On little, better far to live,
Than, poor and pitied, much ſurvive.
Like ants, lay ſomething up in ſtore,
Againſt the winter of threeſcore.
Diseaſe may long your ſtrength annoy;
Weakneſs and pain your limbs deſtroy;
On ſorrow's bed your hoſhoulds lie;
Your debtors fail, your cattle die;
Your crops untimely ſeafons kill,
And life be worn with many an ill.”

105

110

“ Lo too, your little flocks demand
Much from the kind parental hand;
Your ſons or learning, trades, or farms;
Your daughter's portions, with their charms:
From prudence, this provifion flows,
And all, from little ſavings, grows.”

115

“ And, O ye fair! this toil demands
The efforts of your faithful hands.

120

( 127 )

If wealth, your husband's hearts are wishing,
Of you, they first must ask permission.
By HEAVEN conjoin'd, to gain, and have,
'Tis their's to earn; 'tis yours to fave:
Whatever from their labour grows,
Careful, you keep, but, heedlefs, lose."

125

" 'Tis folly in th' extreme, to till
Extensive fields, and till them ill.
The farmer, pleas'd, may boat aloud
His bufhels fown, his acres plough'd;
And, pleas'd, indulge the cheering hope,
That time will bring a plenteous crop.
Shrewd Common-fense fits laughing by,
And fees his hopes abortive die:

130

For, when maturing feafons smile,
Thin sheaves shall disappoint his toil.
Advis'd, this empty pride expel;
Till little, and that little well.

135

Of taxes, fencing, toil, no more,
Your ground requires, when rich, than poor;
And more one fertile acre yields,
Than the huge breadth of barren fields.

140

That mould, the leaves, for ages, fspread,
Is, long since, with the forefts, fled;

That slender ploughing, trifling care,
No longer will your fields prepare.

145

Some new manure must now be found;
Some better culture fit the ground.

Oft turn the foil to feel the weather;
Manure from every quarter gather,

150

Weeds, ashes, Paris-plaifter, lime,
Marle, fea-weed, and the harbour slime.
Like Germans bid your acres thrive;
But not like flinting Germans live.

" Let every grafs of kindly feed
Exterminate the noisome weed;

{ 128 }

The clover round your pastures blow;
The rye-grafs o'er your meadows bow:
Hence the rich mow your barns shall fill;
Hence with rich green your pastures smile;
The ox, untir'd, his toil suftain,
And fat steers frisk it, o'er the plain."

166

"Your herds feed well, increafe, amend,
And from the wintery storm defend.
No source will further profit give,
Or furnish easier means to live.
The grazier hugs his cool retreat,
And smiles, to see the farmer sweat;
To see much labour little yield,
The gleanings of a worne-out field;
While gliftening beeves around him sport,
And drovers to his house resort;
Manur'd, huge fwarths his meadows load,
And heavy harvests proudly nod."

165

170

"Let useful flocks your care demand,
Best riches of the happy land.
From them, shall fwell the fleecy store,
And want, and rags, depart your door;
Your daughters find a sweet employ,
And, singing, turn the wheel with joy;
With homepun rich the loom be gay;
Your households clad in bright array;
And female toil more profit yield,
Than half the labours of the field."

175

180

"When first the market offers well,
At once your yearly produce fell.
A higher price you wait in vain,
And ten times lofe, where once you gain.
The dog, that at the shadow caught,
Miff'd all he had, and all he fought.

185

190

( 129 )

Lets, day by day, your store will grow,
Gone, you scarce know or when, or how;
Interest will eat, while you delay,
And vermin steal your hopes away.
In parcels fold, in ways unknown,
It melts, and, unobferv'd, is gone.
No solid purpose driblets aid,
Spent, and forgot, as soon as paid :
The sum, a year's whole earnings yield,
Will pay a debt, or buy a field."

195

200

" In time, whate'er your needs require,
Lay in, of clothing, food, or fire.
Your cellars, barns, and granaries fill;
Your wood, in winter, round you pile:
Let spring ne'er see th' exhausted mow,
Or oxen faint, before the plough;
Nor summer, when it's hurries come,
Your wood, in harvest, carted home."

205

" Along the side of sloping hills,
Conduct your numerous living vills.
Thence bid them, sweetly-wandering, flow,
To wake the grafs, in fields below.
Rich meadows in their course shall spring,
And mowers whet the scythe, and sing."

210

" Look round, and see your wood's decay'd,
Your fuel scarce, your timber fled.
What groves remain with care enclose,
Nor e'er to biting herds expofe.
Your store with planted nuts renew,
And acorns o'er each barren strew.
Tho' spring now smiles, yet winter's blast
Will foon the frozen skies o'ercast;
And, pinch'd, your children crowding nigher,
Hang shivering o'er the scanty fire:

215

220

Q

( 130 )

Rouse ! your reluctant floth o'ercome,
And bid reviving forefts bloom."

225

" Yearly the houſe, the barn, the fence,
Demand much care, and ſome expence.
Small fums, in time, with prudence paid,
Will profit more than great, delay'd :
Each year's decays in time repair,
Nor foolish waeſt, thro' want of care."

230

" Neat be your farms : 'tis long confes'd,
The neatest farmers are the beſt.
Each bog, and marſh, induſtrious drain,
Nor let vile balks deform the plain;
No bufhes on your headlands grow,
Nor briars a ſloven's culture ſhow.
Neat be your barns; your houſes neat;
Your doors be clean; your court-yards ſweet;
No mofs the ſheltering roof inſhroud;
No wooden panes the window cloud;
No filthy kennel foully flow;
Nor weeds with rankling poſſon grow :
But ſhades expand, and fruit-trees bloom,
And flowering ſhrubs exhale perfume.
With pales, your garden circle round;
Defend, enrich, and clean, the ground :
Prize high this pleafing, uſeful rood,
And fill with vegetable good."

240

245

250

" With punſtual hand your taxes pay,
Nor put far off the evil day.
How ſoon to an enormous ſize,
Taxes, ſucceeding taxes, rife !
How eafy, one by one, diſcharg'd !
How hardly, in the mafs enlarg'd !
How humbling the intruſive dun !
How faſt, how far, th' expences run!

255

( 131 )

Fees, advisements, travel, cost,
And that fad end of all, the poft !
This gulph of quick perdition flee,
And live, from duns and bailiffs free.”

250

“ In merchants’ books, from year to year,
Be cautious how your names appear.
How faft their little items count !
How great, beyond your hopes, th’ amount !
When shelves, o’er shelves, inviting ftand,
And wares allure, on either hand ;
While round, you turn enchanted eyes,
And feel a thoufand wants arife,
(Ye young, ye fair, these counfels true
Are penn’d for all, but moft for you),
Ere Fancy lead your hearts astray,
Think of the means you have, to pay ;
What wants are nature’s; fancy’s what ;
What will yield real good, when bought ;
What certain, future means you find,
To cancel contracts, left behind ;
What means to make the firſt of May
To you, and your’s, a welcome day.”

265

270

275

280

“ To you, let each returning Spring
That day of certain reckoning bring :
All debts to cancel, books t’ adjuft,
And check the wild career of truſt.
From frequent reckonings friendſhip grows,
And peace, and fweet communion, flows.”

285

“ Meanwhile, of all your toil, and care,
Your children claim the largeſt ſhare.
In health, and fickneſs, much they need,
To nurſe, to watch, to clothe, and feed ;
Their education much demands
From faithful hearts, and active hands.”

290

( 132 )

" First be their health your constant care;
Give them to breathe the freest air:

Their food be neither rich, nor dainty, 295
But pain, and clean, and good, and plenty:

Their clothes, let changing feafons rule,
In winter warm, in summer cool,
In your own houfes spun, and dy'd,

For comfort made, and not for pride. 300
Hardy, not suffering, be their life,
With heat, and cold, and storm, at strife;
Accuſtom'd common ills to bear,
To ſmile at danger, laugh at fear,

Troubles to brave, with hardy breaſt, 305
And ſeek, thro' toilsome action, reſt.
Teach them each manly art to prize,
And bafe effem'nacy deſpife,

Teach them to wrestle, leap, and run,
To win the palm, and prize it, won; 310
To ſeek, in acts like these, and find
A nervous frame, and vigorous mind."

" My country's youth, I see with pain,
The cuſtoms of their fires diſdain,

Quit the bold pastimes of the green,
That ſtrengthen ſtriplings into men,
Grovel in inns, at cards, and dice,
The means of foul diſeafe, and vice,
And waſte, in gaming, drink, and strife,
Health, honour, fame, and peace, and life."

" With gentler hand, your daughters train,

The houſewife's various arts to gain;
O'er ſcenes domestic to prefide;
The needle, wheel, and shuttle, guide;
The peacock's gaudry to deſpife,
And view vain ſports with parents' eyes;

( 133 )

On things of use to fix the heart,
And gild, with every graceful art.
Teach them, with neatest, simplest drefs,
A neat, and lovely mind t' exprefs ;
Th' alluring female mien to wear ;
Gently to soothe corroding care ;
Bid life with added pleafure glow,
And sweetly charm the bed of woe.
To show, the giddy fair-one train'd,
With every ugly spot is stain'd ;
While she, who lives to worth, and duty,
Shines forth, in Wifdom's eye, a beauty."

330

335

"With steady hand your household fway,
And use them always to obey."

340

Always their worthy acts commend;
Always against their faults contend;
The mind inform; the conscience move;
And blame, with tendernefs, and love.
When round they flock, and smile, and tell
Their lambkin sports, and infant weal,
Nor foolish laugh, nor fret, nor frown;
But all their little interefts own;
Like them, those trifles serious deem,
And daily witnefs your esteem:
Yourselfs their best friends always prove,
For filial duty springs from love.
Teach them, with confidence t' impart,
Each secret purpose of the heart:
Thrice happy parents, children blefs'd,
Of mutual confidence poffefs'd!
Such parents shall their children see
From vice, and shame, and anguifh, free."

345

350

355

"Correct not, 'til the coming day
Has fann'd resentment's heat away."

360

( 134 )

When passion rules, 'tis fear obeys ;
But duty serves, when reason fways.
In earliest years, the rod will mend ;
In later, fails to reach the end.
Still vary : let neglect, difgrace,
Confinement, censure, find their place.
Convince, ere you correct, and prove
You punish, not from rage, but love ;
And teach them, with persuasion mild,
You hate the fault, but love the child.”

365

370

"On uniformity depends
All government, that gains its ends.
The same things always praise, and blame,
Your laws, and conduct, be the same."

375

380

385

390

"Let no discouragement deter,
Nor sloth this daily task defer.

( 135 )

Sloth and discouragement destroy
The children's weal, the parents' joy.
For one, who labor lothes, we find
Ten thousand lothing toil of mind,
That close attention, careful tho't,
With every real blessing fraught.
Early the stubborn child transgresses;
Denies it; nor, 'till forced, confesses:
The fault, tho' punish'd, he renews;
New punishment the fault purfues:
His heart by nature prone to sin,
Agen he wounds you, and agen;
Amaz'd, dishearten'd, in despair,
To see so fruitless all your care,
And wearied, by such fix'd attention
To crimes, that suffer no prevention,
Reluctant, by degrees, you yield,
And leave him master of the field."

" Then with fond hope, that reason's fway
Will win him from his faults away,
For decent power, alone you strive,
Religion, if decent he'll live."

" Vain hope! by reason's power alone,
From guilt, no heart was ever won.
Decent, not good, may reason make him;
By reason, crimes will ne'er forfake him.
As weeds, self-sown, demand no toil,
But flourish in their native soil,
Root deep, grow high, with vigour bloom,
And send forth poison, for perfume;
So faults, inborn, spontaneous rife,
And daily wax in strength, and fize,
Ripen, with neither toil, nor care,
And choke each germ of virtue there.

395

400

405

410

415

420

425

( 136 )

Virtues, like plants of nobler kind,
Transferred from regions more refin'd,
The gardener's careful hand muſt sow;
His culturing hand muſt bid them grow;
Rains gently ſhower; ſkies softly ſhine,
And bleſſings fall, from realms divine."

430

" Much time, and pain, and toil, and care,
Muſt virtue's habits plant, and rear:

435

Habits alone thro' life endure,
Habits alone your child secure:

To these be all your labours given;
To these, your fervent prayers to HEAVEN.
Nor faint, a thouſand trials o'er,
To fee your pains effect no more;
Love, duty, intereſt, bid you ſtrive;
Contend, and yield not, while you live;
And know, for all your labours pafs'd,
Your eyes ſhall fee a crop, at laſt.
The ſmith befide his anvil ſtands,
The lump of filver in his hands,
A thouſand ſtrokes with patience gives,
And ſtill unform'd the work perceives;
A thouſand, and a thouſand more,
Unſinſh'd leaves it as before;
Yet, though, from each, no print is found,
Still toiling on his ſteady round,
He fees the ductile mafs refine,
And in a beauteous veſſel ſhine."

440

445

450

455

" Taverns, and ſhops, and lounging places,
Vile comrades, gaming tables, races,
Where youth to vice, and ruin, run,
Teach them, as pits of death, to ſhun.
At nine, when founds the warning bell,
Uſe them to bid their ſports farewell;

460

( 137 )

Health, order, temperance, every joy,
As blasts, untimely hours destroy;
At these dread hours, in places vile,
Where all things tempt, betray, defile,
Abroad, to every ill they roam,
But peace, and safety, find at home."

465

"From licenses'd talk their tongues restrain,
And bridle, with discretion's rein;
Safety, and peace, reserve affords;
But evil hides in many words.

470

All wondrous stories bid them fly,
And the pernicious love of fun;

In lies, great stories ever end,
And fun will every vice befriend.

475

What sports of real use you find,
To brace the form, or nerve the mind,
Freely indulge; such sports, as these,

Will profit youth, as well as please.

480

But from all arts and tricks dehort,
And check th' excessive love of sport.

All buzzing tales, of private life,
All scandals, form'd on household strife,

The idle chatterings of the street,
Early forbid them to repeat;

485

But teach them, kindreds, praise, and truth,
Alone become the voice of youth."

"Their hearts with soft affections warm;
Their taste, to gentle manners form;

Let manly aims their bosoms fire,
And sweet civility infuse.

490

Bid them the stranger kindly greet,
The friend with faithful friendship meet,

And charm of life the little span,
By general courtesy to man."

495

R

( 138- )

"Teach them to reverence righteous sway,
With life defend, with love obey;
Nor join that wretched band of scoffers,
Who rail at every man in office.
With freedom's warmth their fouls infpire,
And light their brave forefathers' fire.
Bid them their privileges know;
Bid them with love of country glow;
With skill, their arms defensive wield,
Nor shun the duties of the field."

500

505

"How blefs'd this heaven-diftingiſh'd land!
Where ſchools in every hamlet ſtand;
Far ſpread the beams of learning bright,
And every child enjoys the light.
At ſchool, beneath a faithful guide,
In teaching ſkill'd, of morals tried,
And pleas'd the early mind to charm
To every good, from every harm,
Learn they to read, to write, to ſpell,
And caſt accompts, and learn them well :
For, on this microſcopic plan,
Is form'd the wife, and uſeful man.
Let him a taſte for books infpire;
While you, to nurſe the young deſire,
A ſocial library procure,
And open knowledge to the poor.
This uſeful taſte imbib'd, your eyes
Shall fee a thouſand bleſſings rife.
From haunts, and comrades vile ſecure,
Where gilded baits to vice allure,
No more your ſons abroad ſhall roam,
But pleas'd, their evenings ſpend at home;
Allurements more engaging find,
And feaſt, with pure delight, the mind.
The realms of earth, their tho'ts ſhall ſcan,
And learn the works, and ways, of man;

510

515

520

525

530

( 139 )

See, from the savage, to the fage,
How nations ripen, age by age;
How states, and men, by virtue rife;
How both to ruin sink, by vice;
How thro' the world's great prifon-bounds,
While one wide clank of chains refounds,
Men flaves, while Angels weep to fee,
Some wife, and brave, and blefs'd, are free.
Thro' moral fćnes ſhall ſtretch their fight;
Difcern the bounds of wrong, and right;
That lothe; this love; and, pleas'd, purfue
Whate'er from man to man is due;
And, from the page of HEAVEN derive
The motives, and the means, to live."

"Nor think the ſcope, or task, too great;
Coolly your leifure moments ſtate;
These, nicely reckon'd, will appear
Enough for all, that's promis'd here.
Would you ſtill higher proof behold?
Plain facts that higher proof unfold.
I know, and tell it with a ſmile,
No narrow lift of men of toil,
Illum'd by no collegiate rays,
And forc'd to tread in busy ways,
Who yet, to read intenſely loving,
And every leifure hour improving,
On wifdom's heights diſtinguifh'd ſtand,
The boaſt, and bleſſing, of our land.
This myſtery learn: in great, or ſmall things,
'TIS APPLICATION MASTERS ALL THINGS."

"*Thus taught, in every ſtate of life,*
Of child, of parent, hufband, wife,
They'll wiser, better, happier, prove;
Their freedom better know, and love;

( 140 )

More pleasures gain, more hearts engage,
And feast their own dull hours of age."

"Use them, and early use, to have,
To earn, and what they earn, to save.

From industry, and prudence, flow
Relief of want, and balm of woe,
Delightful sleep, enduring wealth,
The purest peace, the firmest health,

True independence of our peers,
Support foricks, and for years,
Security from household strife,

The conscience fweet of useful life,
Eteem abroad, content at home,

An easy passage to the tomb,
With blessings numberless, that flow

To neighbour, ftranger, friend, and foe,
That man to man refiftles bind,

And fspread, and fspread, to all mankind."

Would you for them this good acquire,
Prudence, and industry, inspire;

To habit bid the blessings grow;
Habits alone yield good below.

To these untrain'd, whate'er you give,

Whate'er inheritance you leave,

To every worthlefs passion given,
And scatter'd to the winds of heaven,

Will foes, and ftrangers, clothe, and feed;
While your own children pine with need,

Their friends, pain'd, pitied, flighted, fly,
Forgotten live, and wretched die.

"In this New World, life's changing round,
In three descents, is often found.

The first, firm, busy, plodding, poor,
Earns, faves, and daily f wells, his store:

570

575

580

585

590

595

600

( 141 )

By farthings firſt, and pence, it grows;
In ſhillings next, and pounds, it flows;
Then ſpread his widening farms, abroad;
His foreſts wave; his harveſts nod;
Fattening, his numerous cattle play,
And debtors dread his reckoning day.
Ambitious then t'adorn with knowledge
His ſon, he places him at college;
And ſends, in ſmart attire, and neat,
To travel, thro' each neighbouring ſtate;
Builds him a handsome houſe, or buys,
Sees him a gentleman, and dies."

505

610

" The ſecond, born to wealth, and eafe,
And taught to think, converſe, and pleafe,
Ambitious, with his lady-wife,
Aims at a higher walk of life.
Yet, in thofe wholeſome habits train'd,
By which his wealth, and weight, were gain'd,
Bids care in hand with pleafure go,
And blends œeconomy with flow.
His houſes, fences, garden, drefs,
The neat and thrifty man confefs.
Improv'd, but with improvement plain,
Intent on office, as on gain,
Exploring, uſeful fweets to ſpy,
To public life he turns his eye.
A townſman firſt; a juſtice ſoon;
A member of the houſe anon;
Perhaps to board, or bench, invited,
He fees the ſtate, and ſubjects, righted;
And, raptur'd with politic life,
Configns his children to his wife.
Of household cares amid the round,
For her, too hard the taſk is found.
At firſt ſhe ſtruggles, and contends;
Then doubts, defponds, laments, and bends;

615

620

625

630

635

( 142 )

Her sons purify the fad defeat,
And shout their victory complete;
Rejoicing, see their father roam,
And riot, rake, and reign, at home.
Too late he sees, and sees to mourn,
His race of every hope forlorn,
Abroad, for comfort, turns his eyes,
Bewails his dire mistakes, and dies."

640

"His heir, train'd only to enjoy,

645

Untaught his mind, or hands, t' employ,
Conscious of wealth enough for life,
With busineſs, care, and worth, at ſtrife,
By prudence, conſcience, unreſtrain'd,
And none, but pleafure's habits, gain'd,
Whirls on the wild career of ſenſe,
Nor danger marks, nor heeds expenſe.
Soon ended is the giddy round;
And soon the fatal goal is found.

650

His lands, ſecur'd for borrow'd gold,
His houſes, horſes, herds, are ſold.

655

And now, no more for wealth refpected,
He ſinks, by all his friends neglected;
Friends, who, before, his vices flatter'd,
And liv'd upon the loaves he ſcatter'd.

660

Unaſted every worthy part,
And pining with a broken heart,
To dirtieſt company he flies,
Whores, gambles, turns a ſot, and dies.

665

His children, born to fairer doom,
In rags, purſue him to the tomb."

"Apprentic'd then to maſters ſtern,

Some real good the orphans learn;
Are bred to toil, and hardy fare,

670

And grow to usefullneſs, and care;
And, following their great-grandſire's plan,
Each flow becomes a useful man."

( 143 )

" Such here is life's swift-circling round;
So soon are all its changes found.
Would you prevent th' allotment hard,
And fortune's rapid whirl retard,
In all your race, industrious care
Attentive plant, and faithful rear;
With life, th' important task begin,
Nor but with life, the task resign;
To habit, bid the blessings grow,
Habits alone yield good below."

675

680

" But, to complete the blefs'd design,
Both parents must their efforts join;
With kind regard, each other treat:
In every plan, harmonious meet;
The conduct each of each approve;
Nor strive, but in the strive of love.
What one commands, let both require;
In counfels, smiles, and frowns, confpire;
Alike oppofe; alike befriend;
And each the other's choice commend.
In sweeteft union thus conjoin'd,
And one the life, as one the mind,
Your children cheerful will obey,
And reverence undivided pay;
The daily task be lightly done,
And half the household troubles gone:
While jars domeſtic weal deſtroy,
And wither every hope of joy."

685

690

695

700

" Meantime, let peace around you reft,
Nor feuds good neighbourhood moleſt.
Your neighbour's crops with justice eye,
Nor let his hopes by trefpafs die.
Your fence repair, your herds repel;
Much virtue's found in fencing well.

705

( 144 )

With care his reputation guard;
Sweet friendship will that care reward.

No idle tatler e'er receive;

No storied scandal e'er believe :
What's good, and kind, alone report;

Tell nothing, which can others hurt :
Oblige, lend, borrow—freely all—

Rejoice not in another's fall :

When others need, assistance lend ;
Are others sick ? their calls attend ;
Their visits hospitably greet,
And pay, with cheerful kindnesss sweet.

These things, or I mistake, will form,

And keep the heart of friendship warm.”

"But should contentions rife, and grudges,
Which call for arbitrating judges,
Still fun the law, that gulph of woe,
Whose waves without a bottom flow:
That gulph, by storms forever tofs'd,
Where all, that's once afloat, is loft;
Where friends, embark'd, are friends no more,

And neither finds a peaceful shore :

While thoufand wrecks, as warnings, lie,

The victims of an angry sky.

"Each cause let mutual friends decide,
With Common-fense alone to guide :

If right, in silent peace be glad ;

If wrong, be neither four, nor fad :

As oft you'll find full justice done,
As when thro' twenty terms you've run;
And when, in travel, fees, and coft,
Far more than can be won, is loft."

"Learn, this conclusion whence I draw.

Mark what eftates are ſpent in law !

710

715

720

725

730

735

740

( 145 )

See men litigious buſineſs fly,
And loungers live, and beggars die!
What anger, hatred, malice fell,
And fierce revenge their boſoms ſwell!
What frauds, ſubornings, tamperings rife!
What ſlanders foul! what ſhameful lies!
What perjuries, blackening many a tongue!
And what immenſtity of wrong!
Where peace, and kindneſs, dwelt before,
See peace, and kindneſs, dwell no more!
Ils to good offices ſucceed,
And neighbours bid each other bleed!"

745

"Efop, the merry Phrygian ſage,
Worth half the Wife-men of his age,
Has left to litigants a ſtory,
Which, with your leave, I'll ſet before you."

755

"" The bear, and lion, on the lawn,
Once found the carcaſe of a fawn.
Both claim'd the dainty; neither gave it;
But each ſwere roundly he would have it.
They growl'd; they fought; but fought in vain;
For neither could the prize obtain;
And, while, to breathe, they both retreated,
The lawyer fox, came in, and eat it.""

760

" And would you uſeful live, and bleſs'd,
Parochial heats, and jars, deteft.
Like you, their intereſts others feel;
Have pride, and paſſions, warmth, and will.
Thofe intereſts clafh; thofe wills contend;
And ſome, where all have votes, muſt bend.
A yielding ſpirit hence maintain;
Let all concede, that all may gain:
Hence, when fierce heat the maſs inſpires,
And Party blows her angry fires,

765

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GREENFIELD HILL.

PART VII.

THE VISION.

FROM these fair scenes, to wonders more refin'd,
Instructive turns the ever busy Mind :
The prefent prospect but expands her fight;
The prefent joy to others tempts her flight;
Allur'd by each new good, she loves to roam,
And spreads her wings, through ages long to come;
Where Time, with hand prophetic, points her way,
And heavenly visions heavenly scenes display.

As late, when Spring awak'd the lumbering plains,
The soul, extatic, burft her earthy chains,
Approaching Morn affum'd her magic power,
And bade her visions blefs the fairy hour,
In quick review, Columbia's glories fspread;
The paft roll on; the prefent swift fucceed;
Behind, rank after rank, the future rife,
As clouds, fuceffive, paint the changing fkies.

I ftood, methought, befide yon azure plain;
Still hung the concave; peaceful ſlept the main;
In heaven ſuspended, lingering Hefper ſhin'd,
And purple evening breath'd her gentleft wind.

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At once I heard a solemn murmur rife,
As thunders flowly fwell, in diffant skies;
The waves, diffurb'd, in deep convulsion lay;
The world was hufh'd; the airs forgot to play.

At that still moment, from his sapphire bed,
The Genius of the Sound uprear'd his head:
Slow round his form a cloud of amber roll'd,
Now hid, now splendent, through it's skirts of gold.
Gemm'd with new stars, his feagreen mitre fhin'd;
His ſcaly mantle ruſtled in the wind;

A pietur'd ſhield his hand, uplifted, bore,
Grav'd with the ſemblance of his double ſhore:
Unnumber'd fails propitious breezes fwell'd,
And his ſtrip'd flag diſclos'd th' unfinifh'd field.

Here Longa's bays, and whitening coaſt, were ſeen,
Small ifles, around her, wrought in living green;

The loftier Mainland there allur'd the eye,
It's margin winding toward the southern ſky;
The tall hill heav'd; expanſive ſpread the plain;

And groves, and gardens, ſtreak'd the ſubject main:
New Haven's ſpires, in ſculptur'd filver, roſe,
And York's proud domes, eſcap'd the waſt of foes.

Here a new Thames an infant London laves;
Through a new Tempe, roll Connecta's waves;

With foamy ſtream, another Avon glides,
And Hudson triumphs in his freighted tides.

He ſtood, and thus the solemn ſilence broke,
And brightening nature liven'd as he ſpoke.

“ Rife, genial years! and haſte, auſpicious times!
Aſcend, and bleſs the true, Hesperian climes;
O'er happy ifles, and garden'd realms, diſplay
Th' advancing ſplendours of prophetic day.”

“ Her themes of pride let savage Europe boaſt,
Her bloody enginry, and marſhall'd boſt,

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Her haughty flags, with purple ftain'd, display,
The car of triumph, and the pomp of fway;
Or, wrought with Grecian fkill, her columns raife,
Bend the tall arch, and teach the dome to blaze;
In art's wide regions bid her laurels grow,
And place the crown of ſcience on her brow.
Round the mild year, let Albion's verdure run;
Let Gallia's opening vines allure the fun;
O'er brighter realms, the Turkifh crescent rife,
Waſh'd by fair ſeas, and warm'd by vernal ſkies;
Let richer Ind, and prouder Perſia, tell
The diamond cavern, and the pearly ſhell;
Peruvia vaunt her ſtreams, in filver roll'd,
And funny Darien lift her hills of gold.
Here the beſt bleſſings of thofe far-fam'd climes,
Pure of their woes, and whiten'd from their crimes,
Shall blend with nobler bleſſings, all my own;
Here firſt th' enduring reign of Peace be known :
The voice of ſcepter'd Law wide realms obey,
And choice ereſt, and freemen hail, the ſway:
The fun of knowledge light the general mind,
And cheer, through every clafs, oppreſs'd mankind;
Here Truth, and Virtue, doom'd no more to roam,
Pilgrims in eastern climes, ſhall find their home;
Age after age, exalt their glory higher,
That light the foul, and this the life inſpire;
And Man once more, ſelf-ruin'd Phœnix, rife,
On wings of Eden, to his native ſkies."

" To build the finifh'd blifs, fee all things given,
The goods of nature, and the ſmiles of Heaven,
A ſite ſequefter'd, policy ſublime,
The nobleft manners, and the happieſt time."

" See this glad world remote from every foe,
From Europe's miſchieſs, and from Europe's woe !

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Th' Atlantic's guardian tide repelling far
The jealous terror, and the vengeful war,
The native malice, envy, pride, and strife,
The plagues of rank, the ruft of uſeleſs life,
The cumbrous pomp, of general want the ſpring,
The clafhing commerce, and the rival king.
See, far remote, the crimes of balanc'd ſway!
Where courts contract the debt, and ſubjects pay;
The black intrigue, the crush of ſelf-defence,
Th' enliſtment dire, foul preſs, and tax immenſe,
Navies, and hoſts, that gorge Potofi whole;
Bribes, places, penſions, and the auſtion'd ſoul:
Ils, that, each hour, invoke the wrath of GOD,
And bid the world's wide ſurface ſmoke with blood,
Wafe human good, in ſlavery nations bind,
And ſpeed untimely death to half mankind."

" Profuſely ſcatter'd o'er theſe regions, lo!
What ſcenes of grandeur, and of beauty, glow.
It's noblenſt wonders here Creation ſpreads;
Hills, where ſkies reſt, and Danubes pour cascades;
Foreſts, that ſtretch from Cancer, to the Pole;
Lakes, where ſeas lie, and rivers, where they roll;
Landſchapes, where Edens gild anew the ball,
And plains, and meads, where ſuns arife, and fall:"

" To theſe bright wonders, Nature's hand ſublime
Has join'd the varied joys of circling clime.
Winds pureſt breathe; benigneſt ſeafons ſmile;
And double harveſts gild the bounteous foil;
The choicest ſweets, unnumber'd fruits inhale,
And Flora wantons, on the fragrant gale :
Gains of true gold purfue th' exploring plough,
Wealth, that endures, and good unbought with woc;
With richeſt ore, the uſeful mountains ſhine,
And lufcious treafures fill the teeming brine:

( 153 )

Fell Famine, at th' o'erflowing good,
And, hiffing, flies the native land of food."

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" See the wide realm in equal shares poffefs'd !
How few the rich, or poor ! how many blefs'd !
O happy ſtate! the ſtate, by HEAVEN defign'd
To rein, protect, employ, and blefs mankind;
Where Competence, in full enjoyment, flows;
Where man leaſt vice, and higheſt virtue, knows;          130
Where the mind thrives; ſtrong nerves th' invention ſtring;
And daring Enterprize uplifts his wing;
Where Splendour ſpreads, in vain, his peacock-hues;
Where vagrant Sloth, the general hils purfues;
Where Buſineſs reigns, the univerſal queen;          135
Where none are ſlaves, or lords; but all are men:
No nuifant drones purloin the earner's food;
But each man's labour ſwells the common good."

" O ſtate, to my lov'd ſons moſt kindly given;
Of all their blifs, the basſs laid by HEAVEN !
Curs'd be the heart, that wishes to deſtroy,
Curs'd be the hand, that mines this ground-work joy;
Hung be his name, in infamy's foul den;
And let the wide world rife, and ſay Amen !"

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"Thrice wretched lands! where, thouſands ſlaves to one,
Sires know no child, befide the eldeſt ſon;          [145
Men know no rights; no juſtice nobles know;
And kings no pleafure, but from ſubjects' woe.
There, wealth from plunder'd throngs by few engroſs'd,
To rich, and poor, alike is virtue loft.          150
The rich, to foul oppreſſion born, and bred,
To reaſon blinded, and to feeling dead,
From childhood, train'd to wield the iron rod,
Alike regard not man, and fear not GOD.
Science they ſcorn, the public bar deride;
And every feud by vengeful force decide;

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Honour their deity, and will their law,
In private war, the fword of paſſion draw,
O'er wretched vaſſals, death and ruin drive,
Whofe only hope, or comfort, was to live;
Unbleſs'd, forbid all others bliſs to find,
Fools, atheiſts, bigots, curſes to mankind."

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" Mean, bafe, deceitful, dead to hope, and ſhame,
At war with that hard world, which wars with them,
Like trees, adheſive to their native plain,
And given, or ſold, as pleafure prompts, or gain,
Dower of a daughter, purchafe of a hound,
Alike remov'd from worth, the poor are found.
Mere tools of fraud, oppreſſion, whim, or rage,
No law t' avenge their wrongs, nor friend t' affuage,
By paſſion tempeſted, by inſtinct ſped,
To' obedience whipp'd, to action hunger-led,
In knowledge brutes, in comfort brutes below,
Forbid to taſte the little good, they know,
They envy the fleek dog, that paſſes by,
They ſtarve, and ſteal, blaſpheme their God, and die."

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"Thrice wretched lands! where wealth and ſplendour glow,
And want, and miſery, in dire contraſt, ſhow;
On ſheds, and pens, where palac'd pride looks down;
A god the noble, and a beaſt the clown;
Where tiffue glares, and rags indecent yawn;
Feet ſtep in blood, and kingly cars are drawn;
Where Luxury ſickens, at Vitellius' ſeaſt,
And wretches ſtarve, beneath the hedge, to reſt;
Furs guard the filky form from winter's breath,
And the bare croſe defiles the frozen heath;
Idolatry fans off the vernal breeze,
And fun-ſtruck Labour, phrenzied, ſinks to peace.
Such, Poland! long have mourn'd thy realms of woe;
Such, Ruffia, ſuch, Bohemia! thine are now."

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" Hail, Prince of princes! firſt of modern thrones,
Hail, Staniflaus! thou king, from nature's ſons!

( 155 )

Hail, Child of HEAVEN! whose large, ethereal mind
Look'd into woe, and felt for poor mankind.

Let fame eternal crown thy glorious brows,
And ills glance from thee to thy savage foes.

Be thine the peace, the blifs, of doing good,
Delightful earneſt of the bleſt abode!

Sweet be thy day; thine eve supremely sweet;

Death, fear, and sorrow, laid beneath thy feet:

And oh! may HE, for ruin'd man who died,
Approve, accept, and hail thee to his fide,

Who, wielding earthly power, for heavenly ends,
Had'ft pity on the leaſt, among his friends.”

" And ye exalted Poles! whose generous mind,
Offering auguſt! your pomp, and power, reſign'd,
Pleas'd, with divine benignity to fee

Slaves chang'd to men, and wretches bleſs'd, and free;

From the far evening of th' Atlantic fhore,

If some soft gale ſhould waſt this whifper o'er,
Know, for your weal, all Virtue's children glow,
Joy in your joy, and weep your every woe;

Upward, each day, their prayers with fervour rife,
And wreſtle down the promife of the SKIES,"

" In these contraſted climes, how chang'd the ſcene,
Where happineſs expands, in living green!

Through the whole realm, behold convenient farms
Fed by ſmall herds, and gay with cultur'd charms;

To ſons, in equal portions, handed down,

The fire's bold ſpirit kindling in the ſon;

No tyrant riding o'er th' indignant plain;

A prince, a king, each independent ſwain;

No ſervile thought, no vile ſubmiffion, known;

No rent to lords, nor homage to a throne;

But ſenſe to know, and virtue to extend,

And nerves to feel the blifs, and bravery to defend!"

" As o'er the lawns the humming nations play,
Feel the soft sun, and bleſs reviving May,

( 156 )

From field to field, the fragrant wax explore,
And round each fountain, visit every flower,
230
Approaching frost, with steady murmur, sing,
Wake with the morn, and husband all the spring :
Thus warm'd with industry, behold my swains !
Guide the smooth plough, and drefs the grateful plains ;
From earth's rich bosom, bid all products rife,
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The blefs'd creation of indulgent skies ;
The grafs-grown hills with herds unnumber'd crown,
And bid the fleecy nations fill the down ;
O'er countlefs fields, the flaxen treasure spread,
And call the canvas, from it's hempen bed :
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Or bid the loom with all earth's fabric fhine,
The useful ftrengthen, and the gay refine,
Or ocean's chambers, with bold hand, explore,
And waft his endlefs treafures to the shore !"

" Here firſt shall man, with full conviction, know 245
Well-fyſtem'd rule the ſource of blifs below;
Invent, refine, arrange, the ſacred plan,
Check pride, rein power, and ſave the rights of man !
Here firſt, his ſavage independence bow,
And, at the public ſhrine, ſpontaneous vow;
The triumph, here, of Reaſon firſt diſplay,
A nation yielding to elective ſway."

" See the charm'd States the glorious Rule complete,
Each haſtening to be wife, and good, and great;
Power, nicely balanc'd, all the parts adjuſt,
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The ſource of union, and the ſeat of truſt;
Whence, men ſorgotten, Law ſupremely reigns,
And juſtice flows, a river, o'er the plains !"

" Her ſky-crown'd pyramids let Egypt ſhow,
The tomb of folly, and the work of woe;
Her walls, her gardens, Babylon diſplay,
The pomp of ſpoils, and pageant of a day;
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( 157 )

Greece, with fierce mobs, and rival fury, toils'd,
Her bafelefs fway, and tottering freedom, boaft;

Her pride of empire haughty Rome unfold,

A world defpoil'd, for luxury, and gold :
Here nobler wonders of the world fhall rife;

Far other empire here mankind furprize :
Of orders pure, that alk no Grecian name,

A new born ftructure here afcend to fame.

The bafe, fhall knowledge, choice, and freedom, form,
Sapp'd by no flood, and fhaken by no ftorm;

Unpattern'd columns, union'd States afcend ;
Combining arches, virtuous manners bend ;

Of balanc'd powers, proportion'd ftories rife,

Like Babel's dome, intended for the fkies ;

One speech, one foul, to every builder given,

And the tall fummit fhrouded high in heaven."

" In this bright mansion, all my fons fhall find
Whatever rights their GOD has given mankind;

To rich, and poor, alike, th' avenues clear;
Its gates, like Salem's, open round the year;

Hence justice, freedom, peace, and bounty, flow,
Redrefs for injuries, and relief for woe."

" O bliſſul vifions of the happy Weſt !
O how unlike the miſeries of the Eaſt !

There, in ſad realms of defolating war,
Fell Defpotifm afcends his iron car;

Printed in blood, o'er all the moving throne,

The motto glows, of—MILLIONS MADE FOR ONE.

Above, on either ſide, the Furies glare,

Their ſcorpions brandiſh, and their ſnakes uprear;

His breath their being, and his ſcourge their law,
Unnumber'd haggard ſlaves the chariot draw;

A villain, black as hell, his maſter guides,

A guard of blacker villains round him rides.

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As rolls the pomp the wafted kingdom o'er,
With corpSES caufey'd, and wet deep with gore,
One wide Aceldama the region lies,
And whitening Golgothas immingled rife:
While nobles, pamper'd on the spoils of woe,
Refound—" The knee to Heaven's Vicegerent bow." "

" Yet there, even there, Columbia's blifs shall spring,
Rous'd from dull sleep, aſtoniſh'd Europe ſing,
O'er Asia burſt the renovating morn,
And ſtartled Africa in a day be born;
As, from the tomb, when great MESSIAH roſe,
Heaven bloom'd with joy, and Earth forgot her woes,
His faints, thro' nature, truth and virtue ſpread,
And light, and life, the SACRED SPIRIT ſhed;
Thus, thro' all climes, ſhall Freedom's blifs extend,
The world renew, and death, and bondage, end;
All nations quicken with th' eſſatic power,
And one redemption reach to every ſhore."

" Unlike the Eaſt, whose caſtles rivet ſway,
Shield the fell guard, and force the realm t' obey,
A nations voice, with pointed cannon, brave,
Meant to defend, but uſeful to enſlave;
Where foes victorious in dire ſafety ſtand,
And ſix oppreſſion on a hapleſs land,
Here, without walls, the fields of ſafety ſpread,
And, free as winds, aſcends the peaceful ſhade;
Invaſion ſierce, interfluent oceans bar;
Streams hedge the foe, and mountains mock the war.
In each dread pafs, with naked ſide, he ſtands,
To ſudden terrors, and to unſeen hands;
On the broad plain, ten thouſand ills invade,
The day's hard toils, the night's ill-boding ſhade;
Surrounding wilds, inceſſant, breathe alarms,
And moors, and ſoreſts, pour harraſſing ſwarms:

{ 159 }

Pain'd, at each step, he fears himself undone,
And each new movement loses all he won.
Thus shall my fons their shelter'd regions fave,
Firm as their hills, and as their fathers brave,
On freedom's force, with generous truft, rely,
And ask no fortrefs, but the favouring Sky."

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"Warm'd by that living fire, which HEAVEN beftows;
Which Freedom lights, and Independence blows;
By that bright pomp, which moral fćenes diſplay,
The unrivall'd grandeur of elective fway;
And manners, where effulgent nature ſhines,
Nor tinſel glares, nor fashion falſe refines,
At this beſt æra, when, with glory bright,
Full-rifing Science caſts unclouded light,
Up wifdom's heights the foul ſhall wing her way,
And climb thro' realms of ſtill improving day."

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"Here wealth, from private misery wrench'd no more,
To grace proud pomp, and ſwell a monarch's ſtore,
Aid venal hoſts to blaſt man's little joy,
And bid fell navies towns and realms deſtroy,
For public blifs, from public hands, ſhall flow,
And patriot works from patriot feelings grow.
See Appian ways acroſs the New World run!
Here hail the rifing, there the fetting, ſun:
See long canals on earth's great convex bend!
Join unknown realms, and diſtant oceans blend;
In the Calm Main, Atlantic tides arife,
And Hudson wanton under torrid ſkies.
O'er all my climes, ſee palac'd Science ſmile!
And ſchools unnumber'd gem the golden foil;
For want, for woe, the neat afylum rife,
And countleſs temples call propitious ſkies.
By locks immenſe ſee broken rivers join'd;
And the vaſt bridge my Rhines, and Danubes, bind;

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For useful fabrics, spacious domes ascend;
Huge engines roll, and streams their currents bend.”
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“Here too, each heart, alive to pity’s caufe,
Shall curfe still-savage Europe’s reeking laws;
That gibbets plant, as erst the forest stood;
With horse-leach thirt, cry, “Give us daily blood;”
Void, not of mercy, but of common fenfe,
Commute a human life for thirteen pence;
Poor debtors chain, to glut revenge and pride,
And one man hang, that other men may ride.”
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“Here first, since earth beneath the deluge stood,
Bloodsthed alone shall be aton’d by blood:
All other crimes, unfit with man to dwell,
The wretch shall expiate, in the lonely cell:
There awful Conscience, and an anguifh’d heart,
Shall stretch the rack, and wing the flaming dart;
Approaching fiends with lowering vengeance glow,
And gulphs yawn downward to the world of woe.
Half seen, at times, and trembling faint, from far,
Shall dawn sweet Mercy’s bright and beamy star;
Hope enter, smite his chains, and fet him free,
And spread her wings, and whisper, “Follow me.”
In this dread mansion, ſhall the culprit find
His country’s laws, not juſt alone, but kind;
And fed, and clad, and lodg’d, with comfort, feel
Whatever good destroys not public weal.”
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“Here too, her scope shall Policy extend,
Nor to check crimes be still her single end.
Her hand shall aid the poor, the fad conſole,
And lift up merit from it’s lowly stool,
Reach to th’ induſtrious youth the means to thrive,
The orphan ſhelter, bid the widow live,
Nurſe, with a ſoſtering care, each art reſin’d,
That mends the manners, or that lights the mind,
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The choking damps of foul defpair expel,
And help aspiring genius to excel.”

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“ See, in each village, treasur'd volumes stand !
And spread pure knowledge through th' enlighten'd land ;
Knowledge, the wife Republic's standing force,
Subjecting all things, with refiftlefs courfe ;

That bids the ruler hold a righteous fway,
And bends perfuaded freemen to obey.

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Frequent, behold the rich Mufeum yield
The wonders dread of Nature's fruitful field !

See ſtrong invention engines ſtrange devife,

And ope the mysteries of earth, seas, and ſkies ;

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Aid curious art to finish works refin'd,

And teach abſtruſeſt ſcience to mankind.”

“ Up the dread vault, where ſtars immenfely roll,
To heaven, Herſchelian tubes conduct the foul ;

Where proud Orion heads th' immortal train,

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And opes his lucid window through the main ;

Where, far beyond this limitary ſky,
Superior worlds of liquid ſplendour lie ;

Far other ſuns diffuſe th' unſetting ray,

And other planets roll, in living day,

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Truth, blifs, and virtue, age by age, refine,
And unknown nations bak in life divine,”

“ Even now fair beams around my concave burn,
The golden Phofphor of th' expanding morn.

See raptur'd Franklin, when fierce tempeſts ride,
Down the faſe dome innoxious lightnings guide !

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The nice machine ſee ſelf-taught Kingsley frame,
That, unexampled, pours th' electric flame !

See Rittenhouse, and Pope, with art their own,
Roll the ſmall fyſtem round the mimic ſun !

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See Buſhnell's ſtrong, creative genius, fraught
With all th' affembled powers of ſkilful thought,

U

( 162 )

His mystic vessel plunge beneath the waves,
And glide thro' dark retreats, and coral caves!
While crowds, around them, join the glorious strife,
And cae the load, that lies on human life."

"Nor lefs their strength shall private efforts blend,
My fons t' illume, refine, exalt, amend.

Thro' Nature's field shall bold Inquiry stray,
Where Europe's Genius leads the splendid way;
Tell why the winds with fickle wanderings blow,
Thin vapours spring, and clouds condensing flow;
From what ftrange caufe th' ethereal phaſes rife,
And gloom, and glory, change ſo ſoon the ſkies;
How heat through nature spreads its chemic power;
Wakes the soft spring, diffolves the icy ſhower,
In fluid ſplendour bids the metal glow,
Commands the ſtream to roll, the flower to blow,
With golden beauty lights the ſtarry choir,
And warms th' exhautfleſs fun with living fire.

Or pierce the mift of elemental ſtrife,
See lazy matter rouſing into life;
It's parts meet, mix, repel, attract, combine,
And mould the plant with infinite design;
Or through the grades of nobler life ascend,
And the ſtrange, acting, suffering Being blend;
Or caſe their hold, to bring new forms to light,
And bid the fairy ſtructure melt from fight;
Or round the globe it's wondrous ſtrata spread,
Fashion the hills, and vault the ocean's bed;
Imblaze the ore, th' enticing gem unfold,
And with pure funbeams tinge the laſting gold.
Here too ſhall Genius learn, by what controul,
Th' inſtinctive magnet trembles to the pole;
With curious eye, it's ſystem'd errors trace,
And teach the mystic longitude of place;
Or through the bright, Columbian ſcience rove,
Purfue the lightning's path, in realms above,

( 163 )

Or o'er earth's bowels, mark it's silent course,
And see all nature own it's magic force :
Or ope more awful wonders to mankind,
Evolve the terrors of the Indian wind,
Tell whence volcanic fires the mount inform,
Whence heave the plains, or burfts the raging storm;
Whence the wide concave angry meteors rend,
And shuddering earth quakes to it's diffant end :
Or, in dark paths, where health's fair ftreamlets ftray,
Thro' plants, and mines, explore their chemic way,
Redrefs the ravage of encroaching clime,
Change the fad curfe, rebuild the waſte of time,
Protraſt man's date, bid age with verdure bloom,
And ftrew with flowers the journey to the tomb."

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" See rifing bards aſcend the ſteep of fame !
Where truth commends, and virtue gives a name,
With Homer's life, with Milton's ſtrength, aſpire,
Or catch divine ſaiah's hallow'd fire.
No fickly ſpot ſhall foil the page refin'd ;
Lend vice a charm, or taint the artleſs mind ;
Another Pope enchanting themes rehearſe,
Nor the meek virgin bluſh to hear the verſe ;
Improv'd, and clouded with no courtly ſtain,
A whiter page than Addifon's remain."

485

490

" On the bright canvas, see the pencil trace
Unrivall'd forms of glory, and of grace !
In the fair field, no traits of vilenefs ſpring,
No wanton lordling, and no bloody king,
No ſtrumpet, handed to perpetual fame,
No ſcenes of lewdneſs, and no deeds of ſhame :
But men, that counſell'd, fought, and bled, for men,
And held, to death, the world-renewing pen ;
Scenes, that would Envy of her ſnakes beguile,
Deeds, where fond Virtue loves to gaze, and ſmile :

495

500

( 164 )

Such forms, fuch deeds, on Raphael's tablets fhine,
And fuch, O Trumbull ! glow alike on thine."

" No more fhall Muſic trill, with raptures, o'er
The ſwinſh revel, and the lewd amour,
The phrenzied ravage of the blood-ſtain'd car,
Or the low triumphs of the Sylvan war.
But Sorrow's ſilent ſadneſs fweetly charm,
With love infpire, with real glory warm,
Wake, in Religion's caufe, diviner lays,
And fill the bosom with MESSIAH's præife."

" But chief, my ſons ſhall Moral ſcience trace,
Man's nature, duties, dignity, and place;
How, in each claps, the nice relation ſprings,
To God, to man, to ſubjects, and to kings;
How taſte, myſterious, in the Heavenly plan,
Improves, adorns, and elevates, the man;
How balanc'd powers, in juſt gradation, prove
The means of order, freedom, peace, and love,
Of blifs, at home, of homage fair, abroad,
Justice to man, and piety to God."

" For ſoon, no more to philofophic whims,
To cloud-built theories, and lunar dreams,
But to firm faſts, ſhall human faith be given,
The proofs of Reaſon, and the voice of HEAVEN.
No more by light Voltaire with bubbles ſed,
With Hume's vile hufks no longer mock'd for bread,
No more by St. John's lantern lur'd aſtray,
Through moors, and mazes, from the broad highway,
Transported men the path of life ſhall know,
And Angels' food ſhower round them, as they go."

" The Word of life, a world of ſtores refin'd,
The drefs, the ſeaſt, the riches, of the mind,
The bold Divine, commercing, ſhall explore,
Search every realm, and viſit every ſhore,

( 165 )

Thence wines, and fruits, of every taſte, and clime,
Matur'd, and beauteous, in immortal prime,
Thence gems collect, and gold from wifdom's mine,
Robes of pure white, and ornaments divine,
(Whate'er can bid the famiſh'd wretch reſpire,
Or clothe the naked in unſtain'd attire)
To HEAVEN's high altar bring the offering bleſs'd,
And all mankind, his Levites, ſhare the feaſt."

540

For here, alike to want, and wealth, allied,
Plac'd in the mean, 'twixt poverty and pride,
The goal, where faithful virtue moſt is found,
The goal, where ſtrong temptations leaſt abound,
Nor ſloth benumbs, nor luxury betrays,
Nor ſplendour awes, nor lures to dangerous ways,
Where the poor boldly tell their woes ſevere,
Fear no neglect, and find the mingling tear,
From civil toils, cabals, and party-heat,
My facred clerks ſpontaneous ſhall retreat;
To others leave to others what is given,
And ſhine, the mere ambaſſadors of HEAVEN;
Spread truth, build virtue, forrow soothe, and pain,
And rear primæval piety again."

545

550

555

" The nobleſt Manners too my realms ſhall cheer,
With prudence, frank; obliging, yet ſincere;
Great, without pride; familiar, yet refin'd;
The honest face diſcloſing all the mind;
Stanhope abjur'd; the Goſpel own'd alone;
And all, from other's claim'd, to others done.
Here nature's ſweet ſimplicity ſhall reign,
And art's foul tinſture meet a juſt diſdain;
The waxen mien of Europe's courtly lords;
Love ſpent in looks, and honour loft in words;
Where ſad ambition, ſickening, toils for ſhow,
And ſmiles, invented, mask the face of woe;
560
565
570

560

565

570

( 166 )

Where life drags on, a disappointing round,
Where hope's a cheat, and happiness a found."

"What though, like Europe's titled train to live,
Even in these climes, the splendid trifler strive;
Pine, with a fickly appetite, for shew,
And, every year, the income spend of two;
With aukward folly, mimic toilsome sin,
Parade without, and wretchedness within;

575

Yet faint, and few, shall these corruptions spread,
Seen but to be despised, and hiss'd, and fled.
Strong sense shall here the life of reason yield,
Each whim exploded, and each vice expell'd;
From sweet affections actions sweet shall flow,
All that makes joy, and all that quiets woe,

580

Where nature, friendship, love, unrivall'd reign,
And form anew the dignity of men."

585

"And O what beams shall light the Fair-one's mind!
How the soft eye-ball gliten truth refin'd!
What featur'd harmony mild virtue form!

With what sweet sympathy, the bosom warm!
To wisdom pure, by useful science train'd,
From fashions, cards, and plays, to reason gain'd,
To show, to flattery, victims now no more,
Vile forms extinct, and idle follies o'er,

590

Anew to duty shall the heart be given,
Love to mankind, and piety to HEAVEN.

595

Grac'd with each beauty of th' ethereal form,
Led by a heart, with rich affections warm,

Each lovely daughter, sister, friend, and wife,
Shall call forth roses, from the thorns of life;

600

With soothing tenderness, rough man refine,
Wake gentler thoughts, and prompt to deeds divine;

Through wisdom's paths, their tender offspring charm,
And bear them upward, with supporting arm;

( 167 )

Plant truth's fair feeds; the budding virtues tend; 650
And bid the nurfling faint a cherub end.
Like vernal dews, their kindneſs ſhall diſtil,
Cheer the ſad foul, and lighten every ill;
Breathe balmy comfort round the wretches ſhed,
And lay the outcaſt in a peaceful bed; 610
Bid, round their manſions, blifs domestic rife,
And fix a bright reſemblance of the ſkies."

" Through this wide world, outſpread from ſky to ſky,
Thus envied ſcenes of rapture meet the eye.
Then, on the borders of this ſapphire plain, 615
Shall growing beauties grace my fair domain.
O'er theſe green hills, and in each ſmiling dell,
Where elves might haunt, and fays delighted dwell,
From Thames's walks, to Hudſon's verdant ifles,
See, with fair ſeats, my lovely margin ſmiles! 620
No domes of pomp inſult the ſmiling plain;
Nor lords, nor princes, trample freeborn man.
Man, the firſt title known beneath the ſkies;
A prince, when virtuous, and a lord, when wife.
See, circling each, with ſimple luſtre, ſpread 625
The neat incloſure, and the happy ſhade;
Meads green with ſpring; with Autumn orchards fair;
And fields, where culture bids all climes appear,
Gay groves exult; Chineſian gardens glow,
And bright reflections paint the wave below!" 630

" On this blue plain, my eye ſhall then beheld
Earth's diſtant realms immingled fails unfold;
Proud Europe's towers, her thunders laid aſleep,
Float, in calm ſilence, o'er th' aſtoniſh'd deep;
Peru unſetter'd lift her golden fails, 635
And ſilken India waſt on ſpicy gales;
From death's dull ſhade, awaken'd Afric rife,
And roll the products of her ſunny ſkies.

( 168 )

Here shall they learn what manners blifs affure;
What fway creates it, and what laws fecure,
See pride abas'd; the wolſith heart refin'd;
Th' unſetter'd confcience, and th' unpinion'd mind;
To human good all human efforts given;
Nor war infult, nor bondage anger, HEAVEN;
No ſavage course of Eastern glory run;
Atchiev'd no conqueſt, and no realm undone."

" Here ſhall they fee an æra new of Fame,
Where ſcience wreathes, and worth confers a name;
No more her temple ſtand in human gore;
Of human bones, her columns rife no more:
The life, by poets ſung, the heavens approve,
Wifdom commend, and future ages love."

" From yon blue wave, to that far diſtant ſhore,
Where ſuns decline, and evening oceans roar,
Their eyes ſhall view one free elective ſway;
One blood, one kindred, reach from ſea to ſea;
One language ſpread; one tide of manners run;
One ſcheme of ſcience, and of morals one;
And, God's own Word the ſtructure, and the bafe,
One faith extend, one worſhip, and one praeſe."

" These ſhall they fee, amaz'd; and theſe convey,
On rapture's pinions, o'er the diſtant ſea;
New light, new glory, fire the general mind,
And peace, and freedom, re-illume mankind."

END OF THE SEVENTH PART.

NOTES TO PART I.

LINE 42. The parish of Greenfield consists of about thirteen square miles. On this little tract were found, at the time of the late census, almost fourteen hundred inhabitants: a population as great, as that of Britain, if the accounts which I have seen, of the extent and population of that country, are just. The people of Greenfield are almost all Farmers, and have no advantages for support, besides those which are common to N. England in general. Thus without any peculiar affixture from commerce, or manufacturing, an immense population can exist on the mere labours of the husbandman. The people of Greenfield, also, very generally abound in the necessaries and comforts of life. Such are the effects of an equal division of property, and of the cultivation of lands by the proprietors.

L. 35. No country has been more unjustly or contemptibly flandered, than New England.

L. 94. [Firms.] I have ventured to use this word, as a verb. It appeared to me better to express the idea intended, than any other word, which I could recollect.

L. 177. A remarkable proof of the mildness of manners, in New England, existed during the late war. The inhabitants were at least as much divided, and as directly opposed, both in opinion and conduct, as those of France; and through a much longer period. (a) Yet not one person was put to death by the hand of violence, and but one by the hand of civil justice, during an eight years war, and in a country containing a million of inhabitants.

L. 215. The State of Connecticut exhibits the most uniform and unmixed manners, to be found in New England; and those, which may, with the greatest propriety, be called the national manners of that country.

L. 223. The happiness of the inhabitants of Connecticut appears, like their manners, morals, and government, to exceed any thing, of which the Eastern continent could ever boast. A thorough and impartial development of the state of society, in Connecticut, and a complete investigation of the sources of its happiness, would probably throw more light on the true methods of promoting the interests of mankind, than all the volumes of philosophy, which have been written. The cautions, which have already produced happiness, will ever produce it. To facts alone, there-

(a) January 1, 1793.

X

( 170 )

fore, ought we to refort, if we would obtain this important knowledge,
Theories are usually mere dreams; fitted to amuse, not to infruct; and
Philosophers, at least political ones, are usually mere Theorifts. The com-
mon fenfe of the early Colonifts of New England faw farther into political
subjects, thofe at least, which are of great importance to human happineſs,
than all the Philosophers, who have written ſince the world began.

L. 225. Nothing can be more vifionate, than many modern Philo-
fophic opinions, concerning government. All human ſystems, reſpecting
practical ſubjects, unleſs derived from faſts, will ever be vifionate, and
deferve to be clasſed with ſubſtantial forms, ſubtil matter, and atomic ten-
dency to exertion. Man is wholly unable, by mere contemplation, to bring
into his view a number of principles ſufficient to conftitute a theory, which
can conſiſt with practice. One would imagine, that the univerſal fate of
hypothetical philofophy muſt long ſince have taught ingenious men this
obvious truth; but the pleafure of making, and defending, ſystems, is ſo
great, that ſuch men are ſtill employed in building air-craftles, and in feri-
ouſly expeſting to inhabit them.

L. 234. If gentlemen, who are natives of Europe, ſhould think this
paragraph harſh, or unfounded, the writer requeſts them ſo far to turn
their attention to the ſeveral faſts, mentioned in it, as to ſatisfy them-
ſelves, whether the aſcription be juſt, or erroneous. The natives of Great
Britain, particularly, will find, in diſtinguified writers of that country,
deſcriptions of British ſociety, warranting all, that is aſſerted in this poem;
deſcriptions confirmed, ſo far, at leaſt, as the author’s acquaintance has
extended, by thofe Americans, who have travelled into Britain. The Taſk,
one of the moſt ſenſible and valuable performances, in the English lan-
guage, is alone a ſufficient justification of no ſmall part of what is here
declared.

L. 247. It is, perhaps, not to be wondered at, that the ſtate of ſo-
ciety, lately exiſting in France, ſhould be followed by extenſive and ridi-
culous infidelity; but that ſuch a ſpeech as that ſaid to be uttered, Dec.
1792, by Citizen Dupont, ſhould have been ſpoken by any man, on any
occasion, and before any audience, would hardly have been believed, unleſs
publiſhed with high authentication. That it ſhould have been uttered by
a man, characterized as a man of weight and influence, is ſtill more
aſtoniſhing: and that it ſhould have been received, by the Legiſtat ive Aſ-
ſembly of a great Nation, with applaſe, is a faſt, which, if it ſhould,
unhappily for the honour of human nature, be handed to poſterity, will
probably be regarded rather as a Provenca l legend, than as a reality. Of
the like contemptible character are the later declarations of Citizen La-
croix, on the petition of the Quakers and Anabaptiſts; in which are the
following words, “The Conſtitution is my Gofſpel, and Liberty is my
God. I know no other.” These gentlemen appear ambitious of ri-
valling the character of Aretine, on whose tomb this iſcription is ſaid to
have been written.

Here lies Aretine,
Who ſpoke evil of every one,
But his God;
And in this he muſt be excused,
Because he did not know him.

L. 248. I have ſeen a memorial, ſaid to be prefent ed to his British Ma-
jeſty, by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, of London;

( 171 )

in which they declare, that within ten years, 4,800 persons had, in that
city, been convicted of felony. (a) In New England, which contains more
inhabitants than London, it is to be questioned, whether, in any ten years,
since it was settled by the English, there have been ten persons convicted
of felony. A partial account, for this enormous disproportion, may be
found in the mildness of the laws of New England, which are far less
favourable, than those of Great Britain. It may also be justly observed, that
London is a city of enormous wealth, and enormous poverty, and a ge-
neral receptacle of sharpers and villains from the whole British empire,
as well as from several other countries. But it is also to be remembered,
that a great proportion of the felons, convicted in New England, are
natives of Europe. It is probable, that the subject cannot be explained
in any manner, which will not involve, as its principal causes, the very
great difference, in the respective places, to be found in the universality of
happiness, and in the purity of morals.

L. 267. [See every heart, &c.] The fashions of Europe, especially of Britain and France, suit neither the climate, the convenience, the policy, the property, nor the character, of this country. The changes of climate in this country require modes of dressing very different from those, which are healthful in France and England. The Americans are generally people of bufnefs, and, of course, must be greatly and continually incommoded by an adoption of many foreign fashions. Our policy naturally teaches us to reject all servile imitation of the manners of other countries; and all constant imitation is attended with servility. The dignified character of free republicans ought to lead them to despise a perpetual change in the figure of dres; to aim only at such modes as are convenient, and to per- fevere in them; to shew their independence, in the choice of their own modes, and their ingenuity in the invention of them; and to manifest a total superiority to the miserable frippery of artificial society. In the mean time, our pecuniary circumstances would be advantageously consulted, by the adoption of dres, in all respects such as might well confest with our general mediocrity of wealth. The Friends appear to shew much good Senfe on this subject.

L. 279. War has exisled, in some, or other, of the countries of Europe,
75 years, out of the 92, which have elapsed, since the beginning of the
precent century; a century boafed of, as the most enlightened, refined, and
humane, within the knowledge of mankind. The caufes of these wars
have, also, been generally fuch, as ought to cover the authors of them with
deep and perpetual infamy.

L. 296. Few objects more demand the attention of men of influence,
in this country, than the establishment of national manners. That much
may be done, for this purpose, will not, I prefume, be questioned. There
are but two, or three countries, in the United States, in which the man-
ners have any thing like a general uniformity: the low country of Vir-
ginia, the low country of South Carolina, and New England. The man-
ners of Virginia and South Carolina cannot be easily continued, without
the continuance of the Negro slavery; an event, which can scarcely be
expected. The manners of New England appear to be rapidly spreading
through the American republic; the natives of that country being generally

(a) In the Lent circuit (1786) 286 persons were capitally convicted in England
and from 960 to 1000 convicts are now annually transported from that country.

( 172 )

even more tenacious of their manners, when abroad, than when at home.
When the enterprize, industry, œconomy, morals, and happineſs, of New
England, eſpecially of Connecticut, are attentively considered, the patriotic
mind will perhaps find much more reaſon to rejoice in this proſpect, than
to regret it.

L. 297. [Think whence this weal aroſe.] The peculiar proſperity of
New England in general, and particularly of Maſſachuſetts and Connecticut,
undoubtedly arifes from the equal diviſion of property, the univerſal
eſtablishment of ſchools, and their peculiar manner of ſupporting the
gofſel.

L. 430. [Ah! knew he but his happineſs, &c.] Ah! knew he but
his happineſs, of men the happieſt he, &c.

Thomſon.

O fortunatos nimium, ſua ſi bona norint,
Agricolas!

Virgil Georg. 2.

L. 573. Dan. 12. 13.

NOTES TO PART II.

LINE 1. This part of the poem, though appropriated to the parish of
Greenfield, may be considered as a general description of the towns and
villages of New England; though only excepted, which are either commen-
cial, new, or ſituated on a barren foil. Morose and gloomy perſons, and
perhaps ſome others, may think the description too highly coloured. Per-
ions of moderation and candour may poffibly think otherwise. In its full
extent, the writer ſuppofes it applicable to the beſt inhabitants only; but
he believes the number of theſe to be great: to others he thinks it partially
applicable. Poetical repreſentations are uſually eſteemed flattering; pof-
fibly this is as little ſo, as moſt of them. The inhabitants of New Eng-
land, notwithstanding ſome modern inſtances of declenſion, are, at leaſt in
the Writer's opinion, a ſingular example of virtue and happineſs.

It will be eafily discovered by the reader, that this part of the poem is
deligned to illeſtrate the effects of the ſtate of property, which is the coun-
ter part to that, ſo beautifully exhibited by Dr. Goldsmith, in the Deſerted
Village. That excellent writer, in a moſt interesting manner, displays the
wretched condition of the many, where enoſmous wealth, ſplendour, and
luxury, constitute the ſtate of the ſew. In this imperſeſt attempt, the
writer wifhed to exhibit the bleſſings, which flow from an equal diviſion
of property, and a general competence.

Wherever an equal diviſion of property is mentioned, in this Work, the
Reader is requeſted to remember, that that ſtate of things only is intended,
in which every citizen is ſecured in the avails of his industry and prudence,
and in which property deſcends, by law, in equal ſhares, to the proprietor's
children.

( 173 )

L. 1. Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the plain!

Goldsmith.

L. 12. [The spring bird.] A small bird, called, in some parts of New England, by that name; which appears, very early in the spring, on the banks of brooks and small rivers, and fings a very sweet and sprightly note.

(4) L. 26. [Slump'd.] This word, said, in England, to be of North Country original, is customarily used in New England, to denote the sudden sinking of the foot in the earth, when partially thawn, as in the month of March. It is also used to denote the sudden sinking of the earth under the foot.

L. 28. [Nutwood.] Hickory.

L. 45. And, many a year elapsed, return'd to view.

L. 49. Yes, let the rich deride, the proud disdain.

Goldsmith.

L. 52. — — — — — The globs of art.

Goldsmith.

L. 68. And parting fummer's lingring blooms delayed.

Goldsmith.

L. 73. Sweet-smiling village! loveliest of the lawn.

Goldsmith.

Goldsmith.

L. 75. In several parts of this country, the roads through villages are called streets.

L. 79, and 80. And every want, to opulence allied,

And every pang that folly pays to pride.

Goldsmith.

L. 91, O luxury! thou curst by heaven's decree.

Goldsmith.

L. 91, &c. Men in middling circumstances appear greatly to excel the rich, in piety, charity, and public spirit; nor will a critical observer of human life hesitate to believe, that they enjoy more happiness.

L. 145. [Farmer.] Farmer of revenue: A superior kind of tax-gatherer, in some countries of Europe.

L. 154. By poverty's unconquerable bar.

Beattie.

L. 196. [Wain.] Waggon, or cart.

L. 208. Some interesting and respectable efforts have been made, in Connecticut, and others are now making, for the purpose of freeing the Negroes.

L. 221. The black children are generally fprightly and ingenious, until they become conscious of their slavery. This usually happens, when they are 4, 5, or 6 years of age. From that time, they usually sink into idleness, or give themselves up to vice.

L. 237. If we confider how few inducements the blacks have to ingenious, or worthy efforts, we shall more wonder, that there are, among them, so many, than that there are so few, examples of ingenuity or amiableness.

L. 244. [Effairs.] Excuses.

L. 251, 252. [Home, Monboddo.] Two modern philosophers, who have published several ingenious dreams, concerning the first inhabitants of this world.

L. 285, &c. The facts, alleged in this paragraph, are so generally known, as not to need particular proof.

L. 295. See the speech of Mr. Briffot, in the National Assembly of France, Dec. 1, 1791. If the authority here quoted, for these particular instances of cruelty, exercised on the unhappy Africans, in the West Indies, should be thought doubtful, the reader may find, in the evidence taken, on this subject, by the Committee of the British House of Commons, an immense number of instances, in which inhumanity, equally reprehensible, has been undoubtedly practised on these unhappy people.

L. 301. Of this fact, I was informed by a gentleman of reputation, who
assured me that he had sufficient evidence of its reality.

L. 305. In some of the West India Islands, it is a custom, to send, on
Monday morning especially, offending flaves to the docks; each carrying a
billet, declaring the transgression, and the number of stripes the offender is
to receive, and containing a piftareen to pay for the infliction of them.—
There the offenders are railed up, successfully, by a crane, and stretched by
heavy weights, appended to their ankles. In this pofture, they are most
cruelly tortured by the cowfskin, and still more cruelly, it is faid, by a briar,
called ebony; which is used to let out the blood, where it has been started
by the whip.

L. 368. The Academical School, mentioned in the preface.

L. 473, 474. No more thy glafty brook reflects the day :

But, choked with fedges, works it's weedy way:

Goldsmith.

L. 476. The red-breast of America is a remarkably sweet finger.

L. 478. The house, here referred to, stands at some distance from the
road.

L. 524. Prov. 31. 11.

L. 532. Prov. 31. 28.

L. 538. Deut. 24. 15.

L. 552. Mrs. Eleanor Sherwood, the excellent person, whose character
has been given above, died of the small pox, March 29, 1793; sometime
after this character was given.

L. 589. Pier. A looking glafs; from it's place, and afterwards from a
particular figure, called a pier-glafs.

Ibid. All persons declare formal visiting to be unpleasing and burthen-
fome, and familiar visiting to be pleasing; yet multitudes spend no small
part of their lives, in formal visiting, and confider themfelves as being under
a species of obligation to it. In formal visiting, persons go to be seen; in
social visiting, to give and to receive, pleasure. If common sense were
allowed to dictate, or genuine good breeding to influence, we should im-
mediately exchange form and parade, for sociality and happineſs.

L. 617. I do not remember ever to have seen a lady, in full drefs, who
appeared to be so happy, or to behave so easily, and gracefully, as when she
was moderately dressed. An unufual degree of drefs feems uniformly to
inſpire formality, distance, and difficulty of behaviour. Toil, taſte, and
fancy, are put to exertion, to contrive, and to adjuſt, the drefs, which is
expected highly to ornament the person; and the fame exertion, appears
to be uſed in contriving, and fashioning, maners, which may become the
drefs.

L. 712. [Afian ſea.] Pacific ocean.

L. 720. [Korean.] Korea is a large peninſula on the eastern shore of
Afia.

L. 731. [Albion.] New Albion; a very defirable country, on the weſt-
ern shore of America, diſcovered by Sir Francis Drake.

L. 735. [Mexic hills.] A range of mountains, running from north to
south, at the diſtance of ſeveral hundred miles, weſtward of the Missifippi,

L. 736. [Louis.] The Missifippi. [Sicilian ſong.] Paſtoral poetry.

( 175 )

NOTES TO PART III.

LINE 15. On the plain, on which Fairfield is built, are several eminences of uncommon beauty.

L. 115. There were several acts of groans abuse, and of savage barbarity, practised by the British, when they burned Fairfield.

L. 143. That inferiors, in subordination, are bound to obey all, even the unjust and immoral commands of their superiors, and that the inferior is, in this conduct, justifiable, and the superior alone guilty, is still not unfrequently asserted, and therefore probably believed. When it shall be right to do evil, that good may come, when crimes and virtuous actions, with the guilt, and the merit, of them shall become transferable, when man shall cease to be accountable to his MAKER, and when God shall no more rule, with rightful authority, over his own creatures, this doctrine will probably reft on a more solid basis.

L. 181. None of the numerous and horrid evils of war is more wanton, more uſeleſs, and more indicative of the worst character, than burning. No nation, by which it is either allowed, or done, ought to make a claim to humanity, or civilization.

L. 231. There was a heavy thunder ſtorm, on the night, in which Fairfield was burned; yet ſuch was the confusion and diftrefes of the remaining inhabitants, that ſeveral of them did not perceive it.

L. 168. From Fairfield, the British proceeded to Norwalk; which they burned, the next day. It deferves to be remembered, that, during the conflagration, Governor Tryon had a chair carried to the top of an eminence, in that town, called Grummon's hill; and there, at his eafe, enjoyed the profpect, and the pleafure, of the ſcene. Two churches, 135 dwelling houſes, with a proportional number of other buildings, were destroyed, at Norwalk. Eight other towns, in the United States, experienced the fame fate; and while immenſe evil was done to the inhabitants, no benefit accrued, as none plainly could accrue, to their enemies.

L. 365. It is probable, that more of human labour, ingenuity, and property, has been expended in the various buſineſs of deſtruction, than in all the arts, by which peace and happiſeſs have been promoted.

L. 405. Every perſon, acquainted with the hiftory of the Romans, knows that the temple of Janus was ſhut, whenever they were in a ſtate of peace, and that this happened but twice, during the firſt 750 years of their national exiſtence. Mankind in general have been engaged in war, with almoſt as little intermiſſion.

It would be worth the labour of ſome friend to mankind, to preſent the public with a complete view of the time, during which war has exiſted in Europe, ſince the deſtruction of the Roman empire; the number of nations concerned in each war; the ſums expended; the debts incurred; the ſoldiers, failors, and citizens, deſtroyed; the cities, towns, and villages, burnt, plundered, and ruined; the miſeries, known to be ſuffered; the moſt probable cauſes of the reſpective wars; and the gain reſulting to the reſpective combatants. Thofe, who have accaſs to large libraries, would probably find, in them, much of the information, neceſsary to a design of this naſure.

( 176 )

L. 437. The injury, done by war, to the morals of a country, is inferior to none of the evils, which it suffers. A century is insufficient to repair the moral waste of a short war.

L. 553. [Go then, ah go.] It is probable, that whenever mankind shall cease to make war, this most desirable event will arise from the general opposition, made to war, by the common voice. Hence the peculiar importance of diffusing this opposition, as widely as possible, especially by education. If parents, school-masters, and clergymen, would unite their efforts, for this most benevolent and glorious purpose, the effects of such an union, on the rising generation, would probably exceed the most fanguine hopes.

L. 601. Some of the fixed stars are, from evident alterations in their appearance, called changeable stars. The star, Aegol, or Medusa's head, is a remarkable one; and changes, from the first, to the fourth magnitude.

L. 659. The custom of privateering is one of the reliques of Gothic barbarity. No good reason can be given, why commissions, to plunder and destroy houfes, should not be given to private persons, as well as to plunder and destroy vessels; to rob on the land, as well as on the sea; and why such persons, as refitted, should not be put to death, in the one case, as well as in the other. Custom, it is prefumed, is the only ground of any difference of opinion, with regard to the cases proposed. All privateering is robbery, and murder; and the government, which functions privateering, is guilty of authorizing these horrid crimes. Nor can the merchant, who is the proprietor, be excused from his share in the guilt.

## NOTES TO PART IV.

LINE 8, 9. Rev. 18. 7.

L. 10, &c. Dan. 2, 31, &c. 37, &c.

L. 14. [Timur.] Tamerlane, a Samarcand Tartar; who, in a short time, conquered what is now called Turkey in Asia, Persia, and India; together with several parts of Ruffia, and Tartary: the whole being an extent of territory larger than the Roman empire.

L. 38. [Demon chiefs.] Demons, according to the opinions of the ancient heathens, were beings of a middle character, between gods and men. The souls of departed heroes were ranked in this class of beings.

L. 43. [Trident.] The fabled ceptre of Neptune, the heathen god of the sea.

L. 118. [Sere.] Furrowed, wrinkled.

L. 131. The heroism, exhibited by our ancestors, in their wars with the Indians, and the patriotism, generally displayed, in their public conduct, have scarcely been excelled.

( 177 )

L. 180. The Indians of this country appear generally to have worshipped an evil daemon, with a hope of averting his ill offices. This deity was however esteemed inferior to the Great or Good Spirit.

L. 186. Sacrifices of this nature are, at the present time, said to be offered by the Senecas.

L. 190. The Pequods used a religious dance, accompanied with songs, which they performed in a small circular spot, resembling the circus of the ancient Romans.

L. 191. [Thyas.] The priest(s) of Bacchus. [Nyfa.] A city in India, said to be built by Bacchus, in which his worship was especially celebrated.

L. 224. The Indians have generally fuppofed the future world of happy(s) to lie in the western regions. The reafon feems to be the fame with that, which induces the Negroes to believe the happy world situated in Africa; viz. that it was the country, whence they originated. A similar opinion appears to have exifted among feveral, perhaps moft, ignorant coloni(s), for fome time, after their emigration.

L. 269. [Sheen.] Brightneſs.

L. 298. [Elliot, Mayhew.] These excellent men have proved, beyond difpute, that the Indians may be civilized, and chrifianized, by proper efforts. Their Apoſtolic piety ought to be remembered, with perpetual honour; and well deferves a public monument, from the State, of which they were ornaments, as well as citizens.

L. 307. The greatest obſtacle to chrifianizing the Indians is now, as it has usually been, their rivetted perfuafion, that the Britifh Colonifts, in all their correspondence with them, have aimed at their own benefit, not at the benefit of the Indians; at the acquifition of their lands, not at the falvation of their fouls: a perfuafion founded on too unequivocal and ſhameful proof. So long as thofe, who trade with them, are allowed to poifon them by all the means of corruption, virtuous men can only regret their miſerable condition. It is to be hoped, that the late act of Congreſs, re-gulating our correspondence with the Indians, together with ſeveral other humane and juſt measures of the fame nature, meaſures which reflect the highest honour on that Body, will, in a good degree, remove these evils.

L. 311. [India's curſe.] Rum.

L. 351. The French settlers of Canada took unceasing and immenſe pains, to induce the Indians to quarrel with the English Colonifts. To this conduct they were influenced not leſs by religious motives, than by thofe of policy, and by what has been called national enmity.

L. 362. The hill, to which the Pequods retired, has the appearance of being artificial.

L. 394. The heroism, celebrated by Homer, Virgil, and other Greek and Latin Poets, principally confifted of feats of personal prowess, and the conduct of small parties. Such was the gallantry of the first American Colonifts.

X

( 179 )

L. 289. [The first of May.] The day, on which accounts are usually adjusted, and pecuniary obligations discharged, in the state of New-York.

L. 297. For more than twenty years, the writer of this poem has been employed in the business of education, and, in that time, has had, in a greater or less degree, the superintendence of almost a thousand young persons, of both sexes. Almost all the sentiments here expressed, concerning the instruction, government, and habituation, of children, he has seen often proved to be just, through the whole course of this extensive experience. He is induced to these observations by a full, experimental conviction of the entirely theoretical and visionary nature of several modern opinions on the subject; opinions, published by men, of genius indeed, but wholly inexperienced in education; men who educate children on paper, as a geometrician circumnavigates the globe, in half a dozen spherical triangles. On some future occasion, he may, perhaps, take the liberty to offer to the public some further sentiments, on this copy and very interesting subject. In the mean time, he believes, that these may be safely adopted by such, as have not acquired more extensive information, and for such only are they designed.

L. 447. No principle of action will usually be of any service to children, unless it be made habitual.

L. 451. I believe, that there are very few children, who might not be rendered amiable and worthy, if their parents would begin their efforts in the interest of the child, and continue them steadily, without yielding to either sloth, or discouragement.

L. 471. In most places in New England, the parish bell is rung, at 9 o'clock, in the evening: a custom, which has more influence in promoting good order, than a flight of steps would imagine.

L. 531. There are many social libraries in Connecticut; and the number is fast increasing. This is visibly one of the best means of diffusing knowledge. If the proprietors of each would tax themselves a small sum yearly, they would soon be able to procure a sufficient number of books, to answer every valuable purpose of such an institution.

L. 567. I once knew a farmer, who steadily did what was called a good day's-work, and yet employed several hours every day, in reading.

L. 570. Several of the most useful and respectable men, in America, were privately educated; and some of them, with very small advantages.

L. 637. [A townsfman.] In New England, the prudentials of each town are commonly placed under the direction of a small number of men, chosen for that purpose, and called indifferently electors or townsmen.

L. 638. A representative; vulgarly called a member of the house.

## NOTES TO PART VII.

LINE 11. 12. The visions of the morning were anciently thought to be peculiarly prophetic.

["( 180 )", "L. 42. [Thames.] The river which empties into the found at New London.", "L. 43. [Tempe.] A beautiful valley in Thessaly. [Connecta.] Connecticut river, which, almost through its whole course, waters a very fruitful and delightful valley.", "L. 45. [Avon.] Houfatonuck, or, as it ought to be written, Hooeftennuck, or Stratford river.", "L. 96. Quicquid delirant reges, plecuntur Achivi.", "Horace.", "L. 105. The great objects of nature are, in America, viiably formed on a scale, superior to what is found elsewhere. Mountains, lakes, plains, cataracts, &c. exift in America, which are wholly unequalled by any, on the Eastern continent.", "L. 113. 114. The Inconveniencies, artifing from the extremes of heat and cold, in N. America, are abundantly compensated by the great variety and richneſs of its productions. The two harveſts, of European grain, and Indian corn (one of which is almost always a plentiful one) will probably hereafter, as they have done heretofore, ever forbid even a ſcarcity of the neceſſaries of life.", "125. The foundation of all equal liberty is the natural and equal deſcent of property to all the children of the proprietor. Republics cannot long exift, but upon this basis.", "L. 145. A very unequal divifion of property appears ever to have had very baneful effects on the general happineſs of mankind. A great part of the prosperity of Great Britain may be attributed to the inroads made by Henry VII. upon the entailment of eſtates.", "L. 150. Prov. 30. 8, 9.", "L. 154. Luke 18. 2.", "L. 162. Irreligion and Superſtition are equally conſequences of great wealth, ignorance, and power, in perſons of different characters.", "L. 165, 166. The vafals, or lowest clafs of people, were, anciently, in moſt European countries, and are, at the preſent time, in ſome, fold with the foil.", "L. 176. Prov. 30. 9.", "L. 183. [Vitellius.] A luxurious emperor of Rome, who had, ſerved up for him at one meal, 2000 fifth, and 7000 fowl.", "L. 192. [Staniflaus.] The preſent king of Poland. The fate of this prince is exceedingly to be lamented. Having, in a moſt dignified manner, made his country free, and laid a moſt defirable foundation for it's future happineſs, he was frustrated, in the nobleſt of attempts, by the interference of injuſtice and tyranny.", "L. 204. Matt. 25. 40.", "L. 251. In the United States, the world has, for the firſt time, seen a nation eſtablishing, diffolving, and renewing, its ſystem of government, with as much peace, order, and coolneſs of deliberation, as commonly appear in the cuſtomatic buſinels of a legiflature.", "L. 282. Rev. 21. 25.", "L. 367. [Calm Main] Pacific ocean.", "L. 368. [Hudfon.] Hudfon's bay.", "L. 378. By the laws of Great Britain, one hundred and ſixty different forts of human actions are puniſhable with death.", "Blackstone's Com.", "This fact is a dreadful instance of the aſtonifing power of eſtablished custom, and hereditary opinion: for the nation in which it is found, is unquestionably the moſt enlightened and respectable, in Europe.", "YALE", "Sithers, with the 20 do. of the 20th, from the appearance of the action, of Don John, of the 1st and 2d Regiments, and the 3d and 4th Brigades, with the 5th and 6th Brigades, and the 7th and 8th Battalions, from the 1st to the 8th, and from the 10th to the 12th, and from the 15th to the 17th, and from the 18th to the 20th. The action of the 1st and 2d Brigades, and the 3d and 4th Battalions, of the 1st and 2d Regiments, of the 5th and 6th Battalions, of the 7th and 8th Battalions, of the 9th and 10th Battalions, of the 11th and 12th Battalions, of the 13th and 14th Battalions, of the 15th and 16th Battalions, of the 17th and 18th Battalions, of the 19th and 20th Battalions, of the 21st and 22th Battalions, of the 23d and 24th Battalions, of the 25th and 26th Battalions, of the 27th and 28th Battalions, of the 29th and 30th Battalions, of the 31st and 32th Battalions, of the 33d and 34th Battalions, of the 35th and 36th Battalions, of the 37th and 38th Battalions, of the 39th and 40th Battalions, of the 41st and 42th Battalions, of the 43d and 44th Battalions, of the 45th and 46th Battalions, of the 47th and 48th Battalions, of the 49th and 50th Battalions, of the 51st and 52th Battalions, of the 53d and 54th Battalions, of the 55th and 56th Battalions, of the 57th and 58th Battalions, of the 59th and 60th Battalions, of the 61st and 62th Battalions, of the 63d and 64th Battalions, of the 65th and 66th Battalions, of the 67th and 68th Battalions, of the 69th and 70th Battalions, of the 71st and 72th Battalions, of the 73d and 74th Battalions, of the 75th and 76th Battalions, of the 77th and 78th Battalions, of the 79th and 80th Battalions, of the 81st and 82th Battalions, of the 83d and 84th Battalions, of the 85th and 86th Battalions, of the 87th and 88th Battalions, of the 89th and 90th Battalions, of the 91st and 92th Battalions, of the 93d and 94th Battalions, of the 95th and 96th Battalions, of the 97th and 98th Battalions, of the 99th and 100th Battalions, of the 101st and 102th Battalions, of the 103d and 104th Battalions, of the 105th and 106th Battalions, of the 107th and 108th Battalions, of the 109th and 110th Battalions, of the 111th and 112th Battalions, of the 113th and 114th Battalions, of the 115th and 116th Battalions, of the 117th and 118th Battalions, of the 119th and 120th Battalions, of the 121th and 122th Battalions, of the 123th and 124th Battalions, of the 125th and 126th Battalions, of the 127th and 128th Battalions, of the 129th and 130th Battalions, of the 131st and 132th Battalions, of the 133th and 134th Battalions, of the 135th and 136th Battalions, of the 137th and 138th Battalions, of the 139th and 140th Battalions, of the 141th and 142th Battalions, of the 143th and 144th Battalions, of the 145th and 146th Battalions, of the 147th and 148th Battalions, of the 149th and 150th Battalions, of the 151th and 152th Battalions, of the 153rd and 154th Battalions, of the 155th and 156th Battalions, of the 157th and 158th Battalions, of the 159th and 160th Battalions, of the 161st and 162th Battalions, of the 163rd and 164th Battalions, of the 165th and 166th Battalions, of the 167th and 168th Battalions, of the 169th and 170th Battalions, of the 171th and 172th Battalions, of the 173rd and 174th Battalions, of the 175th and 176th Battalions, of the 177th and 178th Battalions, of the 179th and 180th Battalions, of the 181th and 182th Battalions, of the 183rd and 184th Battalions, of the 185th and 186th Battalions, of the 187th and 188th Battalions, of the 189th and 190th Battalions, of the 191st and 192th Battalions, of the 193rd and 194th Battalions, of the 195th and 196th Battalions, of the 197th and 198th Battalions, of the 199th and 200th Battalions, of the 201st and 202nd Battalions, of the 203rd and 204th Battalions, of the 205th and 206th Battalions, of the 207th and 208th Battalions, of the 209th and 210th Battalions, of the 211th and 212th Battalions, of the 213th and 214th Battalions, of the 215th and 216th Battalions, of the 217th and 218th Battalions, of the 219th and 220th Battalions, of the 221st and 222nd Battalions, of the 223rd and 224th Battalions, of the 225th and 226th Battalions, of the 227th and 228th Battalions, of the 229th and 230th Battalions, of the 231st and 232nd Battalions, of the 233rd and 234th Battalions, of the 235th and 236th Battalions, of the 237th and 238th Battalions, of the 239th and 240th Battalions, of the 241st and 242nd Battalions, of the 243rd and 244th Battalions, of the 245th and 246th Battalions, of the 247th and 248th Battalions, of the 249th and 250th Battalions, of the 251st and 252nd Battalions, of the 253rd and 254th Battalions, of the 255th and 256th Battalions, of the 257th and 258th Battalions, of the 259th and 260th Battalions, of the 261st and 262nd Battalions, of the 263rd and 264th Battalions, of the 265th and 266th Battalions, of the 267th and 268th Battalions, of the 269th and 270th Battalions, of the 271st and 272nd Battalions, of the 273rd and 274th Battalions, of the 275th and 276th Battalions, of the 277th and 278th Battalions, of the 279th and 280th Battalions, of the 281st and 282nd Battalions, of the 283rd and 284th Battalions, of the 285th and 286th Battalions, of the 287th and 288th Battalions, of the 289th and 290th Battalions, of the 291st and 292nd Battalions, of the 293rd and 294th Battalions, of the 295th and 296th Battalions, of the 297th and 298th Battalions, of the 299th and 300th Battalions, of the 301st and 302nd Battalions, of the 303rd and 304th Battalions, of the 305th and 306th Battalions, of the 307th and 308th Battalions, of the 309th and 310th Battalions, of the 311th and 312th Battalions, of the 313th and 314th Battalions, of the 315th and 316th Battalions, of the 317th and 318th Battalions, of the 319th and 320th Battalions, of the 321st and 322nd Battalions, of the 323rd and 324th Battalions, of the 325th and 326th Battalions, of the 327th and 328th Battalions, of the 329th and 330th Battalions, of the 331st and 332nd Battalions, of the 333rd and 334th Battalions, of the 335th and 336th Battalions, of the 337th and 338th Battalions, of the 339th and 340th Battalions, of the 341st and 342nd Battalions, of the 343rd and 344th Battalions, of the 345th and 346th Battalions, of the 347th and 348th Battalions, of the 349th and 350th Battalions, of the 351st and 352nd Battalions, of the 353rd and 354th Battalions, of the 355th and 356th Battalions, of the 357th and 358th Battalions, of the 359th and 360th Battalions, of the 361st and 362nd Battalions, of the 363rd and 364th Battalions, of the 365th and 366th Battalions, of the 367th and 368th Battalions, of the 369th and 370th Battalions, of the 371st and 372nd Battalions, of the 373rd and 374th Battalions, of the 375th and 376th Battalions, of the 377th and 378th Battalions, of the 379th and 380th Battalions, of the 381st and 382nd Battalions, of the 383rd and 384th Battalions, of the 385th and 386th Battalions, of the 387th and 388th Battalions, of the 389th and 390th Battalions, of the 391st and 392nd Battalions, of the 393rd and 394th Battalions, of the 395th and 396th Battalions, of the 397th and 398th Battalions, of the 399th and 400th Battalions, of the 401st and 402nd Battalions, of the 403rd and 404th Battalions, of the 405th and 406th Battalions, of the 407th and 408th Battalions, of the 409th and 410th Battalions, of the 411th and 412nd Battalions, of the 413th and 414th Battalions, of the 415th and 416th Battalions, of the 417th and 418th Battalions, of the 419th and 420th Battalions, of the 421st and 422nd Battalions, of the 423rd and 424th Battalions, of the 425th and 426th Battalions, of the 427th and 428th Battalions, of the 429th and 430th Battalions, of the 431st and 432nd Battalions, of the 433rd and 434th Battalions, of the 435th and 436th Battalions, of the 437th and 438th Battalions, of the 439th and 440th Battalions, of the 441st and 442nd Battalions, of the 443rd and 444th Battalions, of the 445th and 446th Battalions, of the 447th and 448th Battalions, of the 449th and 450th Battalions, of the 451st and 452nd Battalions, of the 453rd and 454th Battalions, of the 455th and 456th Battalions, of the 457th and 458th Battalions, of the 459th and 460th Battalions, of the 461st and 462nd Battalions, of the 463rd and 464th Battalions, of the 465th and 466th Battalions, of the 467th and 468th Battalions, of the 469th and 470th Battalions, of the 471st and 472nd Battalions, of the 473rd and 474th Battalions, of the 475th and 476th Battalions, of the 477th and 478th Battalions, of the 479th and 480th Battalions, of the 481st and 482nd Battalions, of the

( 181 )

Since Blackstone wrote, Capel Loft estimates the number of felonies, without benefit of Clergy, at 176; and of felonies with Clergy, at 65.— Of thofe, who were executed, the Solicitor General declares, that 18 out of 20 do not exceed 20 years of age.

L. 386. It has not yet been proved, that the punifhment of death can, with either justice, or policy, be inflieted for any other crime, befide murder. From the few experiments, which have been made, solitary confinement appears to be as much more effectual as it is more humane.

The preſent penal ſystem of Pennfylvania well deferves the refpect and the adoption of every Government. To the original authors of this ſystem, among whom ſeveral of the Friends claim a particular diffinſion, the highelt honour is due. See, on this ſubject, An Enquiry how far the puniſhment of Death is neceſſary, in Pennfylvania. By William Bradford, eſq. And an Account of the Alteration, and preſent State, of the penal Laws, in Penn- fylvania; of the Gaol, &c. By Caleb Lownes.

L. 395, 396. Acts 12. 8. 9.

L. 401. It feems not a little ſurprifing, that almost the whole buſineſs of diſtributive government ſhould, hitherto, have been to puniſh.

L. 413—416. There is no country, in which law has a more decided, (and if I may be allowed the expreſſion) deſpotic power, than in Connecticut. Yet this power reſts wholly on that general information of the people at large; from which they derive full conviction, that government is neceſſary to the exſistence, and to the continuance, of all their happineſs.

L. 425. In the ſword of the constellation, Orion, there is a place, which appears like a window in the ſky; through which the eye apparently penetrating ſees, in teleſcopes of high powers, a more glorious region, than has been eſtwhere diſcovered; a region in which perpetual day ſeems to shine with ſingular ſplendour.

L. 482. [Indian Wind.] The hurricane.

L. 499, 500. Curs'd be the verſe, how well ſo'er it flow,
That tends to make one worthy man my foe;
Give Virtue ſcandal, Innocence a fear,
Or from the foſt-ey'd Virgin ſteal a tear.

Pope.

A perſon of delicacy, and virtue, is naturally led to wonder, that a man of ſuch talents, as Mr. Pope poffeſed, and entertaining the very juſt ſentiments, expreſſed in theſe finiſhed lines, ſhould have written, publifhed, and left to be handed down to poſterity, a great number of verſes, which he has actually written, and published. In his Rape of the Lock, there are ſeveral lines plainly indelicate, and ſome groſsly obſcene. In his Eloſa to Abclard, the ſentiments are, in ſome inſtances, groſs and noxious. Yet theſe are his firſt performances. His Moral Eſtays (particularly the ſecond) trefpaſs, at times, againſt truth, justice and decency. The fame is too often true of his fatires. The Dunciad is, in ſeveral places, a ſeverer fatire on the author, than on the objects of his reſentment: not to mention ſeveral of his ſmaller imitations of other poſts, and the hideous volume, publifhed as a ſupplement to his acknowledged works.

No Writer ought ever to publish a ſentiment, or expreſſion (as leſes when ſome ſcientific, or other important purpofe neceſſitates it) which cannot be read, in a mixed company, of Ladies and Gentlemen, without giving pain to the moſt refined and delicate mind.

L. 501, 502. And in our own (excuse ſome courtly ſtains)
No whiter page than Addifon's remains.

Pope.

YALE

( 182 )

The drummer of Mr. Addison offends, not unfrequently, againstt decency.
There are also, in his other works, a few paflages, which one could with
had been expunged. Thefe faſts are a proof of unhappy yielding to the
taſte of his times, in a man, who was an ornament to human nature.

L. 503. It is not a little injurious to the honour of human nature, that the elegant arts of Poetry, Painting, and Mufic, have, in Europe, been fo often profituted to the celebration of vile characters, to the display of subjeſts and sentiments groſs and pernicious, and to the commemoration of faſts, which deeply ſtain the name of man.

L. 535. Infidel philosophers frequently impeach, and affect to despife,
the evidence of testimony. Yet their own reafonings are generally attended
with evidence, and moſt usually founded on evidence, which, in clearneſs
and ſtrength, is far inferior to that of testimony: a great part of their fen-
timents being mere and trifling hypothefes.

L. 565. Warton, in his Eſſay on the genius and writings of Pope, ob-
ferves, that mediocrity is the ſituation, moſt favourable to the exertions of
genius. It is also the ſituation, evidently moſt friendly to national, and
individual, virtue and happineſs.

L. 583. There is ſomething ſingularly unhappy in the attempts of the
Americans to imitate the burthenſome oftentation of Europe. Americans
are not, and probably will not ſoon be, ſufficiently acquainted with the
round of European form, and etiquette, to adopt it with either ſkill, or
grace. At the fame time, we have not, and, without entailments, never
ſhall in any great number of inſtances have, wealth ſufficient to ſupport the
neceſſary expeſe.

Common Senſe, Philosophy, and Religion, alike condemn ſuch manners,
in every inſtance, and view them, as the painful efforts of folly to lift itſelf
into reſpectability. The plain mapners of Republicans, incomparably leſs
burthenſome, and more graceful and pleafing, are our own native manners:
ſuch manners, as made the Gaul eſteem the Roman ſenate an ſ Assembly of
gods; and the courtier Cincas confider the citizens of Rome, as a collection
of kings.

Senſible travellers, whoſe manners are generally viewed as more finiſhed,
and pleafing, than any other, appear ſuually to acquire a contempt, and
disſuſe, of ceremony, and to adopt a plainer behaviour, than moſt other
men of breeding. A perſevering adoption of plain manners, by men of
influence, would give them a general and laſting ſanction; and prove of
more real benefit to the preſent, and future, inhabitants of America, than
renowned victories, or immenſe acquifitions of territory.

It may, perhaps, be faſd, as it often has been faſd, though with neither
discernment, nor truth, that parade is neceſſary to give energy to law, and
dignity to government. It may be anſwered, that no laws have greater
energy, and no government was ever more reſpected, than that of Con-
necticut have usually been, for more than 150 years. Yet in Connecticut,
parade is unknown in practice, and deſpifed by the univerſal opinion.—
The truth is, people of mere common ſenſe, and uneducated to ceremony,
always deſpife it: it's introduction, therefore, is always owing to the vanity,
and weakneſs, of men in ſuperior ſtations, or ranks, of life.

L. 597. There is reaſon to believe, that the women, in New England,
in all that renders the female character reſpectable, and lovely, are inferior
to none, in the world. They blend the useful, and the pleafing, the
reſined, and the excellent, into a moſt delightful, and dignified union; and