P125
(4)

For The St. JAMES's CHRONICLE.

*Anecdotes of the late Dr. JOHNSON, from "Lackington's Memoirs of his own Life," lately published. Not true. B.*

THE Doctor, whose extreme fondness for that agreeable beverage Tea, is well known, was once in company with a number of ladies, assembled to take with him the fame refreshment; the Lady of the House happened to be one of those who are particularly attentive to punctilio, and had exhibited her finest set of china for the entertainment of her guests; the Doctor who drank large quantities, and with considerable expedition, would not always wait with becoming patience ceremoniously to ask for and receive in due form the addition of a lump of sugar when necessary; he therefore, without permission, put his finger and thumb into the sugar-dish, tumbling the contents over, till he met with a piece of the proper size; the lady kept her eye fixed on him the whole time, and deeming his conduct a great breach of decorum, resolved to make him sensible of it, by immediately ordering the servant to change the sugar dish; the Doctor, though apparently attentive only to his tea, noticed it, and as soon as he had emptied the cup, put it, together with the sawcer, under the fireplace, with due care however, not to break them; this was too severe a tryal for the poor lady, who apprehensive for the fate of her china, after a descent scream, with warmth demanded the reason of his treating her in so rude a manner? "Why, my dear Madam (replied he) I was alarmed with the idea that whatever I touched was thereby contaminated, and impressed with anxious desire to contribute towards your felicity, I removed the object so defiled from your preference with all possible expedition." This reply, though it extorted a smile from all the company present, did not satisfy the lady to whom it was addressed, who, notwithstanding she exerted herself to appear in a good humour, was too much offended to forget the affront.

*Again,*

The Doctor being one day at a gentleman's house in Edinburgh, several ladies and gentlemen came in to pay their respects to him; and among others the then Lord Provolt went up to the Doctor, bowing repeatedly, and expressing the highest respect for him, to all which the Doctor paid not the least attention. Exceedingly hurt at so flagrant a mark of disrespect, he turned round putting a shilling into the hand of the gentleman of the house; on being asked what the shilling was intended for, he replyed, "Have I not seen your bear?"

*Another.*

The Doctor being drinking tea at another gentleman's house, the lady asked him if he did not choose another cup; it seems she had forgot her having before asked him the fame question; and on her repeating it, he replyed, "Woman, have I not already told you that I have done."

A CORRESPONDENT.

56

Leith;

Austrians
at the
The affair
, as all the
was concen-

the 24th, and
the French were
in whence, we
have purged
bounded of the
into Brusels.

true to the ex-
decisive of the
s.—There is, in
infited army can
re-enter French
of Namur were
e French in the
of victory, they
ir repair. Tour-
Immantled.—If
influence of Du-
flight, or devise
year of their re-

we understand,
life to the Gene-
firmneſs of his
neſs was hope-

on be de-
f 50,000
to fight
No-
is a
piple.
a

Lord Mansfield has at length closed a life which
will be considered as an object of no common in-
terest, to the future historian of the present reign.
He was a wife judge, an eminent statesman, and
a consummate orator; and though his eloquence
was of universal application, its finest exertions
were made in Parliament. He did not possess the
sublimity of Lord Chatham, nor the reasoning
powers of Lord Camden, nor the imagination of
Mr. Burke, nor the logical acuteness of Mr.
Dunning, but he had a beautiful and fal-
cinating peculiarity of speaking, which was
unkuown to any of them.—He was, how-
ever, rather superficial and persuasive, than
solid, logical and convincing; and rather pre-
ferred to address himself to the weakneſs, the
prejudices and the passions, than to the reason,
of his hearers. He generally appeared to be
more Solicitous to perfuade them that they were
not doing wrong, than to convince them that they
were acting right. In short, with all his know-
ledge and the power he had of displaying it, by
the grace and harmony of his elocution, his total
want of that strength of mind which is denomi-
nated courage, threw at times a shade over his
great qualities, weakened their energies, and pre-
vented their exertion.—As a Member of Parlia-
ment, he funk beneath the proud superiority
of Mr. Pitt's mind.—In the House of Lords he
frunked before the fame powers, of the fame man,
when elevated to the Peerage, and, on the Bench,
he, for many years, gave up his opinions to those
of Sir Fletcher Norton. But even with this in-
firmity, he muſt be considered as a great and ſhining
light of the period in which he lived, and will
be delivered down to poſterity as one of the
moſt diſtinguished characters of his age and
country.

We hear that Mr. Pitt yesterday diſpoſed of
his loan. The price we understand in the city
to be 72 in a 3 per cent. fund, and that the hig-
ders have taken the

Gen. Eye
Post 23/26
mar 1793

It was not long before the French forces, which had subsumed the whole of what had passed in the immediate vicinity of Tongres, since the French retired to the 4th instant. There are indeed reports in circulation, that the Imperial troops have penetrated to Louvain. In consequence of a new defeat, the French suffered in the position they had taken at Campine near Diefont, but this news being vague and uncertain, we do not give it implicit belief. In general, however, it appears, that a too fatal security on the part of the French army was the cause of their ruin, increased (as is always the case) by panic succeeding to confidence.

Frankfort, March 16. The French Colonel Ruttenberg, who commanded at Bergen and Hockheim, has defected from the French, and is come into this City.

Constantinople, Feb. 20. The Grand Signior has made some considerable changes in the Governments of Moldavia and Wallachia. Michael Sowzzo, a Prince of Moldavia, is ordered to put the furthest Frontier in a state of defence, and establish magazines there.

Madrid, Feb. 23. The French emigrants in Spain are received into our armies and fleets, and great expectations are formed of them. Portugal has followed our example, and there are some of them on board the vessels now arming at Lisbon, destined to join our fleet, which is ready to fall from Cadiz.

## IRELAND.

Dublin, March 20. A great and heavy fall of snow now completely covers the mountains of WicBlow, in some places so abundant as to occasion the loss of a number of sheep.

## LONDON.

Yesterday morning the King went from Buckingham-house in his post-chaise and four to Windsor-lodge, where his Majesty breakfasted, and went out with his beagles. Her

ELCINE DE AGGART.

From the Strains of the Mountain Muse, by
Joseph Train, just published.

Lang was she kent on Carrick shore,
For mony a beast to dead she shot,
And perish'd mony a bonny boat.

BURNS.

These stanzas are founded on a tradition still well re-
membered in Airshire. When the Spaniards, in the
year 1588, attempted to invade England, the ships
which escaped the vigilance of Lord Howard and
Sir Francis Drake were overtaken by a violent hur-
ricane; and, as is well known, were wrecked among
the rocks of the Hebrides, or on the western shores
of Scotland. When some of them appeared first in
the Clyde, it is reported that Elcine de Aggart, an
old lady, who was honoured in Carrick with the title
of Witch, and, who, it would appear, made no scru-
ple in turning her skill in the black art to the ad-
vantage of her country in the hour of danger, seated
herself upon a promontory, holding a ball of blue
yarn in one of her hands, which may be truly called
the Thread of Fate; as, by a mysterious application
of it, she was understood to have absolute controul
over the destiny of mortals, either individually or
collectively, as she pleased. She had likewise, in
common with other members of the same order,
complete power over the elements; so that, oppos-
ed to such a powerful opponent, it was impossible
for the invaders to escape irretrievable destructions
As the vessels bore up Channel, the tempest increas-
ed, and the weird sister sung as follows:--

W
ay gallops the palfrey with Lady Dunne?
Who takes away Turnberry's kine from the shore?
Go tell it in Carrick, and tell it in Kyle,
Although the proud Dons are now passing the Moil,
On this magic clue,
That in Fairy land grew,
Old Elcine de Aggart has taken in hand
To wind up their lives ere they win to our strand.
That heaven may favour this grand armament
Against us poor heretic islanders sent,
From altars a thousand, though frankincense fly,
Though ten thousand chapel-bells peal in the sky,
By this mystic clue,
Made when Elfland was new,
Old Elcine de Aggart will all countermand,
And wind up their lives ere they win to our strand.

They bring with them nobles our castles to fill,
They bring with them ploughshares our manors to till;
They likewise bring fetters our barons to bind,
Or any who they may refractory find;
But this mighty clue,
Of the Indigo hue,
Which few like De Aggart could e'er understand,
Vill baffle their hopes ere they win to our strand.

Yas ever the sprite of the wind seen to low'r
So dark o'er the Clyde, as in this fatal hour?
Rejoice every one may, to see the waves-now
Each ship passing o'er, from the pop to the prow;
With this magic clue,
That in Fairy land grew,
Old Elcine de Aggart has wound to an end
Their thread of existence, though far from the strand.

I sigh for their dames, who may now take the veil;
For babes who the loss of their sires may bewail;
But while the great death bell of Toledo tolls,
And friars unceasingly pray for their souls,
With this mystic clue,
Made when Elfland was new,
Who will not give praise in her own native land,
To Elcine de Aggart for guarding the strand?

Come back on your palfrey, my Lady Dunne;
Go bring back old Turnberry's kine to the shore;
And tell it you may over Carrick and Kyle,
The last ship has sunk by our good Lady's isle.
And while such a clue,
Of the indigo hue,
Old Elcine de Aggart has at her command,
A foreign foe never shall come to our strand.

The Cape of Cantyre is thus named.

IN MORTE
DELL'ABATE
PIETRO METASTASIO
ELEGIA

Quis defiderio sit pudor, aut modus
Tam chari capitis?

Horat. Od. 15. Lib. I.

I.

Ome frenar, come addolcir l'amaro
Dolore, ond'io si inconsolabil fono,
Per la morte d'un vate, al ciel si canto?

A 2

4

## II.

O tu, ch'hai dolce canto, e dolce suono,
Tu di flebile suon, di flebil canto,
Melpomene fedel, m'inspira il dono.

## III.

Ahi! Dunque Metaftasio, ahi! Dunque il vanto
D'Italia è morto? Ah! piangi il comun danno,
Melpomene fedel, piangi al mio pianto.

## IV.

Piangan le Suore tue: Più non avranno
Sì degno Figlio: Eftinto è il primo onore
Di quei, che fur, che sono, e che faranno.

## V.

Eftinto è quei, che della Dea d'Amore,
Delle Grazie, e di Pallade la cura
Unica fù dell'età sua ful fiore:

## VI.

Che in dolce quiete, placida, e sicura,
Del Mirto, e dell'Ulivo all'ombra amena
Fù educato per man della Natura.

## VII.

Orme incerte col piè fegnava appena,
Che fi librò fu i vanni, e feste il volo
Dove l'aria è più pura, e più ferena.

5

## VIII.

Poi qual Cigno gentil, fdegnando il fuolo,
Volò Sublime in questa parte, e in quella,
Agil volò dall'uno all'altro Polo.

## IX.

Dolce cantò nella natia favella,
E al dolce canto, e al dolce suo concento
La rigida Virtù fi fè più bella.

## X.

Si fè più orrendo il vizio. A suo talento
Tutte le vie s'aprì del cuore umano,
E l'agitò fra cento moti, e cento.

## XI.

Seppe ftoprire ogni ripofto arcano,
Ogni più vago oggetto; ed ogni oggetto
Seppe atteggiar la sua maestra mano:

## XII.

L'atteggiò, l'avvivò, gli diede affetto,
Gli diede moto, e portamento altero,
Alfin gli diè quel non so che perfetto.

## XIII.

Onde per lui la maestà del Vero
In atto più gentil fi ricompofe,
Ed acquiftò full'alme un nuovo impero.

A 3

6

XIV.

Del vero Bello, che Natura ascofe
Sotto mille colori, in mille guife,
Sotto diverse immagini pompofe,

XV.

Ei ne scoprì le forme, ei le divife,
Ei con bell'arte a ricomporle appreſe,
E la Natura alla bell'arte arrife:

XVI.

Arrife alla bell'arte il Ciel cortefe:
Ei così trionfò del tempo edace,
Dell' invidia così maggior ſi reſe.

XVII.

Quel che giova accoppiando a quel che piace
Oppofti nomi, oppoſte cofe inſieme
Strinſe in bel nodo d'amiftà, e di pace.

XVIII.

Per lui ſi mostra timida la ſpeme
Nei fortunati eventi, ed il timore
E lufinghier nelle ſventure eſtreme.

XIX.

La fiamma della gloria, e dell' onore
D'oneta Voluttà nel ſen s'accende,
S'accende in molle cor nobile ardore.

7

XX.

E la face d' Amor più bella ſplende,
Al chiaro foco del Pudore acceſa,
Onde più puro il lume ſao ſi rende.

XXI.

In bianco vel ſiede oneftade illeſa
Fra il tumulto de ſervidi deſiri,
Mentre veglia il Decoro in ſua diſeſa.

XXII.

Se poi ſoavi, amabili deliri,
Se alla face d' Amor con nuovi incanti
Dolciflimi deſtò pianti, e ſoſpiri;

XXIII.

Voi, che provaſte quei ſoſpiri, e pianti,
Ditelo voi, Donzelle innamorate,
Ditelo voi per me Giovani amanti.

XXIV.

Ditelo voi, che ſdegno, orror, pietate
Tra le immagini ſinte, e lufinghiere
Delle notturne Scene in ſen provate:

XXV.

Dite per quale incognito potere
Ei sà dal cuore richiamar ſul volto
Lagrime di dolore, e di piacere.

A 3

8

## XXVI.

Ei dunque or giace in poca polve accolto?
Ah! chi mi guida alla grand' Urna accanto?
Ah! Perchè il Ciel si caro don ci ha tolto?

## XXVII.

E stinto è il primo Cigno: E voi frattanto,
Cigni d'Italia, perchè non piangete?
Melpomene fedel, piangi al mio pianto.

## XXVIII.

Voi, belle Ninfe almen, che gloria siete
Del Po, del Tebro, e d' Arno, ah! se nel Seno
Voi di pietà teneri senfi avete,

## XXIX.

Rendete, di pietade in legno almeno,
Rendete al grande Artin gli estremi onori,
Ed al giusto dolor sciogliete il freno.

## XXX.

Or chi di verde mirto, or chi di fiori.
Chi ferti appresta di feral cipresso?
Chi gli Arabi profumi, e i grati odori?

## XXXI.

Or chi prepara un' Urna? E all' Urna apprezzo
Chi non sparge di pianto amare stille?
E di che piange chi non piange adesso?

9

## XXXII.

Deh! Lagrime versando a mille, a mille,
Umide, vermegliuzze, e turgidette
Sian le tenere guance, e le pupille.

## XXXIII.

Scomposte il manto, in nero vel riflrette,
Pallide il volto, il biondo crin discolte,
Nel portamento semplici, e neglette;

## XXXIV.

E in un bel coro eletto infieme accolte,
Spargete in su le ceneri onorate
Nembo di vaghi fiori in sin tre volte.

## XXXV.

La dotta Cetra dalle corde aurate
Tra le foglie de' Lauri omai s'asconda;
Ma le sue corde d'oro, ah! non toccate.

## XXXVI.

Fino dell' Istro invitto in su la sponda
S'odano poi le nenie, i mesti canti;
E mesta ai canti ognor Eco risponda.

## XXXVII.

Mesto risponda degli afflitti Amanti
L'abbandonato stuolo; e delle Muse
Rompa il filenzio con soffiri, e pianti.

10

XXXVIII.

Tra le querele flobili, e confuse
Accordi al fuon degli amorosi affanni
Contro l'invido Ciel l' audaci confuse.

XXXIX.

Eftinto è il Cigno dai odorati vanni,
Che altero sciolse nell' Antonio Coro
Il volo, il canto, in fu l'april degli anni.

XL.

Fù allor, che di sua mano il sacro alloro
Febo adattogli all'onorata fronte,
E alle tenere braccia il plettro d'oro:

XLI.

Poscia il guidò dell'Eliconio monte
Sull'alta inaccesibile pendice,
Che prescrive del tempo i danni, e l'onte.

XLII.

Dove ad occhio mortal poggiar non lice:
Donde formarli sotto il piè sì vede
Il lampo, il tuono, e la faetta ultrice:

XLIII.

Dove sempre fiorito april risiede
Coi zeffiri odorati, e dove serba
Ai gigli il pigro gel perpetua fede.

11

XLIV.

Sull' alta cima florida, e superba
Il biondo Nume, al Giovanetto allato
S' affisse a piè d'un Lauro, in seno all' erba.

XLV.

Spira Ambrosia divina il crine aurato,
E splendé il volto, per cui ride intorno
L'aria, la terra, il mar, la felva, il prato;

XLVI.

Per cui la notte è bella, è bello il giorno,
,, Per cui tutto nel Mondo e nafce, e more,
Per cui fan le flagioni a noi ritorno.

XLVII.

Sul Giovinetto il guardo animatore
Girò nel dolce balenar del ciglio,
E sì cantò, ripien del suo furore.

XLVIII.

Quando di Giove per divin configlio
Soffrìi lunga stagione, in terra errante
Dalle menfe celesti ingrato esiglio,

XLIX.

Quando in ruvide spoglie, ed in sembiante
D' umil Paftore, a pafcolar gli armenti
Pe' campi andai del Teflalo Regnante;

12

L.

Lieto accoppiando armoniosi accenti
Della mia Cetra al fuon fermoſſi il ſiume,
La quercia ſi piegò, tacquero i venti.

LI.

Dell' amorosa face al chiaro lume
Quand' arſi, e quando una beltà terrena
Osò gli ampieſi disprezzar d' un Nume :

LII.

Questa mia Cetra raddolcì la pena
De fervidi, amorosi affanni miei,
Questa ſpezzò la barbara catena.

LIII.

Con lei ſi pianſe, e ſi cantò con lei
Tra le guerriere, e l' amorose impreſe,
Dai miſeri mortali, e dagli Dei.

LIV.

Ma nel ſempre a me caro, e bel Paſe,
Che Appennin parte e l' Alpe, e il mar circonda
Più di ſue corde l' armonia s' intefe.

LV.

E più che altrove l' onorata ſronda
Educai di mia mano al Tebro in riva,
E l' educai dell' Arno in ſu la ſponda.

13

LVI.

Ora di buon cultor rimaſta priva
Oltre il confin delle pendici Alpine
Cerca l' onor di ſua beltà nativa.

LVII.

Tu nato a ristorar le ſue ruine,
Tu la farai fiorire in ogni lato,
Tu ne avrai in ogni tempo adorno il crine.

LVIII.

Tu piacevoli inganni a tesser nato
Alle cure de' miſeri mortali,
Abbiti in dono questo Plettro aurato.

LIX.

Con sì dolce, e ſoave oblio de' mali
Sarai la gloria di chi preme il ſoglio
Sotto i vanni dell' AQUILE REALI.

LX.

Ma quando al Trace abbaſſerà l' orgoglio,
Quando imporrà con fermo ciglio altero
Leggi L' AUSTRIACO GIOVE al Campidoglio:

LXI.

Quando faran due Imperi un ſolo Impero
Pel doppio nodo d' Amiftà, e d' Imene,
Onde avrà pace ò guerra il Mondo intero :

14

## LXII.

La Fama allor per le più ignote arene
Sol di LUI canterà: Tu allor n' andrai
Dell' Elifo a goder le piagge amene.

## LXIII.

Tacque, e si sciolse il Nume in mille rai;
Onde l' Italo Cielo, ed il Germano
Così chiaro splendor non vide mai.

## LXIV.

Tanto predisse, e non predisse invano.
Ecco L' AUSTRIACO GIOVE: Or s'oda il canto:
Or si spargano i fiori a larga mano:

Melpomene fedel, tergi il tuo pianto.

FINE.