tante.-If they could influence a burgess, or command two or three votes, they were efteemed excellent officers, and received the thanks of the first Commiffioner.

Nothing can be more abfurd than to fee a fet of men affecting to be patriots. by exclaiming against every thing that tends to improve the revenue. They must know that they ultimately diftiefs their country by this conduct; the civil and military lift must be kept up for the fake of the whole; and fome gratifications are neceffary, not only as rewards to merit, but to alleviate the misfortunes of families fallen from their rank and affluence, who would otherwise be reduced to obfcurity and indigence.

The greatest infult, and indeed impofition on the public, is, to fee those who already enjoy preferment, and those who expect it, diftreffing their country by an affectation of virtue-tho' they brandish the sword of oppofition with one hand, the fupplicating palm of the other is extended; like the Spiritual eye of a Swadling preacher, up lifted to Heaven in a fervour of devotion, whilft the carnal one is caft down, to count the fhillings, and compute the godly gains extorted from a deluded audience.

Whoever examines the penfion lift, will find that no families have loaded their country fo unmerceifully as our prefent bawling patriots. They even obtained penfionary favours for years that the prejudice they had done their country might not cease with their lives, and that they might fhew their ingratitude to government without injuring themselves.

The

The public caught with the mere found of their prefent profeffions, do not fee that the national revenues have been mortgaged, and are likely to be again mortgaged, to fupply the infatiable demand of those pampered patriots on a second converfion. This we may expect, whenever their own noise, and the public credulity, fhall raife them to fufficient confequence.

June 25th. 1771.

VECTIGAL.

NUMBER XLVI.

PATRIOTIS M. An ODE.

I.

W Difdained the Perfian power and gold,

HEN generous Greece, in virtue bold,

She formed a facred band;
Philofophy, her foldiers charm'd,

In freedom's cause her heroes arm'd,
To fhield their native land.

II.

Not fuch the zealots of our days,
Who cringe for hire, revile or praise,
And yet for patriots pass!

So the falfe Pruffian clips and coins,
From Dantzig's fterling gold purloins,
Then circulates his brass!

III.

What mufe can fing that changeling's tricks, Renown'd for fhallow politics?

Pledg'd both to foe and friend:

Yet he can lead the venal throng,
With promifes entic'd along,

On which the dupes depend!

IV.

Thus, a mean quack by chymic oils,
Norwegia's hungry vermin foils,
Without the aid of cheefe ;
The fcent alone attracts them round,
They seem to tread on magic ground,
And truft the infidious breeze.

V.

Thy rhetoric, Fl-d, can I rehearse,
And paint diftortion in my verse,
Or tumid periods fcan?
You foar aloft in bombaft phrafe,
Whilst Ch-le-nt with aukward gaze,
Admires the wonderous man.

VI.

Thy aim, to tire, retard, perplex,
By calumny to ftain or vex,
Uugratefully upbraiding;

On your old friends to fling difgrace,
For without penfion, or a place,
You're Satan viewing Eden.

VII.

With jaundic'd envy deeply fmit,
Like Hutchinson, you'd fhine in wit,
But fluggish fancy halts ;

Flat, when you change your ufual key;
So mifts arifing from the fea,
Evaporate their falts.

See G

VIII.

-rld- ne fequestered, dull,

Of his high lineage vainly full,

And buoyed with empty pride:
A Satrap, fit for ftars and state,
As Mordeccai, raised from the gate,
In royal pomp to ride.

IX.

In corporation trappings gay,
The Mfs fure deferves my lay,
And claims diftinguished place.
He'll ne'er eclipse a father's fame,
In wit and worth fo much the fame,
We fcarce fhall miss his grace.

X.

Heavens how reduced that antient line, Who in Hibernia's annals fhine,

Renown'd at Brefny's field;

When Raymond led the gallant train,
And awe-struck Aldem, viewed the plain,
Blaze with the kindered fhield !*

* Vide Littleton's history, vol. 3. page 280

XI.

Can the degenerate fons afpire,
To emulate their noble fire,

Intrepid, great, and free?

They boaft a Raymond's blood indeed!
So the caft racer, fallen in speed,
Is puff'd by pedigree.

XII.

See patriot landlords thin the foil,
Forgetful of the bloody toil,

Which made a tyrant bow:
Ulfter, both James and Lewis braved!
That land the father's valour faved,
The fon's forbid to plough.

XIII.

Shall induftry oppreflion feel,
And throw afide her bufy wheel,
To feek Ofwego's gloom?
His cot and babes the weaver flies,
No more the pointed shuttle plys,
Tho' Britain bribes our loom!

XIV.

Where aristocracy prevails,

Juftice refigns her ballanc'd fcales,

And thuns the hated shore ;

'Till one bold fpirit breaks the chain,

He blasts the venal junto's reign,

And tyranny's no more.