is established-prefacing each of them, for our Reader's sake, with a short disquisition on the particular tenet intended to be enforced or insinuated in the production before them and accompanying it with a humble effort of our own, in Imitation of the Poem itself, and in farther illustration of its principle.

By these means, though We cannot hope to catch "the "wood notes wild" of the Bards of Freedom, We may yet acquire, by dint of repeating after them, a more complete knowledge of the secret in which their greatness lies, than We could by mere prosaic admiration-and if We cannot become Poets ourselves, We at least shall have collected the elements of a Jacobin Art of Poetry for the use of those whose genius may be more capable of turning them to advantage.

It might not be unamusing to trace the springs and principles of this species of Poetry, which are to be found, some in the exaggeration, and others in the direct inversion of the sentiments and passions which have in all ages animated the breast of the favourite of the Muses, and distinguished him from the "vulgar throng."

The poet in all ages has despised riches and grandeur. The Jacobin Poet improves this sentiment into a hatred of the rich and the great.

The Poet of other times has been an enthusiast in the love of his native soil.

The Jacobin Poet rejects all restriction in his feelings. His love is enlarged and expanded so as to comprehend all human kind. The love of all human kind is without doubt a noble passion: it can hardly be necessary to mention, that its operation extends to Freemen, and them only, all over the world.

VOL. I.

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The

The Old Poet was a Warrior, at least in imagination; and sung the actions of the Heroes of his Country, in strains which " made Ambition Virtue," and which overwhelmed the horrors of War in its glory.

The Jacobin Poet would have no objection to sing battles too-but he would take a distinction. The prowess of BUONAPARTE indeed he might chaunt in his loftiest strain of exultation. There we should find nothing but trophies, and triumphs, and branches of laurel and olive, phalanxes of Republicans shouting victory, satellites of Despotism biting the ground, and geniusses of Liberty planting standards on mountain-tops.

But let his own Country triumph, or her Allies obtain an advantage;-straightway the "beauteous face of War" is changed; the "pride, pomp, and circumstance," of Victory are kept carefully out of sight-and we are presented with nothing but contusions and amputations, plundered peasants and deserted looms. Our Poet points the thunder of his blank verse at the head of the Recruiting Serjeant, or roars in dithyrambics against the Lieutenants of Pressgangs.

But it would be endless to chace the coy Muse of Jacobinifm through all her characters. Mille habet ornatus. The Mille decenter habet, is perhaps more questionable. For, in whatever disguise she appears, whether of mirth or of melancholy, of piety or of tenderness, under all disguises, like Sir John Brute in woman's clothes, she is betrayed by her drunken swagger and ruffian tone.

In the Poem which we have selected for the edification of our Readers, and our own imitation, this day, the principles which are meant to be inculcated speak so plainly for themselves, that they need no previous introduc

tion.

INSCRIP

INSCRIPTION

FOR THE APARTMENT IN CHEPSTOW CASTLE, WHERE HENRY MARTEN, THE REGICIDE, WAS, IMPRISONED THIRTY YEARS.

For thirty years secluded from mankind
Here MARTEN linger'd. Often have these walls
Echoed his foot-steps, as with even tread
He pac'd around his prison; not to him
Did Nature's fair varieties exist;

He never saw the Sun's delightful beams;
Save when thro' yon high bars he pour'd a sad
And broken splendour. Dost thou ask his crime?
He had REBELL'D AGAINST THE KING, AND SAT
IN JUDGMENT ON HIM; for his ardent mind
Shap'd goodliest plans of happiness on earth,
And Peace and Liberty. Wild dreams! but such
AS PLATO lov'd; such as with holy zeal

Our MILTON Worshipp'd. Blessed hopes! awhile
From man with-held, even to the latter days
When CHRIST shall come, and all things be fulfill'd!

(IMITATION.)

INSCRIPTION

FOR THE DOOR OF THE CELL IN NEWGATE WHERE MRS. BROWNRIGG, THE 'PRENTICE-CIDE, WAS CONFINED PREVIOUS TO HER EXECUTION.

For one long term, or e'er her trial came,

Here BROWNRIGG linger'd. Often have these cells

Echoed her blasphemies, as with shrill voice
She scream'd for fresh Geneva. Not to her
Did the blithe fields of Tothill, or thy street,
St. Giles, its fair varieties expand;

Till at the last in slow-drawn cart she went
To execution. Dost thou ask her crime?
SHE WHIPP'D TWO FEMALE 'PRENTICES TO DEATH,
AND HID THEM IN THE COAL-HOLE. For her mind
Shap'd strictest plans of discipline. Sage schemes!
Such as LYCURGUS taught, when at the shrine
Of the Orthyan Goddess he bade flog
The little Spartans; such as erst chastised
Our MILTON, when at College. For this act
Did BROWNRIGG swing. Harsh laws! But time shall come,
When France shall reign, and Laws be all repealed!

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE principal circumstance worthy of notice in the internal state of this Country at the present moment, is the continued absence from Parliament of a number of Gentlemen not usually distinguished for a want of zeal in the discharge of what they have, till now, considered as their duty to their Constituents, nor apparently insensible to the ambition of parliamentary distinction.

We do not pretend to account for a conduct so little consistent with either of these objects with what their fellow-citizens have a right to expect from them, and with what they owe to their own character and reputa

tion.

It is no business of ours to pursue them into their retirement; but from the accounts which are, from time to time, forcibly brought under our notice by themselves or their admirers, of tavern-dinners and field-sports, we might

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might be tempted to suppose that they had withdrawn themselves, only from feeling that their assistance was not needed, and that every thing in the administration of Public Affairs was carried on to their content; and the concurrence with the measures of the Government manifested by those of their friends who continued to attend Parliament, as well as the unanimity upon these subjects which prevails throughout the Nation, might confirm us in this supposition, were it not that we are every day solemnly warned in some one of the Journals devoted to their interest, that they have quitted the service of the Public, not because they are satisfied with what is doing in Parliament, in their absence, but because, while they despair of being able to influence the measures of the Legislature, they are determined to take no share in the shame and guilt of approving them. We have heard this language, and we lament it.

What then must be the alternative which those Gentlemen have presented to their own minds? If the Country is ultimately undone from within or from without; if the threats of the Enemy are accomplished in their fullest extent; will it be to them no motive of regret, that they had ceased to contend, however ineffectually, against the measures which will have led to that ruin?

If, on the other hand, the wisdom and firmness of our Government, aided by the support of Parliament, and by the vigour and cohfidence of the People, shall bear us safe, as we trust they will, through all the difficulties that surround us; will it then be a soothing reflection to these Gentlemen, that they have stood by, at best indifferent and impartial spectators of the struggle in which the happiness and independence of their Country have been committed,

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