GENTLEMEN,

Magazine.

The following Elegy on the elder Pitt, was presented to me by an esteemed friend, who was formerly in the East-India trade. The copy was presented to him by a British officer, in Canton, who informed him, that it was, he believed, the only one in existence.* There never was but one impression of this poem, it having been suppressed by an order of council. It was occasioned by Mr. Pitt's being created earl of Chatham, in 1766. The poet goes upon the supposition, (which happily was not realized) that his being made a Peer, would make him an apostate, and, therefore, with a peculiar poignancy, accosts him by the name of Pynsent, a patriotic baronet, who died some time before, and left him a large sum, as a reward for his strenuous exertions in the cause of freedom and his country. The author had, doubtless, the conduct of Mr. Pulteney in view; and concluded that (as in the physical system, so in the political) a similar cause would be productive of a like effect. He was mistaken. However, this little piece, abstractedly considered, and merely as an effort of genius, in my opinion, possesses great merit. It is impos

* This is a mistake. We have read this Elegy in some printed collection of poems. But it is rare-and we are obliged to our friendly correspondent for recalling it to our remembrance.. VOL. III.-No. 1.

ED.

should, on the perusal, think favourably of its merits; by rescuing it from obscurity, and giving it a place in your poetic department, you will probably amuse many of your readers, and confer a particular favour on Yours, sincerely,

T. ROBINSON. Binghamton, Broome Co. April 1, 1816.

"Oh Lucifer, son of the morning, how art thou fallen!"

IF, when the stern relentless hand of Fate,
Has snatch'd some hero in his early bloom;
Or seiz'd unpitying on the good and great,
To swell the sable triumphs of the tomb;-

If, when the guardians of a country die,
The grateful tear, in tenderness should start,
Or the keen anguish of a redd'ning eye,

Proclaim the deep affliction of the heart;How must the feeling bosom bear its strife!

How must the voice of gratitude exclaim! When some fell hour has seiz'd on more than life, And wrought the worst of murders on their fame!

When we lament for patriotic fire,

A glorious envy mingles with the tear, And though we weep, we secretly admire, And nobly grudge the glory of its bier.

But when some high, some celebrated name, Flies meanly back from virtue's generous race, And stains a whole eternity of fame,

To gain a glitt'ring ensign of disgrace;

When some ennobled self-exalted sage,

Superior far to hecatombs of kings, The friend, the sire, the saviour of an age, Gives up a realm for earldom and for strings;

Sharp indignation mingles with distress,

Howe'er he once was godlike in our eyes, And spite of all the pity we possess,

We must retain our justice, and despise.

Fain would the muses for a favourite plead, Fain would they form some reconciling plan, To spare the person, yet condemn the deed,

To brand the baseness, yet preserve the man.

But ah! what plea, what language has the power,
Howe'er important, tender, or sublime,
To check the sunbeam'd swiftness of an hour,
Or snatch the glass from ever flying time?

Can the fine magic of a melting strain

Invert the well known principle of things, Remove the sigh from agonizing pain,

Or guard the guilty bosom from its stings?

Allied, alas! for ever to the crime,

No kind attention can the person claim,
But blackens downwards on the lapse of time,
The equal object of eternal shame.

Ah! what avails the wide capacious mind,
With every science accurately fraught,
The keen-eyed fancy, sparkling and refin'd,
The blaze of genius, and the burst of thought?

Ah! what avails the magnitude of soul,

Which, sway'd by sterling sentiment alone, Taught the big bolt of eloquence to roll, And thunder'd strong conviction round the throne?

Bade sinking Britons shake away the gloom, That long had bound her temples in disgrace, And, like the bold but deathless chief of Rome, Twined everlasting laurels in their place.

These no blest veil, no mantle ever threw,
To screen a paltry prostitute from morn,
But stripp'd them still more openly to view,
And call'd aloud for aggravated scorn.

When the dull slave, or sycophant confess'd,
Erects, on guilt, his coronated car,
Or hides his native turpitude of breast,
Beneath the venal dazzling of a star;

No conscious blush compels the cheek to glow,
The brow no mark of wonder will display,
For fools, we see, are always caught with show,
And ever find that villains will betray.

But when the first in Fame's immortal round, Charm'd with the gewgaw's fascinating glare, Exchange intrinsic character for sound,

And basely barter Liberty for air;

Their very worth, contrasted with the fall,
A new disgrace inevitably sheds,
Gives the keen curse, accuinulated gall,

And drags down wider vengeance on their heads.

Where then unhappy Pynsent canst thou run,
Or strive to hide, oh! elevated slave!
What pitying cell can screen thee from the sun,
Or kindly yield a temporary grave?

Fly with the lightning's rapidness of haste,
Where dread Ohio's melancholy flood,
Glooms with unusual horror in the waste,
And swells deep crimson'd with Britannia's blood.
Yet rather seek some confine of the earth,
Where British footsteps never have been known,
Where the sweet sunbeam dies before its birth,
Or hapless nature burns beneath the zone;
Beyond where Zembla, with eternal snows,
All cold and shivering, in herself retires,
Or where parch'd Afric vehemently glows,
In all the swartness of Autumnal fires.

Then, while the wond'ring savages applaud
Retain thy baseness, yet preserve the pride,
As some state minion, infamously awed,
Yet still affect the privilege to guide.

But why should Pynsent madly urge his flight
And poorly servile to a trivial lay,
Explore the bound'ries of perpetual night,
Or seek the realms of ever-scorching day?

Can the mere casual circumstance of pole,
The unmeaning dull variety of clime,
Restore the once known cheerfulness of soul,
Or pour one ray of comfort on his crime?
Must not a kingdom's heart-directed cries,
Like the dread tempest's all destroying sweep,
O'ertake the illustrious caitiff as he flies,
And sink the recreant vessel in the deep?

Tho' the white cliffs of the deserted shore,

No more should silver on his hated eyes, Should strike his breast with consciousness no more,

Nor ring his foul dishonour through the skies;

Still, what blest balm from consolation caught, In distant worlds can Pynsent hope to find, Unless he flies as rapidly from thought,

And leave both sense and memory behind.

Should he bestride the swiftest steeds of day,
Or mount on whirlwinds with unnumber'd wings,
Still guilt would seize the dastard on his way,

And conscience dart unutterable stings;

Still would one curst, one execrable word,
Unman his soul, and agonize his frame,
And that detested epithet of LORD,
O'erwhelm the wretch with misery and shame.

Oh! why, when virtue's heaven-descended heat,
Sinks by ambition fatally oppress'd,
Or high-soul'd honour tott'ring from her seat,
Resigns the spotless empire of the breast,

Why doth not tenfold impudence stand forth

To shield in brass the blush-betraying face, And when we're dead to sentiment and worth, Destroy the dread of scandal and disgrace?

Triumphant slaves might then securely reign, Nor meanly shrink, to look upon the morn; Behold the power of kingdoms with disdain, And treat the indignant universe with scorn

No Pynsent, then, need hesitate an hour,
To prop a sinking villain, or his cause;
Nor seek to screen an avarice for power,
With the poor veil of popular applause.
Quite unappall'd beneath the rage of times,
He then night spring with transport into place,
And lay a sure foundation on his crimes,
To build the future glories of his race.

But Heaven's high will has graciously design'd,
That strong remorse with infamy should dwell,
And placed an awful censor in the mind,

That damns the traitor to an instant hell.

Hence, when from virtue's sacred course we fly, The blush, in deep'ning crimson will be drest, The rising gush will deluge all the eye,

And more than adders gnaw along the breast.

And yet, if nought but conscience, with her snakes,

The slave's base view is able to control, If no bright spark of honour ever wakes, The cold dead fibres of the flinty soul;

What greater proofs of tenderness and love,

Can Heaven's high hand beneficently show, Than dooming those, who dread no Judge above, To certain shame and wretchedness below?

Yet tell us, Pynsent, is there aught in state,
In ermin'd pomp, or coronated glare,
To sooth the sharp severity of fate,

Or shield the rankling bosom from despair?

Can the poor toy that glitters o'er a crest,
Or all the illustrious baubles of a throne,
Bestow one peaceful honour on a breast

That basely stoops to prostitute its own?

Hast thou, (and tell us generously now)

Since that curst hour on infamous record, When the green laurel with ring on thy brow, Beheld thee vilely dwindling to a lord,

Hast thou (nor dare with conscience in thine eye,
To breathe a thought, or accent insincere)
Once seen the blessed morn without a sigh,
Or inet the sable eve without a tear?

Has the drear darkness of the midnight hour,
E'er kindly blest thy pillow with repose,
Or the soft balm of sleep's refreshing power,
Once taught those lids in tenderness to close?

Or say, if sleep once fortunately stole,
When life's low lamp could scarcely shed a gleam,
Did not some demon harrow up thy soul,
And stab the short, the momentary dream?

Did not wide fancy's all-exploring clue,
Bid time's deep womb be accurately shown,
And raised such baleful images to view,
As scared thy coward consciousness to stone?

O! Pynsent, what had empires to bestow,
That e'er thy worth or character could raise,
Teach wond'ring worlds more gratefully to glow,
Or add a single particle to praise ?

Did not whole senates hang upon thy voice,

And suppliant climes solicit thee for laws; Nay, did not Fame, obedient to thy choice, Still give the wreath, as thou wouldst give applause?

Say, could ambition's most exalted fire,

Misguided man, be gratified with more,
Than awe-struck senates, always to admire,
And echoing realms to wonder and adore?

What then, quite withering on the stalk of age,
Diseased, emaciate, sinking to the grave,
Could drag thee now, thus tott ring on the stage,
To load the wretched skeleton with slave;
Trembling on life's most miserable verge,
Nay, even now just numb'ring with the dead,
Why wouldst thou thus in infamy immerge,
And pluck a kingdom's curses on thy head?

That kingdom too, whose ever grateful eyes,

Thy matchless worth so tenderly could see,
That scarce she breath'd an accent to the skies,
But what was wing'd with benisons for thee."
Oh! hapless Pynsent, when the pitying muse,
Sees thee supremely eminent and good,
In palsied age, relinquish all the views,
For which thro' youth you generously stood;

When the bright guardian of a freeborn land,
In life's last age, sinks utterly deprav'd,
And in some minion's execrated hand,
Destroys those realms, which formerly he sav'd,
Lost in the passions widely raging tide,
An actual type of chaos she appears,
Then throws the pen distractedly aside,
To give an ample fullness to her tears.

EUROPE.

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

THE British Cabinet consists of the following members: lord high chancellor, lord Eldon; lord president of the council, earl of Harrowby; lord of the privy seal, earl of Westmoreland, K. G.; first lord of the treasury, earl of Liverpool, K. G.; master general of the ordnance, earl of Mulgrave; secretary of state for the foreign department, Viscount Castlereagh, K. G.; secretary for the home department, Viscount Sidmouth; first lord of the admiralty, Viscount Mel

ville; chancellor of the exchequer, right hon. N. Vansittart; president of the board of control, right hon. Geo. Canning; master of the mint, right hon. W. Wellesley Pole; chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, right hon. C. B, Bathurst.

The whole import of Cotton into Great Britain in 1817, is estimated at 479,291 packages of various sizes, weighing by computa tion 131,951,200 lb. which at an average of 1s. 6d. per. lb. would amount to nearly 19 millions sterling. The greater part of this immense importation has been brought into

Liverpool. This quantity exceeds the imports of 1815 and 1816, severally, by about 110,000 bags, weighing about 41,000,000 lb. or upwards of two millions sterling. The greatest part of this increase has arisen from the opening of the East India trade, which, in extent and importance, it is thought, will soon rival the trade to the W. Indies, as far as respects Liverpool.

The British navy is about to be enlarged by the addition of 5 new first rate ships of the line, and 14 second rate,-38 frigates, and 15 sloops of war.

The American minister, Mr. Rush has been received at the court of St. James in the most amicable manner.

The princess Elizabeth is betrothed to prince Frederick Joseph Louis of Hesse Hombourg. The princess will have a marriage portion of £40,000, and her annual income will be £15,000. Frederick is hereditary prince, and in his 49th year: the reigning duke is 70 years old.

FRANCE.

Notwithstanding the recent proceedings of the Chambers in favour of the liberty of the press, all the copies of the third number of the Sentinelle de l'Honneur, have been seized. This political pamphlet is written by M. Joulin de la Salle, cousin to the general Bertrand who is at St. Helena. The duke of Wellington is particularly attacked in it, and is denominated an insolent Pró-consul.

Negociations are in a state of advancement, which will, it is expected, terminate in the removal of the army of occupation from France. Some changes are to take place in the command of divisions; some exiles are to be restored to their country, and among others, Soult, who will be reinstated in his rank of field marshal.

SPAIN.

The most active preparations are said to be making in Cadiz to man the Russian fleet for South-America. It is, however, represented on the other hand, that the ships are likely to be laid up at Cadiz to rot, being badly constructed and of poor materials.

GERMANY.

The proposed basis for the military contingent of Germany, which subject was taken into consideration by the Diet, on the 19th instant, requires a levy of two per cent. on the population of that great country. The gross population of Germany is about 30,000,000, of which 6,000,000 will be nearly the number of males capable of bearing arms. Two in every hundred of these would constitute an army of 120,000 men, the exact amount of force which it was stated the army of the confederation was designed to muster.

prince Oscar, son of Bernadotte, had been authorised to exercise the sovereignty, whenever the king and his father should be both ill, or hoth absent; thus his right of succession has been indirectly acknowledged.

RUSSIA.

Accounts from Taganrock, upon the Black Sea, indicate a very rapid increase of the commercial importance of that quarter. Though that port is less frequented than Odessa, yet, in 1817, 387 vessels sailed from it, besides coasters to the number of 132. The importations of gold and silver specie amounted to 5,582,249 roubles; in addition to which, the value of the merchandise imported was 2,658,645 roubles; the exports, amounting to 11,979,700 roubles, there remains, in favour of Russian commerce, an excess of 9,321,033 roubles.

ASIA.

EAST INDIES.

The whole country between Madras and Bombay is said to be in a state of insurrection. The earl of Moira has marched against the patriots at the head of 90,000 men, chiefly natives.

AMERICA.

SPANISH AMERICA.

Venezuela.

After a circumstantial report that the royalists under Morillo had met with sig nal discomfiture, and that Laguira was in the utmost distress and confusion from the apprehended approach of the patriots, it has been since stated that Morillo had gained an important victory over Bolivar and Piaz, by which Laguira was restored to tranquillity and Caraccas relieved from the dreaded attack.

Mexico.

The Report of General Mina's death is contradicted. Colonel Melville, of General Mina's staff, has arrived in the United States, on his way to Washington; he states that he left Mina, on the 28th November, at Guanaxuato with 5000 men, and his affairs in a prosperous state.

BRITISH AMERICA. Canada.

Robert Gourlay, of Upper Canada, has offered to make the following contract for settling the country:-if government will give him the management of the public lands of Upper Canada, for thirty years, he will maintain, during that time, two regiments for his Majesty-repair all the forts-and, for the last twenty years of the term, pay an annual rent to Great Britain of £100,000 sterling.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
Senate.

Wednesday, March 18th. The resolution moved yesterday by Mr. King, that the President be reharbours for the purpose of selecting two stations quested to cause to be surveyed certain ports and for arsenal ports, the report of the survey to be laid before the Senate during the first week of the next session, &c. was agreed to.

Among other bills, one for defraying the expenses of militia in marching to places of rendezvous, was passed and sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

Thursday, March 19th. On motion of Mr. Eppes, it was resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the Senate, an estimate of the sum necessary for the establishment of two docks for the purpose of repairing vessels of the largest

size.

On motion of Mr. Ruggles it was resolved, that the committee on public lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of extending the jurisdiction of the territory of Michigan to the eastern boundary of the Illinois territory. The remainder of the sitting was occupied in maturing the details of the bill for adjusting the claims to land, and for establishing land offices in the districts east of the island of New-Orleans.

Friday, March 20th. Mr. Crittenden, from the committee on the judiciary, reported a bill prescribing the manner of deciding controversies between different states.

Mr. Williams, of Ten. from the committee on military affairs, reported a bill to reduce the staff of the army, with additional sections, regulating the distribution of rations to the army.

The President laid before the senate the general account of the treasurer of the United States, for 1817, and the accounts of the war and navy departments, from Oct. 1816 to Oct. 1817, together with the reports thereon.

On motion of Mr. Talbot, resolved, that the committee on roads, &c. be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the subscription, on the part of the United States, for certain shares in the Kentucky and Ohio Canal Company, &c.

Mr. Campbell, from the committee on finance, reported the bill to authorise the state of Tennessee to issue grants, and perfect titles to certain entries and locations of lands, &c. After some further business, adjourned till Monday.

Monday, March 23d. A report was made, declaring it inexpedient to extend the provisions of law prescribing the mode in which public re cords, &c. in each state, shall be authenticated, to give them effect in another state, &c.

The President communicated the memorial of the legislature of the Alabama territory, praying for power to incorporate companies to build roads, &c. which was read and referred.

The bill regulating the pay of brevet officers, and a resolution to subscribe for 1300 copies of the 11th vol. of Waite's state papers, were passed. Some other business was transacted, and the senate adjourned.

Tuesday, March 24th. Mr. Dickinson reported a resolution, directing medals to be struck, and, together with the thanks of congress, to be presented to Maj. Gen. Harrison and Gov. Shelby,

Mr. Barbour, from the committee of foreign relations, to whom had been referred the representations in behalf of Mr. Meade, made a report of considerable length, taking a full view of the subjects, recognizing the wrongs of Mr. Meade, and declaring, substantially, that if the demand of the executive for his release be not complied with, the offence ought to be visited with severe retribution.

The bill adjusting the claims to lands, and establishing land offices, east of the island of NewOrleans was rejected, 12 to 9.

Wednesday, March 25th. Mr. Troup moved a resolution to inquire into the expediency of appropriating the dividends from the shares held by government in the bank of the United States, to the manufacture of arms, &c. for the militia. The bill concerning the bounty to fishing vessels passed.

The amendment to the bill for reducing the staff, changing the commissariat, was read a third time and passed, 25 to 5. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

The bill authorising Tennessee to issue grants, &c. after being modified, was ordered to be engrossed for the third reading.

After a message from the President, touching the Seminole war, the senate adjourned. Thursday, March 26th. Mr. Troup's resolu tion of yesterday was agreed to.

The joint resolution offered by Mr. Barbour, proposing an amendment of the constitution so as to give congress the power of appropriating money to construct roads, &c. was rejected.

The bill to issue grants, &c. and the bill to reduce the staff, &c. was passed and sent to the house.

The senate resumed the consideration of the bill to increase the salaries of the heads of departments, which was so modified as to fix the sala ries of the secretaries of state and the treasury at $6500-secretaries of war and navy, $6000, post-master general, $4000-and the attorney general $3500,-all to commence on the first day of 1818. The bill was ordered to

a third reading.

Mr. Troup's resolution appropriating the bank dividends was agreed to, and after some other business, the senate adjourned.

Friday, March 27th. The following engrossed bills were severally read a third ume, passed, and sent to the other house for concurrence, to wit: a bill to increase the salaries of certain officers of the government; and a bill providing for the election of a Delegate from the Michigan territory. The Senate adjourned to Monday.

Monday, March 30th. The bill for amending the acts for enforcing the neutral relations of the United States was referred to the committee on foreign relations.

A message was received from the President transmitting a list of the pensioners, &c. according to a request of the Senate.

The resolution from the House of Representatives, fixing the day of adjournment of Congress, to the 13th April, was taken up, and amended so as to fix on 20th, and passed.

The bill from the House of Representatives, authorising the election of a delegate from the Michigan Territory, &c. was rejected.

After some other business the Senate adjourned, the Vice President previously informing the Senate that his private affairs would prevent his further attendance in the Senate.

Tuesday, March 31st. The Senate elected Mr. Gaillard president of the Senate, pro tempore.

Thursday, April 2d. The principal business of the day was upon local matters.

The bill for increasing the salaries of the judges of the United States' courts, was definitely posponed.

Friday, April 3d. The Senate resumed the navigation bill, which was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Mr. Tate, from the naval committee, reported