"mility and univerfal benevolence, root "out all the haughty fentiments with "which pride of birth had infpired Da"muha?" It certainly would." "Coulda difpofition, elevated in its views "above present and external objects, "and intent upon what was truly and "permanently ufeful, be liable to feel the "trifling caprice and filly vanity of Le"mouri?"-"I believe it could not.". "Could one whofe time was filled up "with important duties, and whofe "mind was much employed in the con"templation of the nobleft objects in "the universe, either find leisure or in"clination for frivolous amufements? or "if he did, could thefe have power to "harrafs and difcompofe her temper ?" -"Indeed I think not."--"Muft not a "principle that moft ftrongly inculcates "univerfal purity by the most powerful

"motives, completely eradicate every "difpofition to palliate vice, because it " is fashionable?"-" Without doubt "it muft."-" Is it likely that a mind, "having the beft and jufteft notions of "the value of time fhould allow that "time to pafs in vacant indolence, or "that one taught habitually to turn its "refearches upon the Creator and his "works, fhould with liftlefs inattention "hear fuch fubjects enlarged upon ?""It fcarcely could."--" Remember, then, you have now found a principle that be of fome ufe to you in your "future pursuits of the kind you have "been engaged in.'

may

Zoban was fatisfied, and altering the channel of his purfuits by the direction of the fage, foon found his wishes com. pletely crowned with fuccefs.

See in what showers the yellow leaves defcend, Left thou

By fuch fharp-breatbing cut.

too feel

The North's keen edge, fhroud well thy lovely head

Within thy leafy robe, which shriveling cold Has fhrunk about thy fides, and left thy form Half naked and expos'd; ah! much I fear Thou canst not bear our chilly damps by night,

Or the fhrewd biting of the morning air!! If chance thou fhould efcape the scourge

that seems

Above thee hung, now ready to chastise Thy rafhness, who appear'st so out of time, No more let Autumn, with fallacious looks, Draw thee fo foon abroad; for all he asks, Is but the power with one deceitful smile To lure thee forth, then blaft thee with his frown.

I have feen fmiles as fair as thofe you truft, Yet found deep mischief cover'd with that veil.

Nor fmiles, nor words, can make of him a friend,

Whom Nature made thy foe: thou haft no friend,

Save Spring alone, the gives thee that sweet breath

Which Autumn knows not: fhe diftains thy leaves

With brighter purple, feeds thee with moist

dews,

And ever fans thee with her fofteft breeze.

P. HOMER.

STANZA S,

On the Death of a Lady's Bullfinch.

BY MR COWPER.

E Nymphs, if e'er your eyes were red YEW Pear, o'er hapless fav rites fhed,

Now fhare Maria's griefs;
Her fav'rite, even in his cage,
(What will not cruel hunger's rage?)
Affaffin'd by a thief.

Where Rhenus ftrays his vines among,
The egg was laid from which he sprung;
And though by nature mute,
Or only with a whistle bleft,
Well taught, he all the founds exprefs'd
Of flagellet, or flute.

The honours of his ebon poll
Were brighter than the fleekest mole;
His bofom of the hue

With which Aurora decks the skies,
When piping wind fhall foon arise
To fweep away the dew.

For, aided both by ear and scent,
Right to his mark the monster went ;
Ah! mufe, forbear to speak.
Direful the horrors which enfu'd!
His teeth were ftron, the cage was wood
He left poor Bully's beak.

Maria weeps, the mufes mourn :
So, when by Bacchanalians torn,
On Thracian ebrus' fide,
The tree enchanter, Orpheus, fell,
His head alone remain'd to tell
The cruel death he died.

TO THE TWEED.

From Trifles in Verfe.

Her downcaft eye no joy illumes,

Nor on her cheeek the foft rofe blooms
He mourning heart the victim of thy

pow'r, Shrink from the glare of Mirth, and hails the murky hour.

O fay, What Fiend first gave thee birth? In what fell defart wert thou born? Why does thy hollow voice, forlorn, So fafcinate the Sons of Earth? That once encircled in thy icy arms, They court thy torpid touch, and doat upon thy charms?

Hated Imp, I brave thy spell,

Reafon fhuns thy barb'rous fway, Life with Mirth fhould glide away, Defpondency with Guilt fhould dwell; For confcious Truth's unruffled mein Difplays the dauntless eye, and patient smile ferene.

UP

LAURA MARIA,

SONG.

[PON the gentle Shannon's fhore,
I've left my fleecy flock;
And e'en to fee my love once more,
For fook my peaceful cot.

Here have I ftray'd thro' woods, thro' wilds,

To meet my beauteous damfel's fmiles; Have fwam the deep, have clim'd the grove,

To gain my lovely Nancy's love:

For fhorter ways, the level roads forfook, O'er mountains labour'd, crofs'd the rapid brook :

Yet fhall I think no labour hard,
So thou, dear girl, my toils reward;
Then, lovely Nancy, bless thy fwain,
And love receiv'd, return again:
Then on the gentle Shannon's fhore,
We'll tend our fleecy flock;
And when the funny day is o'er,
Enjoy our peaceful cot.

ODE TO HOPE.

Written in the Baftile, in 1786.

Ο THOU!

Who on fome rough rock's height Woo'ft the propitious gale,

And fitt'ft with straining fight To catch the long-expected fail;

With eyes fixt on th' horizon's verge, Where, bellowing loud, the fwelling furge, To kifs the canopy of heaven, high heaves,

Which feems to meet the wave, and its falute receives.

While flatt'ring Fancy pourtray's oft the fail,

That from the diftant billows feems to rife;

Tho' foon withdrawn the dear deluding veil,

No more it meets thy eager eyes: What tho' thy heaving breast,

By the full fwell of grief be rent, Still dark defpair is not thy bofom's gueftStill forward are thy eyes expecting bent.

Oh! ftill then o'er my aching mind,

Hope, thy lenient balfam pour, And bid me happiness expect to find, Beyond the prefent hapless hour! Oh from my bofom drive despair, Nor wonder, Hope, at this unusual pray'r, For have I not full cause to figh, And pour the hot tear from my eye?

For does a friend's fweet foothing ftrain And am not I of liberty bereft ? Rob me of one, one moment's pain?

And have I not a faithful maid,
Beneath the willow's folitary fhade,
To mourn my long, long abfence left?

And does not a fond parent mourn;
Adown his cheek the trickling tear,
Bending faft its fad career,

A fon who to his arms fhall never more return?

Oh! ftill then o'er my aching mind, Hope, thy foothing balfam pour,

And bid me happiness expect to find, When this heart heaves, this bofom throbs no more!

TH

FRANCE.-Dec. 17. "HEINational Affembly decreed, that all French troops, except militia and national guards, shall be levied by voluntary enlistment.

19. M. Treilhard read a report from the committee of ecclefiaftical affairs,confifting of feventeen articles; the moft material of which were, that all perfons who have taken monaftic vows fhall declare, within three months, their intention of relinquishing or adhering to the rules of their refpective orders; that penfions from 200 to 1000 livres fhall be affigned to thofe who chufe to relinquish the rules of their order, in proportion to their age; that they shall be capable of becoming vicars or curates, with a proportional abatement of penfion, but of no inheritance or teftamentary fucceffion; that no monaftic vows fhall be taken in future; and that every nonaftery, the members of which fhall be reduced to less than fifteen, thall be confidered as virtually abolished:

20. The affembly, taking into further confideration the finances, M. de CanteLeu made a report from the committee of finance. After depicting the confequences of a national bankruptcy, the idea of which the committee profeffed to reject with horror-" What," continued he,

to be done?-Without money, and without credit, we can only do what honeft men poffeffed of property Thould do, when in the fame predicament; we muft fell that property for the advantage of our creditors." Proceeding on this idea, the committee propofe the immediate fale of all the demef nes of the Crown, with an exception only of the forefts, and of fuch of the Royal manfions as the King may wish to referve; and alfo of the goods of the clergy, to the amount of 400 millions! The Affembly agreed to the propofition.

of truft, has been before the Affembly for the three laft days. At length, after much debate, all the different motions having been new moulded and confolidated, the National Affembly paffed the following decree :

The National Affembly decrees, ft, That all perfons, not Catholics, who fhall have fulfilled all the conditions preferibed by the preceding decrees, to be capable of being electors or elected, shall be eligible to every office in adminiftration throughout the kingdom, without exception; 2dly, That all perfons, not Catholics, are capable of holding all employments, civil and military, like all other citizens, but without meaning to prejudge, in any refpect, the cale of the Jews upon which the Affembly referves to itfelf the power of pronouncing hereafter. Moreover it is decreed that nothing can be opposed to the eligibility of any citizen, or any ground of exclution urged, that does not refult from the decrees relative to the conítitution.

This great ground of toleration being thus broadly eftablished, (including Mahometans, Gentoos, and perfons of every religion, except Jews,) without even a divifion the Affembly adjourned.

January 6, 1790.

The Affembly decreed that a deputation fhould be fent to the King to inquire what fum would be neceffary for his expences, the establishment of his family and houfehold, and to request that his Majefty would regulate his demand, not by the fyftem of economy which the National Affembly had in all other matters of finance, but by the dignity and fplendour which ought to furround his throne.

After the deputation had waited on the King, the Prefident reported his Majefty's anfwer, which is as follows, and was received with loud and repeated acclamations:

6. GENTLEMEN, "I am fenfibly affected by the deliber

ation