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The record next to infamy we turn,

1777.

Behold where Britain's naval treasures burn;

Portsmouth! the billows which thy harbours lave
Reflect fell fires in ev'ry curling wave.
AITKEN, like him who fired th' Ephesian fane,
In felon reputation will remain ;

Nay! the Muse fears of treason you'll attaint her,
That rogue for only naming-JOHN the PAINTER.

SOPHIA, newly-born, with infant voice,
Bids England's father and his sons rejoice.

Amidst the heat of senatorial strife,

1778.

CHATHAM appears with fast retiring breath,

And where his country claim'd his well spent life,

Makes a last effort for her cause in death.

Now Cockneys, as they gravely walk,

In consequential tones,

Of CoXHEATH Camp and KEPPEL talk,

And wonder at PAUL JONES.

"Ye chiefs of the ocean your laurels throw by, Or the cypress entwine with each wreath,

6 At

"At the shrine of humanity heave a soft sigh,

"And a tear now let fall for his death:

"Yet the genius of Britain forbids us to grieve, "Since COOKE ever honoured, immortal shall

live."

So sang a Bard, when CookE's regretted blood
Ting'd on Owyhee's fatal shore the flood;
Unrival'd chief! who found a cruel grave
From those his generous feelings sought to save!

To former joys of royal sire and mother
OCTAVIUS is born to add another.

And now reluctantly we tell

1780.

What the Metropolis befel,

From lawless villains who defame,

To grace their guilt, religion's name :
"No Popery," the factious cry
That led to deeds of blackest dye;
"No Popery" the signal dire
To light up Discord's fiercest fire;
And London sees, in pale amaze,
Her palaces and temples blaze;

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Her magistrates stand idly by,
While conflagration braves the sky.

'Till rous'd from her lethargic trance,
See retribution now advance ;

Then caution, 'camp'd beneath our walls,
At length the rabble rout appals;

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And GORDON nearly pays with life,

The forfeit of the lawless strife

Which, with most inconsiderate head,

And frantic zeal of late he led.*

Mark, the Dutch admiral BYLAND yielding,
To fearless British captain FIElding;
Behold, where PARKER'S genius rises,
To fill our ports with gallant prizes;

* These riots, the worst that ever disgraced a civilized nation, lasted from the 30th of May till the 8th of June, during which time the rioters were absolute masters of the metropolis and its environs; many chapels and houses were demolished, and their contents committed to the flames; Newgate, the King's Bench, and the Fleet Prisons, were set on fire, and the prisoners liberated. The Bank was twice attacked, but without effect; and 36 fires were visible at one time, from an eminence near Hampstead. The numbers killed and wounded in the streets and on Blackfriars bridge, amounted to six hundred, independent of many whose wounds were privately attended, from their not wishing to have it known they had been concerned in the tumult. Several of the principal rioters were hanged at, or near the places where outrages were committed. Lord George was committed to the Tower for high treason, at first a close prisoner, but, after some time had elapsed, he had more indulgence, and was eventually acquitted cn his trial.

VOL. II.

Q

And,

And, the proud record to compleat,

See RODNEY master of LANGARA's fleet;
DIGBY and GEARY Swell our victories,
And RODNEY's flag again triumphant flies.*
ALFRED the royal stock encreases;

CORNWALL Succeeds as Mister Speaker ;
All hope of peace grows daily weaker,
And for a time entirely ceases.

While on our victories we dwell,

T'is our's impartially to tell,

That fifty-five as gallant ships

As ever took commercial trips,
Happ'ning by sad mischance to meet
The Gallico-Iberian flect,

* The Dutch Admiral, Count Byland, struck his flag to Captain Fielding, rather than submit to a question of search;-Rear Admiral Parker sent home a vast number of French and Spanish prizes; Admiral Sir George Rodney, after taking a Spanish 64, with her convoy of 22 merchant ships, gained a complete victory over the squadron commanded by Don Juan De Langara, five sail of the line were taken, and one blew up ;-Rear Admiral Digby took a French 64;-Admiral Rowley captured two large French frigates; and Admiral Parker took a convoy of nine sail, from Martinico; the Salisbury took a Spanish 50 gun ship; Rodney defeated Admiral De Guichen;-Admiral Geary took eleven sail of merchant vessels; and Captain Edward Moore, of the Fame privateer of Dublin, with his single ship took 4 French Letters of Marque.

Became

Became, oh, sorrow and surprize!
Captive to England's enemies.*

War with the Dutch adds to our troubles, 1781.

And trade's embarrassment redoubles.

If I mistake, 'tis your's to judge it,
But only overhaul the Budget
Which, for the service of the year,
Will millions, twenty-three appear;
Thousands, seven hundred fifty-six,
And hundreds, (as accountants fix,)
Some one or two;-a sum so great

Had ne'er before disturb'd the state;
But" damned custom" hath, as now one sees,
"Made it" to us "a property of ease."

The French take JERSEY, 'ere the dawn of light,
Only to quit it with returning night.
Ne'er shall the genuine, grateful tear,
Cease to embalm brave PIERSON's bier;†

A large outward-bound West India fleet and five East Indiamen, in all about 55 ships, unfortunately fell into the midst of the combined fleets of France and Spain, in the bay of Cadiz, in the night between the 8th and 9th of August, and were almost all taken.

The gallant Major Pierson, with the assistance of Captains Aylward and Mulcaster, and the militia of the island, re-took the town of St. Hellear, which had capitulated (under Governor Corbett,) to the French General; who, as well as Major Pierson, was slain in the re-capture.

Q 2

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