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at the foot of the table, the members being covered, the judge-advocate proceeded to read the sentence as follows:

verable, it arose in consequence of an opinion that the acquittal in question was, even as it stood, not sufficiently honourable to the merits and disin"This court having maturely con- terested services of the commodore. sidered the nature of the charges, A short time after his return to town, heard all the evidence, and having he accidentally went to Lloyd's coffully deliberated upon the whole of fee-house, attended by Captain King this case, are of opinion, that the and his agent Mr. Lavie, when, after charges have been proved against Cap- having paid his respects to several of tain Sir Home Popham, that the with- the merchants and underwriters, he drawing without orders so to do the was introduced into the subscriptionwhole of any naval force from the room, about three o'clock, and was place where it is directed to be em- welcomed by the subscribers with ployed, and the employing it in dis- three hearty cheers! The room was tant operations against the enemy, unusually crowded;-as soon as simore especially if the success of such lence could be obtained, Sir Home operations should be likely to prevent addressed them in nearly the followits speedy return, may be attended ing words:with the most serious inconvenience to the public service; as the success of any plan formed by his Majesty's ministers for operations against the enemy, in which such naval force might be included, may by such removal be entirely prevented; and the court is further of opinion, that the conduct of the said Captain Sir Home Popham, in the withdrawing the whole of the naval force under his command from the Cape of Good Hope and the proceeding with it to the Rio de la Plata was highly censurable; but in consideration of circumstances the court doth adjudge him to be only severely reprimanded--and he is accordingly hereby severely reprimanded."

The provost-marshal then proceeded to the president, and presented the sword of Sir Home Popham to him, when he was ordered to return it. The provost-marshal returned to the bottom of the table, and with a respectful salutation returned the sword to Sir Home Popham, and the Court was dissolved.

"Gentlemen-It is impossible for me to express what I feel on this occasion, seeing myself surrounded by the most respectable merchants of the first city in the world, marking personally their opinion of my exertions to promote the public welfare; and, although his Majesty's government found it expedient to arraign my conduct on my return from abroad, I trust my defence will satisfy the respectable body to whom I have now the honour to address myself; that every action of mine was directed to promote the honour and glory of my country, and that I shall ever feel myself bound to employ my humble ta lents for the attainment of any object conducive to its prosperity, although I feel that the wings of discretion have been materially clipped."

This short speech was followed by three additional cheers, and Sir Home quitted the room amidst the loudest acclamations of applause. The stairs from Lloyd's room and the streets were crowded with spectators, who followed Sir Home to the Old Jewry, shouting as he passed, Sir Home and Old England for ever!!!"

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CUMBERLANDANA.

MODERN

The reception Sir Home met with from the public was of the most flattering kind-it was expressive of the honest sentiments of people possessing no guile, but who seemed to suf- (Continued from page 109.). fer the effusions of their joy to be ROUTS." It is a stifled by the imperious and dictating lucky circumstance for men insolence of faction. The most pub- of low birth, mean talents, and lic display of joy was exhibited even confined education, that if they can in remote towns through which he buy good wine, and hire a good passed, and a more popular acquittal cook, with plenty of winter roses, certainly never took place. If any green peas and strawberries out of slight murmur was by chance disco- season, they can refresh the bowels UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VII.

2 U

it?

of the old nobility, who will walk laxity of talk, conceive it has some into a man's house, form their own affinity to wit, and think themselves parties when they are in it, and take happy in a familiar style, which has no more notice of the master of it, all the point of ridicule and the grace than they would of the landlord of the of ease. Alas! it has nor point, nor inn they take post at, or the keeper edge, nor grace, nor ease; in fact, it of the turnpike gate that they pass is no style at all; mere gabble, nothrough; but there must be luxury thing else. One recommendation it in the glare of lustres to a man who may have, which is, that of being unhas drudged at his desk by the light of answerable, for who can remember a tallow candle, and how much hand. it? and being quite as flimsey as somer must a floor appear to him, Ixion's mistress, who can embrace when splendidly be-chalked by a capi. tal designer, than when besprinkled "This is no proof to me that there is with a watering pot by a ship-shod a real dearth of taste or genius in the apprentice!" age; it only confirms what we knew before, that false taste and false genius are more obtrusive than true. If ever there was a time for this distinguished nation in a more peculiar manner to maintain her dignity and display her virtue, it is now when the eyes of suffering and degraded Europe are directed towards her, and she has not yet been tempted to lay aside her arms."

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STATE OF GENIUS."We are just now, (as I before observed) by no means in our former character of philosophers, but rather living as creatures should live, who are born for no other purpose, and devoted to no other uses, but to consume the fruits of the earth, and leave their names to be carried down to posterity in the culinary records of our public prints. NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.-"I apThe frivolity of their tables seems in prehend we are fast approaching toa great degree to have overturned wards an awful crisis, when the the solidity of their understandings, minds of men will be too much ocand by the frequency of their deal- cupied to spare a thought for literary ings with confectioners and cooks, objects. Perhaps the Destroyer, who they appear to have contracted cer- has been sent on earth for the chastain new, but consentaneous habits tisement of the nations, has already of speech, a sort of huffish puff-paste reached the summit of his power, eloquence, which consists in treating and like Apoleon, shadowed out in grave and serious matters of debate the Apostle's vision, is verging towith a vapid kind of levity, affecting wards extinction, together with those quaint conceits and doggerel quota- symbolical locusts, who have him as tions, which stand very well in Mother a king over them, and on their heads Goose's Tales, but are rather out of as it were crowns like gold; and I their latitude in St. Stephen's Chapel. doubt not but it will be the destiny of I am sorely afraid that our deluded our brave countrymen to convince senators, who by the flatulency of the rescued world, that these vermin their mental diet have fallen into this are not invincible."

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CRITICISM.

THE AGE OF FRIVOLITY: a Poem, on its favourite pursuit, recurs to what addressed to the Fashionable, the it had relinquished, owing to the Busy, and the Religious World. casual intervention of circumstances, By TIMOTHY TOUCH'EM. 2d Edi- with additional ardour;-the unforgotten project is resumed, persisted

tion.

WE have investigative witnessed
E have investigated the Age in, and ultimately effected.
TIMOTHY TOUCH'EM, however,

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the Age of Infidelity', and we are who, with all his apparent facetiousnow favoured with the Age of Fri- ness, disdains to volity', which to us is not the less ac

"Trifle in a trifling Age," ceptable because, unlike its memor- has afforded us much amusement, able precursors in the walks of litera- and real satisfaction. He, indeed, by ture, it comes recommended by the decorations of poetry. no means requires the apologetical reasons stated in his preface, in exculIn the preface to this poem we are pation of what he is apprehensive informed that it " took its rise [the will be considered as the defects of first part] from the circumstance of his production. There is an ostentasome very wet and winterly weather tious humility, and of a species that constraining the author to seek enter- we would not willingly impute to our taiument for himself within doors; friend Timothy; we mean, the prac and that the two other parts have tice of pleading guilty to charges from been composed at intervals, some of which the individual knows himself the fragments whilst walking the to stand perfectly exempted, in order rambling in the country." Thus far finally to insure a greater portion of the author has thought proper to ap- been awarded.” applause than would otherwise have prise us of the origin and conduct of his poem, in order to account for the want of connection in the subjects, and deficiency of artful arrangement of the whole." p. iii.

streets of London, and some while

EXTRACTS,

Revolutionary France.
See France, long held in hoodwink'd bond-
age fast,

Rouse from her lethargy of ages past.
Now Vengeance undistinguishing takes
place,

ral doom,

Alike on ancient follies, forms, and grace,
King, Priests, and Nobles, sweeps to gene-
Like worn-out lumber from a filthy room.
Ten dreadful years she heaves convulsive
throes!
The fev'rish crisis of a nation's woes.
How many from their homes in terror fled!
How many on the crowded scaffold bled!
What crews ingulph'd beneath the briny

We do not discredit the above statement; nor do we perceive the Recessity why a poem so written should be destitute of genuine merit. Savage, in a predicament similar to that of the present author, and under circumstances infinitely more discouraging, contrived to plan and com. plete those effusions which have obtained for him an established rank among the distinguished votaries of the Muse. Boyse also, in an obscure attic, without adequate sustenance, main!* and seated on a mattress, with no other clothing than a ragged comfortless blanket, projected and accomplished his most celebrated poem! Half Europe trembled, while all France ran Goldsmith wrote many of his popular

What slaughter'd hosts bestrew'd th' embattled plain!

What sudden change what desp'rate fits

she had!

mad.

works in seclusion and indigence; and What mighty cause, or demon most proeven Dr. Johnson, when in want of fane,

a lodging for the night, occupied With vile enchantments, turn'd the nation's himself, whilst [thus] walking the

streets of London," in settling the af

fairs of the state.

brain?

*The English and Republican fleets had That which diverts attention from an engagement in 1794, in which four of a given object, does not necessarily the French ships were sent to the bottom interrupt it. The mind, still intent with all their crews.

Two hellish monsters in the work combin'd; One held the body chain'd, and one the mind.

First hard Oppression rul'd with iron rod: Then Superstition worshipp'd man for God:"

So long they reign'd, and so intrench'd their pow'r,

They never dreamt of Retribution's hour.
Grown bold and fearless, insolent in pride,
The veil of Decency was cast aside.
The laughing world saw thro' the forms
they wore,

And scorn'd the idols they ador'd before. Thus near the ocean's side some tall cliff stands,

Some, in equestrian pomp, bestride t backs

Of broken-knee'd or broken-winded hacks; While through each turnpike a long train departs

Of coaches, gigs, and curricles, and carts; Where closely wedg'd and jostling side by side,

The swelt'ring gentry take their Sunday ride,

Impatient longing for the cheap regale Of village beef and pudding, punch and ale;

Where, round the common table, strangers join,

Once in a week, like gentlefolks to dine. Frowns o'er the sea, and shades the hum- Thither, a few short miles, impell'd along

bler lands;

Wave after wave each other restless chase, To kiss its feet, and undermine its base; At length the hollow mass falls down the steep,

And rude waves triumph o'er the prostrate heap.

All reverence banish'd, all restraint o'erthrown,

They boast a portion, yet to them unknown;

These crimes, O Liberty! were done for thee;

Thy name their passport, and thy cause their plea.

Alas! they knew thee not, but blindly

chose

Licentiousness instead, thy worst of foes; And thou hast left them, frivolous and vain, To forge themselves a new and heavier chain;

To rear an higher throne, where frowns

and rules

An alien man of blood! to scourge the fools. Rome's mitred Priest, before the sacred shrine

The wiction pours, conferring Right Divine. Lord of the Church an Infidel proclaimsA bold usurper, God's Vicegerent names. The list ning rabble at the mummery stare, And blush to think what slaves and dupes they are.

This Death and Horror, Famine, War, and Woe,

All end at las' in pageantry and show.

Our bard, while he thus depicts the atrocities and follies of France, asks,

Shall Britain's sons disgrace their fathers' fame?

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By many a fretful stamp and lashing thong,

With feeble steps the jaded cattle creep, And their sad day of rest in labour keep. Some poor pedestrians, whose means refuse

All ways of riding, but upon their shoes; Still on the public roads in throngs repair, To see the world, and breathe the country

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Devoutly winding up his week's affairs. Thus flies the morn, till anxious dame requests

His decent dressing to receive his guests. At length, when the church-bell forbears to chime,

And good folks meet to pray the second time,

His cloth is laid-his visitants appear, And the full table smokes with tempting cheer:

The lengthen'd meal consumes near half the day,

While idle gossip steals the hours away. No business now requires dispatchful haste, For Sunday people can afford to waste.

Let Jews or Methodists, with zeal severe, Their Sabbaths keep with superstitious fear;

Worldly disdains the shackles of a Priest, And keeps his day to reckon-rest-and feast.

Modern Melody.

Hush-Brayman sings a most delicious howl,

Then shrieks a cadence like a screaming owl.

Signora squalls, and thrills like frighten'd

geese,

Or creaking wheels, that cry for want of

grease.

Oh mercy on our ears! 'tis finer far
Than e'en the Indians' piercing whoop of

war.

The tortur'd crowds, surpriz'd with frightful sound,

Much wonder where such melody was
found;

Admire and praise the agonizing strain,
But never wish to feel the like again.

Influence of Fashion.

O Fashion to thy wiles thy vot'ries owe
Unnumber'd pangs of sharp domestic woe.
What broken tradesmen and abandon'd
wives

Curse thy delusions through their wretched
lives!

What pale-fac'd spinsters vent on thee

their rage,

And youths decrepit, ere they come of age!
What parents mourn a spendthrift's endless

cost!

What orphans grieve a father's portion
lost!

These are your mimics, O ye fallen great;
Thus your example poisons all the state!
Bull-Baiting

What mighty project centring in the place,
Attracts the village rabble, vile and base,
Drains from the plough, the flail, the shop,
the stall,

The idle and the drunken, one and all?
What, but the pleasure cruelly to treat
A noble beast, the sire of milk and meat!
Bound by the treach'rous cowards to the
stake,

His goaded sides with indignation shake:
The strong-mouth'd dogs let loose (of

fiercest sort,

Train'd by their masters to the barb'rous
sport,)

Around the trammel'd bull they teasing ply,
Provoke his rage, and watch his vengeful

eye.

Yet oft his sinewy neck and pointed horn
Throw high his puny enemies in scorn:

This is not intended to depreciate the natural or acquired talents of any individual; but as a general ridicule of affectation and extravagance.

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the roar

Of drunken squabblers at the alehouse door,
The army and the navy hence may draw
Large levies of tough boobies, rough and
raw;

These may stand shooting at, though fitter
far

For mutiny and plunder, than for war; They may be marshall'd, but with whip and goad,

As stubborn asses trudge a sandy road.

There is much quaint humour in the conclusion of the following pasOh! strange ambition, infamous renown! sage on Excessive Drinking: Whose throat capacious most can guzzle down;

Who last can sit, and keep the drunken roar,

When all his comrades wallow on the floor!

Such was thy fame great Bibo, many a

year,

Till thou wast poor, and old red port was dear;

Then, at the parish workhouse, something
loth,

Thy drink was gruel and thin mutton broth;
But liked it not-and, sadly sober, died!
A week thy carcase the poor beverage tried,

Poor Bibo! thy fate has reminded us of that of the Frenchman's horse,

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It would be a pity should the friends of morality ever forget a very brilliant speech, designed to vindicate this amusement, and prevent a stop being put to it by authority.

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