them appear in either of thofe departments with eclat. But how muft one be difppointed, on finding that they are never taught the very language, which they must make use of in either of thofe places? The only languages, which they are converfant in at the univerfity, are either the Oriental, the Greek, or the Roman: neither of which teach us either the elegance or the propriety of our own. Hence it has been a common obfervation, that the letters of a man of bufinefs, who is converfant only in his own language, are preferable to those of the scholar, in eafe, in perfpicuity, and in elegance. It is to be wifhed, that a remedy might be found out for this evil, and that an English divine, lawyer, or fenator, were as well acquainted with the beauties and propricties of his own language, as he is with Rome or Greece. This, however,can never be effected, till English be ftudied at the univerfities with as much care as the dead langagues, and profefforships for English be as well endowed and fupplied, as thofe are for Astronomy, Arabic, and Hebrew. For want of fuch a provifion our language is corrupted daily; and the English fcholar is incapable of addreffing his own countrymen in the native language of his country. By thefe means, his difcourfes lofe not only half of their effects, but likewife half of their beauty: for an auditor who is difgufted at the style, is feldom pleafed with the matter. I fhould be glad if it were in my power to refcue our language from this danger; but how can I imagine myfelf endowed with fo much power, when the Bishop of Oxford, after employing his thoughts for upwards of twenty years on this fubject, ftyles the product of his ftudy only an Introduction to Gram mar? We must indeed confefs that his lordship's modefty is as great as his induftry, and that both of them

are equalled by his abilities and his learning. He has, indeed, intimated, that he has gone but a short way in a path, which will prefent thofe who travel farther with profpects more agreeable, and more improving. Let us follow his clue, and fee whither it will lead us: and, if any contemporary writer can afford us further affiftance, let us gratefully embrace the falutary offer. His lordship deferves our praise; but must abhor that praise which is not founded upon judgment, and will, therefore, be as glad to acquiefce with those who difcover errors, as to be fatisfied with thofe who acknowledge his beauties, and illuftrate his rules. Another gentleman has ventured to take up the pen; after his lordship his obfervations will be found of fervice, even to those who have studied the Introduction to English Grammar. Perhaps when the labours of each are blended, they may prove of greater fervice. This is the intention I have in writing to you at present: for though I fhall borrow from all, I shall claim the liberty of diffenting with equal freedom. Sometimes I may, therefore, vindicate thofe authors from his lordship's reprehenfion; and at others, fhow that the paffages which Dr. Prieftly has vindicated in others, are really reprehenfible. When reading that gentleman's quotations from Hume and Macaulay, I cannot forbear fmiling; and imagining him guilty of the fame impropriety in quoting them, as the Scotch tutor was, who undertook teaching the English pronounciation. Let this letter ferve as an introduction to what follows; and, if the observations which will be the fubject of my next fhould prove either of fervice to you, or myself, I fhall be fatisfied for labours.

I am your faithful, &c.

my

W. R. POETICAL

The RAPE of the BooT and PETTICOAT.

(with a Copper-plate annexed) SING thou, my mufe, the dire contested fray, Where H---- dar'd the dangers of the day; (Propitious day, that could at once create A Merchant-Taylor Counsellor of State !) A numerous multitude contriv'd to meet, And halloo Forty-five thro' ev'ry street; And (what's incredible) were heard to cry Those words feditious, Wilkes and Liberty! On lofty standards in the air did float Those hieroglyphicks, Boot and Petticoat. Soon as their dreadful shouts accoft the ear Of grocer knights, and traders in fmall-beer, Confounded and amaz'd, the Guildhall court Forget their cuftard, and forfake their port; Away, with ghaftly looks, to H----- ran, And thus, in doleful plight, their difmal tale began:

"Moft honour'd, moft belov'd, thou best of men!

Behold thy fuppliant court of Aldermen !
Behold them proftrate on thy lordly floor!
O fave us, for the danger's at our door!
Thy Tory race no citizen but knows;
Thy friends and Liberty's must needs be foes."
His lordship fmil'd, and gave th' approving

nod,

Thrice fhook his chain, thrice wav'd his willow rod,

Then cry'd, "My brethren, Courage is my fort, "Twas that advanc'd my int'reft with the court; I'll fcourge the fcoundrels! I'll dragoon them hence;

This love of Liberty's mere want of sense.”
Then from his manfion rufh'd the val'rous chief,
To ferve his country, or to---take a thief;
But more refolv'd to crufh Rebellion's root,
And triumph o'er the Petticoat and Boot;
In equal balance hung the fierce difpute,
Between the warlike magiftrate and Boot.
The Boot and Petticoat at length gave way,
And now remain the trophies of the day,
The Petticoat and Boot confign'd to Fame,
Shall waft to latest times this hero's name.

And when in ftate on buried kings ye tread, And fwelling robes fweep o'er th' unnotic'd dead,

While, great as gods, ye caft your eyes around, Think then, oh! think, ye tread on treacherous ground.

Tho' firm the chequer's pavement seems to be,

"Twill furely open, and give way to thee; And while the crowding lords addrefs them near,

The anointing prelate, and the kneeling peer ; While with obfequious diligence they bow, And spread the careful honours o'er thy brow; While the high-rais'd fpectators fhout around, And the long ifles and vaulted roofs refound; Then fnatch a sudden thought, and turn thy head

From the loud living to the filent dead, With careful eye the neighbouring tombs furvey,

These will inftru&t thee better far than they; Thou from vaft crowds thy present power may'ft fee,

But these inform thee what thou'rt fure to be; Think thefe, like thee, were once ordain'd to

AT A CORONATION.

VE fons of empire, who, in pompous hour, Attend to wear the cumberous robes of power,

Thik, when ye walk along the crowded way, Thik, there's a fecond vifit ftill to pay; Nowurple pride and fhouting joy appears, Theblack proceffions, and attending tears;

And red, if paffion vex you, burns:
I'd prove a far more trufty gueft,
And ftand ftrict fentry to your breaft,
Excluding thence pain, care, and fear;
Pale grief fhould find no entrance there:
But blooming health should ever reign,
Mirth, hope, fair pleasure's fmiling train,
Connubial

E 2

VERY FEARFUL OF THUNDER.

SAY, whence this fudden chill, my fair,

When thunder rattles thro' the air? Why quits your blood each diftant part, And haftes to guard the labouring heart? Why---all this fhivering, panting, crying, This fomething little lefs---than---dying? If wretches, ftain'd with deadly fin, Quake at the worm, that gnaws within; If favage tyrants trembling fly, And think the fate they merit, nigh; If treacherous statesmen, that have fold Their Country and their God for gold, Are by this folemn found difmay'd, And dread Him whom they've disobey'd; Yet why does my Maria fear What only fhould the wicked fcare? The flafh, that firikes the villain dead, Is taught to fpare the guiltless head; Or---fhould by this the Virtuous die, "Twere but on lightning's wings to fly, And gain, with greater fpeed, their fky..

Happen'd one day to come to town,
And, as he fauntered up and down,
He chanc'd to fpy where fuch like things
Hung dangling in a row of ftrings;
It took him in the head to stop,
And afk the mafter of the fhop,
If he could furnifh folk, that need,
With glaffes that could make them read?
Or fell a pair of, what d'ye call it ?
Would fit his nofe, and would not gall it?
The man his drawer in one hand took,
The other op'd the Bible-book,
The drawer contain'd of glaffes plenty,
From ninety down to lefs than twenty;
Some fet in horn, and fome in leather,
But Robin could approve of neither;
And when a hundred pair he'd try'd,
And ftill had thrown them all afide,
The man grew peevish.---Both grew vext,---
And fwore he could not read the text.---
"Not read."--- Confound you for a fool;---
I'll hang, if e'er you went to school.'---
Did you e'er read without the help
"Of fpectacles?"--- Why, no, you whelp;
Do people, who can walk without,
Buy crutches for to ftump about?'

}

PR

PHILELEUTHEROS.

In Prætorem urbanum Lond.

RÆTOR cur jactas infamem infane trophæum ?

Pradaque te fpoliat, dedecoratque decus.

Coll. Jef. Oxon.

EPIGRAMMA.

G. R