"And, saved to his country, the criminal wretch

"Shall then pound the hemp he at present would

stretch.

"Then real estates,-held so sacred of old, "For payment of personal debts should be sold; "And generous heirs, too impatient to wait,

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Might lose, ere they had it, their father's estate;

"Young RUSSELS and HOWARDS, by mere note of

hand,

"Would then parcel out all their family land; "And fathers themselves, if a wine merchant's bill "Grew pressing, would slice off a manor at will, "And thus we should see in a fortunate hour "An equal division of wealth and of power."

He ended and MARTIN,* just wak'd from a doze, Grew conscious, and snuffled applause through his

nose;

• Henry Martin, Esq., Barrister at Law, M. P. for Kinsale. See page 42.

The Judges, however, pronounced their belief
(Howe'er he might deal with the traitor and thief,)
It would not, just then, be expedient to force
The great stream of property out of its course,
Or that, for example, the person who gets

Lord Camelford's land* should be charged with his debts;

Such visions and dreams might pass off in a pleader,
But never would suit a political leader.
And that as to law and religion, the Nation
Abhorr'd foreign projects and rash innovation;
And ne'er would consent their palladium to see
In the hands of the Son of a French Refugee.

* Lord Grenville succeeded to the late Lord Camelford's real estates.-E.

THE CHOICE OF A LEADER.

No. V.

March 6, 1815.

WITH clumsy alacrity MACKINTOSH rose,

Removed his old hat from the bridge of his nose,
Uncover'd his eyes to the light of the day,

And show'd his dark locks lightly sprinkled with

grey

Those patriot locks, which at liberty roam,
Untarnish'd with powder, untamed by the comb;
Which, wild and erect on his forehead, are seen,
True types of the freedom that harbours within.

He spoke, but to copy his idiom and tones The muse her despair very candidly owns ;The sound was as Virgil describes of the croak Of ravens, that sit on the sinister oak,-

The language, where flourish and flimsiness join,
Resembles good English, as counters do coin.

"With ample respect for the erudite, great, "And eminent men who adorn this debate, "With deference deep and profound to the chair, "Or rather to those whom I see sitting there, "I humbly beg leave to express my surprise "On a question so plain how a doubt can arise; "And that it should not be allowed on all hands "What views and what talents the crisis demands.

"Is this a fit season our notice to draw

"To quiddits and quirks of the Old Bailey law; "The rise of a duty, the fall of a loan; "Or drunken affrays of Maccollopmahone? "When Europe (I love great examples to quote) "Is like the head dish at a Spa table d'hote; "Where men of all nations, with stomachs not nice, "Are anxious to seize the best spoonful and slice.

"When tyrants are basely colleaguing to trench "On the rights of that innocent people the French; "I gave to their efforts in Liberty's cause

"My first and shall still give my latest applause; "You all must remember my earliest work,

"To vindicate Gaul* from the slanders of BURKE; "I ventured the banners of freedom to wave

"In the face of that pensioner, bigot, and slave; "And sanguine in hope, with sublim elocution, "Applauded the march of the French Revolution; "Defended-of mortals the wisest and best"MIRABEAU, CONDORCET, PETION, and the rest,

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By whose active minds and stout hands were o'erthrown

"Of priestcraft the altars-of despots the throne"Precursors and guides in their brilliant career, "Of HEBERT, MARAT, and the great ROBES

PIERRE

* Vindicia Gallicæ, by James Mackintosh.-E.