POETRY. SUCH an elegant, pleafing foftnefs dwells in Mifs Carter's Poems, that they cannot fail of charming the reader: The lady who wrote them feems to poffefs a fenfible, benevolent turn of mind, which is very confpicuous in the following fpecimens: то MESS BY MISS ELISA CARTER. THE midnight moon ferenely smiles O'er nature's foft repofe, No low ring cloud obfcures the fkies, Nor ruling tempeft blows. Now every paffion finks to reft, In filence hufh'd, to reason's voice Come, while this peaceful fcene invites,, Howe'er our varying notions rove, To place its being in fome ftate, O! blind to each indulgent gift Vain is alike the joy we feek, The paffions into peace. To temp'rate bounds, to few defires, Is happiness confin'd; And, deaf to folly's noife, attends O! LET me still with fimple nature live, My low field-flowers on her altar lay ; And calmly wafte my inoffenfive day. No No titl'd name, no envy-teafing dome, Thus glide the penfive moments o'er the vale, While floating fhades of dufky night defcend; Nor left untold the moral tender tale, Nor unenjoy'd the heart-enlarging friends To love and friendship flow the focial bowl, To attic wit and elegance of mind; To all the native beauties of the soul, To fimple charms of truth and fense refin❜d: Delightful hours! O thus for ever flow, Firm be my heart to Nature and to Truth, Nor vainly wander from their dictates fage ; So joy fhall triumph on the brows of youth, So Hope shall smooth the dreary paths of age. A BIRTH-DAY ODE. BY MISS CARTER. THOU Power Supreme, by whofe command I live, The grateful tribute of my praise receive; To thy indulgence I my being owe, And all the joys that from that being flow. Scarce eighteen funs have form'd the rolling years, The ftraggling parts in beauteous order join'd, Whose frame nor force nor time shall e'er destroy, To realms of blifs with active freedom foar, Thro |