fufing their delicious Sweets through the Air. On either Side, the Boughs, rounded into a Set of regular Arches, opened a View into the diftant Fields, and prefented me with a Prospect of the bending Skies. The little Birds, all joyous and grateful for the Favours of the Light, were paying their Acknowlegements in a Tribute of Harmony, and soothing themselves to Reft with Songs. While a French-Horn, from a neighbouring Seat, fent its melodious Accents, foftned by the Length of their Paffage, to complete the Concert of the Grove.

ROVING in this moft agreeable Manner, my Thoughts were exercised on a Subject, more delightful than the Season, or the Scene. I mean, our late fignal Victory over the united Forces, of inteftine Treafon, and foreign Invafion. A Victory, which pours Joy through the present Age, and will tranfmit its Influence to Generations yet unborn. Are not all the Bleffings, which can indear Society, or render Life itself defirable, centered in our prefent happy Conftitution, and aufpicious Government? And were they not all ftruck at by that impious and horrid Blow, meditated at Rome; levelled by France; and feconded by factious Spirits at Home? Who then can be fufficiently thankful for the gracious Interpofition of Providence, which has not only averted the

impending

Impending Ruin, but turned it, with aggravated Confufion, on the Authors of our Troubles? METHINKS, every Thing valuable, which Ì poffefs, every Thing charming, which I behold, confpire to enhance this ever-memorable Event. To this it is owing, that I can ramble unmolefted along the Vale of private Life, and taste all the innocent Satisfactions of a contemplative Retirement.-Had Rebellion fucceeded in her deteftable Designs, inftead of walking with Security and Complacence in these flowery Paths, I might have met the Affaffin with his Dagger; or have been obliged to provide for my Safety, by abandoning my Habitation.-Farewel then, ye fragrant Shades; Seats of Meditation, and calm Repose! I should have been driven from your loved Retreats, to make Way for some insulting Victor. -Farewel then, ye pleafing Toils, and wholsome Amusements of my rural Hours! I should no more have reared the tender Flower to the Sun; no more have taught the Efpalier to expand her Boughs; nor have fetched, any longer, from my Kitchen-Garden, the pureft Supplies of Health.

HAD Rebellion fucceeded in her deteftable Designs, instead of being regaled with the Müfic of the Woods, I might have been alarmed with the Sound of the Trumpet, and all the Thunder of War. Inftead of being entertained with this beautiful Landschape, I might have beheld our B 2 Houfes

Houfes ranfacked, and our Villages plundered; I might have beheld our fenced Cities encompaffed with Armies, and our fruitful Fields "cloathed with Defolation;" or have been shocked with the more frightful Images of "Gar"ments rolled in Blood," and of a Ruffian's Blade reeking from a Brother's Heart. Instead of Peace, with her chearing Olives, fheltering our Abodes; instead of Justice, with her impartial Scale, fecuring our Goods; Perfecution had brandifhed her Sword, and Slavery clanked her Chains.

NOR are these Miferies imaginary only, or the Creatures of a groundless Panic. There are, in a neighbouring Kingdom, who very lately experienced them in all their Rigour *. And, if the malignant Spirit of Popery, had forced itself into our Church; if an abjured Pretender, had cut his Way to our Throne; We could have no Reason to expect a Mitigation of their Severity, on our Behalf. But, supposing the tender Mercies of a bigotted Ufurper, to have been fomewhat

See a Pamphlet intituled, Popery always the fame. Which contains a Narrative of the Perfecutions, and fevere Hardships, lately fuffered by the Proteftants, in the fouthern Parts of France; and closes with a moft feafonable, alarming, and fpirited Addrefs to the Inhabitants of England, Printed 1746. Price 8 d.

what lefs cruel; yet where, alas! would have been the Encouragement to cultivate our little Portion; or what Pleasure could arise from an improved Spot; if both the one and the other lay, every Moment, at the Mercy of lawless Power? This imbittering Circumstance would spoil their Relish; and by rendering them a precarious, would render them a joyless Acquifition. -In vain might the Vine spread her purple Clufters; in vain be lavish of her generous Juices; if Tyranny, like a ravenous Harpy, fhould be always hovering over the Bowl, and ready to fuatch it from the Lip of Industry.

LIBERTY, that dearest of Names; and Property, that beft of Charters; give an additional, an inexpreffible Charm, to every delightful Object.-See, how the declining Sun has beautified the western Clouds; has arrayed them in Crimson, and skirted them with Gold. Such a Refinement of our domeftic Bliss, is Property; fuch an Improvement of our public Privileges, is Liberty. When the Lamp of Day shall intirely withdraw his Beams, there will ftill remain the fame Collection of floating Vapours; but O! how changed, how gloomy! The Carnation blushes no more; the golden Edgings are gone; and all the lovely Tinges are loft, in a leadencoloured louring Sadnefs. Such would be the Afpect of all these Scenes of Beauty, all these B 3 Abodes

Abodes of Pleafure, if expofed continually to the Caprice of arbitrary Sway, or held in a State of abject and cringing Dependence.

THE Light of Heaven has almost finished his daily Race, and haftens to the Goal. He defcends lower and lower; till his Chariot-wheels feem to hover on the utmoft Verge of Day. And, what is fomewhat remarkable, his Orb, upon the Point of fetting, grows broader: The Shadows, juft before they are loft in undistinguished Darkness, are furprizingly lengthened *.

-Like Bleffings, little prized, while possessed: but highly esteemed, the very Instant they are preparing for their Flight; bitterly regretted, when once they are gone, and to be seen no

more.

THE radiant Globe is now half immersed beneath the dusky Earth. He is taking his Leave of our Hemisphere, and gilds the Plains with a languid Luftre.But, could I view the Sea, at this Juncture, it would yield a most amusing and curious Spectacle. The Rays, ftriking horizontally on the liquid Element, give it the Appearance of floating Glass: or, reflected in many a different Direction, form a beautiful Multiplicity of Colours.-A Stranger, as he walks along the

* Majorefque cadunt altis de Montibus Umbræ.