Make your transparent sweet-meats truly nice, Each man that pleases re-assumes his place; To grace the levee of a general's tent ; And what was earth before became a rich terrene,' Here then we quit the tempting theme, hoping that it may be resumed by abler hands, and expressing our firm belief, that until this reproach is taken away from us, we will continue to lack genius and imagination. Dr. King imitated Horace's Art of Love; and composed some small poems, one of which, Mully of Mountown, was thought to have referred to political secrets, though only written for country diversion. Mountown, a pleasant villa near Dublin, is thus apostrophized: • Mountown! thou sweet retreat from Dublin cares, Ducks in thy ponds, and chicken in thy pens, And have no thought to grieve them till they die !' Mully, the heroine, is a cow, fat, innocent, and gentle; but she has an enemy, "Robin of Derbyshire." 'He with indulgence kindly did appear 66 Mully, as sure as I'm alive, you die! 'Tis a brave cow. O, sirs, when Christmas comes, This blade shall enter deep in Mully's chine. What ribs, what rumps, what bak'd, boil'd, stew'd, and roast! When Peggy, nymph of Mountown, heard these sounds, She griev'd to hear of Mully's future wounds. "What crime," said she," has gentle Mully done? Witness the rising and the setting sun, That knows what milk she constantly would give! Let that quench Robin's rage, and Mully live." "You've spoke," says Robin; " but now let me tell ye, 'Tis not fair spoken words that fill the belly: Pudding and beef I love; and cannot stoop To recommend your bonny-clapper soup. You say she's innocent: but what of that? 'Tis more than crime sufficient that she's fat! She dies."-Stop here, my muse forbear the rest: And veil that grief which cannot be exprest!' : Although this author has never risen to excellence, he certainly preserved ease and humour. His "Orpheus and Eurydice" evinces much fancy and archness and we will conclude these remarks with a specimen of his talents at anecdote, which struck us as being amusing. 'Just as you Please; or, the Incurious. A virtuoso had a mind to see you find One that would never discontented be, Bring him to dinner." Humpus soon withdrew, Seem'd to say, "Who is't? wilt go any where ?" Thinks, "Let them take the other chairs that will ?" Dinner's brought up; the wife is bid retreat, What need's I care, there's the more for me." He does. The father asks, "What have you there? "Sir, 'twas Champagne I gave him."" Sir, indeed! Take him and scourge him till the rascal bleed; Don't spare him for his tears or age: I'll try If cat-of-nine-tails can excuse a lie." Thinks the clown, "That 'twas wine I do believe; When the desert came on, and jellies brought, Set faggots in the court. I'll make her fry; And since I find 'tis really your design, Pray let me just step home, and fetch you mine." ART. IV.-A Narrative of the Campaigns of the British Army at Washington, Baltimore, and New-Orleans, under Generals Ross, Packenham, and Lambert, in the years 1814 and 1815; with some account of the countries visited. By an Officer who served in the expedition. 8vo. pp. 431. M. Carey & Sons. Philad. 1821. THE first hundred pages of this volume, are employed in describing a part of Gascony; the march of the corps to which the writer belonged, from Bayonne to Pauliac; its embarcation there, and subsequent voyage to the United States-whither (after the peace in Europe of 1814) it was destined, to take part in the scenes which give title to the work. The first of these is the capture of Washington; and of the preliminary measures which led to this event, the author says: 'Immediately on entering the Chesapeake, we were joined by Admiral Cockburn, with three line of battle ships, several frigates, and a few sloops of war and gun brigs; by which means the squadron could now muster above twenty vessels entitled to display the pendant, besides an equal, if not greater number of victuallers and transports. Nor were we strengthened by this addition in the naval part of the expedition alone. On board of these ships was embarked a powerful reinforcement for the army, consisting of a battalion of 700 marines, 100 negroes, lately armed and disciplined, and a division of marine artillery; so that we could now calculate on landing a corps of at least 4000 men. The sight was, therefore, altogether as grand and imposing as any I ever beheld; because one could not help remembering, that this powerful fleet was sailing in an enemy's bay, and was filled with troops for the invasion of that enemy's country.' On the 18th of August, this imposing armament began to ascend the Patuxent; and in doing so, sufficiently indicated their intention of attacking a flotilla of light and small armed vessels, which lay opposite to Nottingham, under the command of Commodore Barney. Their plan of attack, as stated in the text, was, to march the army on the left bank of the river, to a position west of Nottingham, which should prevent the farther retreat of the flotilla; while the boats of the fleet approached, and assailed it directly and in front. To give execution to this plan, the troops were landed at Benedict, on the morning of the 19th of August, and with as many precautions as if Jackson had been at the head of the opposing army. From what I have stated, (says our author,) respecting the gun brig, you will perceive, that all things were in readiness to meet and repel any opposition that might have been offered. Her broadside being pointed directly towards the village, rendered it impossible for the enemy to bring down troops in that direction; and, at the same time, gave to our people an opportunity of forming, and thus being able to meet, in good order, whatever force might be posted to hinder their advance up the country. Had, indeed, a few pieces of artillery been mounted upon the high ground afterwards taken possession of by us, some execution might have been done upon the boats as they drew towards the beach: but even that would have been trifling; because, unless they bad had leisure to heat their shot, no artillery in the open country could long stand before the fire of even a gun brig, armed as this was, for the occasion, with long thirty two pounders. Each boat-load of soldiers, likewise, drew up the moment they stepped on shore, forming line without any regard to companies or battalions; whilst parties were instantly detached to reconnoitre, and to take possession of every house, as well as to line every hedge in front of the shore, where their comrades were arriving. But these preparutions, though no more than common prudence required, were unnecessary; since there was not only no opposition to the landing, but apparently no enemy within many miles of the place.'-p. 94. The march began at 4 o'clock, P. M. of the 20th; and was made with the same circumspection that marked the landing: A van guard of three companies, preceded by a double file, and flanked by detached parties, formed the front. Next to it marched the First or Light Infantry brigade, followed by the Second, and the artillery and ammunition, dragged by seamen. The Third brigade, with a rear guard, similar to that which formed the van, closed the line. Their march was necessarily a short one, (not exceeding six miles ;) for, besides that night was coming on, a greater number of soldiers,' says the historian, 'dropped from 'the ranks, and fell behind from fatigue, than I recollect to have 6 seen in any march on the Peninsula of thrice its duration.' 'The fact,' he adds, is, that the men, from having been so long cooped up in ships, and unused to carry their baggage and arms, were become relaxed and enervated to a degree altogether unnatural; and this, added to the excessive sultriness of the day, which exceeded any thing we had yet experienced, quite overpowered them.' Here, therefore, after building their fires, they laid down, and were permitted to pass the night (like the former,) wholly undisturbed, but by a thunder gust. 6 In the morning of the 21st, they moved on in good order and high spirits; and in the evening entered Nottingham,' without the slightest opposition.' It will be remembered, that this village, or its environs, was considered, at the time they began their march, as their ne plus ultra. When, therefore, they found, on their arrival, that the main object of their pursuit, [the flotilla] had Vol. III. 46 |