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The thought was happy, pertinent, and true;
Methinks a genius might the plan purfue.
I (can you pardon my prefumption?) I—
No wit, no genius, yet for once will try.
Various the papers, various wants produce,
The wants of fashion, elegance, and use:
Men are as various; and, if right I scan,
Each fort of paper represents some man.
Pray note the FOP-half powder and half lace,
Nice as a bandbox were his dwelling place;
He's the Gilt Paper, which apart you store,
And lock from vulgar hands in the scrutoire.

MECHANICS, SERVANTS, FARMERS, and fo forth,
Are Copy Paper of inferior worth;

Lefs priz'd, more useful, for your desk decreed,
Free to all pens, and prompt at every need.

The wretch whom AV'RICE bids to pinch and fpare,
Starve, cheat, and pilfer, to enrich an heir,
Is Coarfe Brown Paper, fuch as pedlars choose
To wrap up wares which better men will use.
Take next the MISER'S contraft, who deftroys
Health, fame, and fortune, in a round of joys.
Will any paper match him? Yes, throughout,
He's a true Sinking Paper, past all doubt.

The retail POLITICIAN's anxious thought
Deems this fide always right, and that ftark nought;
He foams with cenfure, with applause he raves-
A dupe to rumours, and a tool of knaves;
He'll want no type his weakness to proclaim,
While fuch a thing as Foolfcap has a name.

The hafty GENTLEMAN, whofe blood runs high,
Who picks a quarrel, if you ftep awry;
Who can't a jeft, a hint, a look endure;
What is he? Why, Touch-paper, to be sure.

What are our POETS, take them as they fall,
Good, bad, rich, poor, much read, not read at all?
Them and their works, in the fame clafs you'll find,
They are the mere Wafte Paper of mankind.

Obferve the MAIDEN, innocently sweet;
She's fair White Paper, an unfully'd sheet,
On which the happy man, whom fate ordains,
May write his name, and take her for his pains.

One inftance more, and only one I'll bring;*
'Tis the GREAT MAN, who fcorns a little thing;
Whose thoughts, whose deeds, whose maxims are his own,
Form'd on the feelings of his heart alone:

True genuine Royal Paper is his breast,
Of all the kinds most precious, pureft, best.

THE SEA SIDE SONNET.

BY MR. PRATT.

On the brink of the beach, as I filently roam'd,

My forrows I mark'd on the wave-foften'd fand;

Loud blew the wild winds, and the white billows foam'd,
And threw the falt fleeces of furf on the ftrand.

Faft flow'd in the tide, yet regardless I ftood,
And felt the white billows advance to my feet;
The fand-marks of forrow were loft in the flood,
And the spray of the ftorm on my bare bofom beat.

In the ftory of woe not a thought could I trace,
Not the wreck of a word, and I faid to the sea,
"Ah, if thus you the ftory of woe can efface,
"Your bounty might sure be extended to me.

"If e'er I remain on thy billow-beat fhore,

"No friend near at hand, in falfe pity to fave, "My woes, like their story, would quickly be o'er, "And both owe to thee, foaming Ocean, a grave."

The billows roll'd on, when fomething within,
More ftrong than the Ocean, thus feem'd to reply,
"Man no murder fhall do; e'en in forrow 'tis fin;"
I felt the command, and obey'd with a figh.

TR

THE NEGRO.

BY MISS HOLCROFT.

(The Lines in Italics excepted.)

TRANSPIERC'D with many a ftreaming wound,
The Negro lay, invoking death:

His blood o'erflow'd the reeking ground

He, gafping, drew his languid breath.

His fable cheek was ghaftly, cold;

Convulfive groans their prifon broke: His eyes in fearful horror roll'd,

While thus the wretch his anguish spoke :
"Accurfed be the Chriftian race;
Infatiate is their iron foul:

To hunt our fons-their fav'rite chace-
They goad and lash without controul.
"Torn from our frantic mother's breast,
We bear our tyrant's galling chains;
Deny'd e'en death, that lulls to rest
The keeneft woe, and fierceft pains..

"From fun to fun the Negro toils;
No fmiles approve his trufty care;
And, when th' indignant mind recoils,
His doom is whips, and black despair.

"Yet, Chriftians teach faith, hope, and love:
Their God of mercy oft implore;

But can barbarians mercy prove,

Or a benignant God adore?

"Hear then my groans, oh, Christian God!
Thy curfes hurl-but no! forbear.
Let Chriftians wield Oppreffion's rod,
Spread hatred, woe, and wild defpair :

"While I a nobler courfe purfue,

Yes, let me die as I would live! Yes, let me teach this Chriftian crew, The dying Negro can forgive.

"And if, indeed, that pow'r be thine, O Chriftian God! in mercy move

Thy people's hearts, by pow'r divine,
To juftice, gentleness, and love."

The fuff'rer ceas'd, death chill'd his veins;
His mangled limbs grew fliff and cold;
Yet whips nor racks inflict the pains
Men feel who barter Man for Gold.

ON A FRIEND REFUSING TO SIGN

The Petition concerning the Slave Trade,
Because it was thought a Party Matter.

SPIRIT

BY S. W. RYLEY.

RIT of party! baneful Demon, ceafeFoe to all public, and domeftic peace: Let partial prejudice a while be mute, That foft humanity may gain her suit: She fues-Oh, do not let her fue in vainShe fues for mortals, languifhing in pain Ah! let not then our fecret feuds prevent This heav'nly cause, this merciful intent. What if, my friend, we fometimes difagree About the ins, and outs, of Ministry, Or partial, each in critic judgment fit, On Fox or Sheridan, on Burke or Pitt; Yet in this one great point we all agree— There's no excufe for wanton cruelty. Then if our mutual endeavours join'd Can ease this wretched part of human kind, Let's freely do the little that we can, To ftop a traffic-the difgrace of Man: A bleffing then fhall their endeavours wait, Who ftrive a Brother's pain to mitigate.

PRICE ONE PENNY

THE BRITISH

POETICAL MISCELLANY.

A

THE ADVENTURES OF

YOUNG WHIPSTITCH.

A TALE.

London Taylor (as 'tis said,)

By buckram, canvas, tape, and thread,
Sleeve linings, pockets, filk, and twist,
And all the long expenfive lift,

With which their uncouth bills abound,
Though rarely in the garment found;
By thefe and other arts in trade,
Had foon a pretty fortune made;
And did what few had ever done,
Left thirty thousand to his son.

}

The fon, a gay young fwagg'ring blade,
Abhorr'd the very name of trade,
And left reflection fhould be thrown
On him, refolv'd to leave the town,
And travel where he was not known.
In gilded coach and liv'ries gay,
To Oxford firft he took his way;
There beaux and belles his tafte admire,
His equipage and rich attire;
But nothing was so much ador'd
As his fine filver hilted fword;

Though fhort and fmall, 'twas vaflly neat,
The fight was deem'd a perfect treat.
Beau Banter begg'd to have a look,
But when the fword in hand he took,

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