REFLECTIONS

ON THE

PUBLIC SITUATION OF THE KINGDOM,

ADDRESSED то

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.

WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1745.

REFLECTIONS ON THE PUBLIC SITUATION OF THE KINGDOM.

INSCRIBED TO

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE,

H

OLLES! immortal in far more than fame!

Be thou illuftrious in far more than power.

Great things are small when greater rife to view.

Though ftation'd high, and prefs'd with public cares, Disdain not to peruse my serious fong,

Which peradventure may push by the world:
Of a few moments rob Britannia's weal,
And leave Europa's counfels lefs mature!
For thou art noble, and the theme is great.

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Nor fhall or Europe or Britannia blame Thine abfent ear, but gain by the delay. Long vers'd in fenates and in cabinets, States' intricate demands and high debates ! As thou of ufe to thofe, fo this to thee; And in a point that empire far outweighs,

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That far outweighs all Europe's thrones in one.
Let greatness prove its title to be great.

'Tis power's fupreme prerogative to stamp
On others' minds an image of its own.

Bend the strong influence of high place, to ftem
The ftream that fweeps away the country's weal;

The Stygian ftream, the torrent of our guilt.

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Far

Far as thou may'ft give life to virtue's caufe;
Let not the ties of perfonal regard

Betray the nation's truft to feeble hands :
Let not fomented flames of private pique
Prey on the vitals of the public good:
Let not our streets with blafphemies refound,
Nor lewdnefs whisper where the laws can reach :
Let not beft laws, the wifdom of our fires,
Turn fatires on their funk degenerate fons,
The bastards of their blood! and serve no point
But, with more emphasis to call them fools:
Let not our rank enormities unhinge
Britannia's welfare from divine fupport.

Such deeds the minifter, the prince, adorn;
No power is shown but in fuch deeds as these :

All, all is impotence but acting right;

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And where's the statesman but would fhew his power? To prince and people thou, of equal zeal!

Be it henceforward but thy fecond care

To grace thy country, and support the throne;
Though this fupported, that adorn'd fo well,

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A throne fuperior our first homage claims;
To Cæfar's Cæfar our first tribute due:

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A tribute which, unpaid, makes fpecious wrong
And fplendid facrilege of all befide:

Illuftrious followers; we must first be juft;

And what fo juft as awe for the Supreme?
Lefs fear we rugged ruffians of the north,
Than Virtue's well-clad rebels nearer home;
Lefs Loyola's difguis'd, all-aping fons,

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Than traitors lurking in our appetites;
Lefs all the legions Seine and Tagus fend,
Than unrein'd paffions rufhing on our peace :
Yon' favage mountaneers are tame to these.
Against thofe rioters fend forth the laws,
And break to reafon's yoke their wild careers.
Prudence for all things points the proper hour,
Though some seem more importunate and great.
Though Britain's generous views and interefts spread
Beyond the narrow circle of her fhores,

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And their grand entries make on diftant lands;
Though Britain's genius the wide wave beftrides,
And, like a vaft Coloffus, towering stands
With one foot planted on the continent;
Yet be not wholly wrapp'd in public cares,
Though fuch high cares should call as call'd of late;
The caufe of kings and emperors adjourn,

And Europe's little balance drop a while;
For greater drop it: ponder and adjust
The rival interefts and contending claims
Of life and death, of now and of for ever;
Sublimeft theme; and needful as fublime.

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Thus great Eliza's oracles renown'd,

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Thus Walfingham and Raleigh (Britain's boafts!),