When, the tasks of Learning ended, He my happy dwelling fought? Now the theme of "Dulce Domum*” Is the joyous fchool-boy's fong, From a hundred voices rifing Through the raptur'd, youthful throng; Spangled with the glittering froft, Which no thought or cares annoy ! Years of toil and danger come; From your loy'd and peaceful bonde! This the lot of him whofe abfence, Trembling, I am doorn3d to mourn: Life, how tranfient is thy morning, Never, never to return! Source of all its fond endearments, Guard my breath from vain al rms! Thou, through tempefts, toil, and danger, Canft reftore him to my arms! Wefterbam, Dec. 24. MR. URBAN, A W. B., LINES Occafioned by reading an Epitaph on a Phyf. Boafting that Virtue (such as may be found For me, who hope at the laft morn to rife, And meet my Saviour glorious from the fkies [creed, Who have not learn'd the philofophic That endless flumbers man's fhort life fuc ceed; [nor fpare Lay me with Chriftian duft, my friends, The folemn knell,the anthem, and the pray't, With all the holy rites ordain'd to fhew, That Faith and Hope affuage the Chriftian's woe. Ah! fhould the faithlefs herd at once con- lift, APOLOGY For the Epitaph on a Physician who was lo ried in a Wood: addressed to the Writer of the preceding Verfes, whose Orthodoxy it bad offended. Cumberland, Sept. 20. CORRESPONDENT in a provincial paper, who, from the vigour of his wing, appears to he no filing of the Mufes, having animadverted with tome feverity on an Epitaph contained in a late publication of mine, you will confer upon me a favour by inferting in your Mifcellany the following Apology, along with my Epitaph and the poetic critique of the above writer, that your reader, may form a proper judg. For there Heav'n's guardian-angels haver ment of my vindication. Yours, &c. CRITO. (By the Author of the Epitaph.) WHERE Virtue flumbers, holy is the ground, [round; tomb, And there Affection's tear bedews her When in the duft the fons of Vice are laid; turn Where ev'ning's fongfters, from the dew clad fpray, Pour a foft Requiem to departing day! With thoughts like thefe, O think not that I mean [wand'rers lean; To dafh the hopes on which earth's If on the lyre a careless hand I fling, No tones prophane shall tremble from the ftring: [breathe, Perish the verfe! though genius in it That gains, at Virtue's coft, a guilty wreath[fkies, That shakes the faith which lifts us to the When shades of deep diftrefs on earth arife[blow, When the heart feels Misfortune's ruthless Or heaves, like mine, o'er dearest friends laid low; [form When lone, and houfelefs, Age's rev'rend Receives the fhock of Winter's rudest storm. Mid' fuch fad fcenes, how dear the truths And thus in others bleffing was most bleft® But,ah! this sky ferene black clouds o'ercaft, On carth 'twas blifs too exquifite to last; For, like the cank'ring worm that steals its way Into the bud which foon becomes its prey, The miscreant Florio, fkill'd in those vile arts Which captivate and ruin female hearts, He kneels, he fobs, fucceeds; her ho ne mits; [fhame, When, void of feeling and all fenfe of Enjoyment having quench'd his guilty flame, He leaves poor Stella to her gloomy fate, To mourn his bafenefs, and her parents' hate; [his crew Then fecks his buckifb haunts, and 'midit Enjoys his favage feats, and hatches new ; While Stella, robh'd of virtue, dead to hope, Her mind a prey to Frenzy's madd'ning scope, [eyes, Surveys the mortal draught with greeting Florio forgives, the poifon drinks, and dies. Chester, Nov. 9. R. J. A JEU D'ESPRIT. [die. On a Lady's dressing in a Gentleman's Chamber.. GLASS there was which Venus gave, A Toilette Cupid made, Once, when the Mufe was Beauty's flave, And learn'd Love's idle trade. And all we know is, that we breathe and Be mine thofe fcenes where Faith and Truth unite, And Revelation fheds her facred light! Be mine those hopes that chear Misfortune's cell, [wel!! When ev'ry fummer friend has bid fareThat, with mild radiance, glitten through [years!The gather'd forrrows of twice forty And, when Death's fhades obfcure the vifual ray, the tears Pour on the eye of Faith eternal day! PROCEEDINGS IN THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SECOND PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KING DOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND', HOUSE OF COMMONS. December 8. After the private bufinefs of the day had been difcuffed, the Secretary at War, in the Committee of Supply, submitted the propofed military establishment for the enfuing year. He admitted that the estimates prefented the details of a military establishment, greater, both with respect to the number of men, and the expence that would be incurred, than any which had ever been maintained by this country in a period of Peace; but it was evident that a larger establishment was neceffary in the present poiture of affairs; for the overgrown power of France had now realifed all the dreams of Louis XIV. The Secretary then took a view of the power of France at the commencement of the prefent year, the total amount of which, it appears, was 930,000 men, from which we were compelled to keep up a much larger force than in any proceeding period of peace. He then proceeded to answer some objections which had before been made relative to our establishment, and denied that there was any danger to be apprehended, in a conftitutional view, from the intended number of the mili tary. The force intended to be kept up was then explained by the Secretary; and, from fome œconomical arrangements, it appeared that nearly 50,000 per year would be faved to the publick: he admitted that there would be some difference between the prefent statement and the Abstract given below+; but, from the particulars of his ftatement, it refulted that the whole of the expence that would be incurred for the army for the enfuing year would be, as appeared by the estimate, 5,270,000l.; and, together with fome neceffary additions, it would fall within five millions and a half : this was lefs than the expence of the prefent year by 2,070,000l. and lefs than that of the laft year of war by 10,130,000l. In short, it appeared from the remainder of the Secre tary's Aatements, that our united forte would be (ex lufive of the army in India) upwards of 2. 0,000 men: this he thought a refutation of the charges of timidity, &c. made against Minifters, and concluded with moving the first resolution. Mr. Banks made a speech of fome length, the tenour of which was, that if we were quiet and conrented at home, it was not so the litle of thele Proceedings should have been expreffed in p. 1053. + ABSTRACT OF THE ESTIMATES OF ARMY SERVICES, FOR 1803. bali half a million of men on the opposite coaft that ought to ftrike a panick amongst us. Sir E. Coote confidered the proposed force to be neceffary, from pruden ial motives. Earl Temple faid, he could not oppofe the motion, on account of the excefs of force it propofed, because he was convinced that the ruling paffion of France was to deftroy this country. But the House might be voting an immense establishment without the leaft information concerning the real nature of it; he thought it incumbent on Minifters to explain why they were now propofing this eftabilfhment when they had been following a fyftem of reduction all the fummer; he then proceeded to cenfnre the conduct of Minifters on this and other points, and concluded with obferving, that it was on the neceffity of granting great supplies, that he grounded his affent to the prefent vote. General Maitland paid fome high compliments to the Secretary at War for his judicious fpeech; thought the preparations we were making juft and neceffary, aud fuch as our ancestors would have made under fimilar circumstances. General Tarleton regarded the prefent as a vote for the fecurity of the country; and, though he had voted against the war confcientiously, he voted for the prefent eftablishment from a conviction of its neceffity. Mr. Archdale animadverted on the conduct of France, and thought, that, if we are doomed to fall after our exertions and advantages, we need not be ashamed of our deftruction. Mr. Whitbread adverted to the indecifion of Ministers; and thought that the only point with regard to France, that was worthy of our attention, was her political power; yet he did now fee how the prefent vote tended to diminish that tremendous power. He faid, he should delight to fee the government of this country placed in the hands of one of his friends, who would conduct it to the highest pitch of political happiness. The Hon. Dudley Ryder defended the conduct of Mr. Pitt, and approved of the establishment in question. Mr. Sheridan, in his usual strain of fatire, thought it incumbent on him to prove to the people that none of their members were fcrambling for power or emolument, but only differing as to the best means of providing for the fecurity of the country : in obferving on the fpeech of Mr. Banks, he felt furpifed that any man could doubt of the danger in which we are placed, who had viewed the map of Europe. I cannot (faid Mr. S) bring myself to think that the infatiable ambition of the First Conful, aiming at univerfa dominion, would very willingly leave the fraction that now belongs to England. His power and his inclination muft neceffarily be progreffive. France is by no means what it was under the fceptre of the Bourbons. They had fome regard to here ditary fucceffion, and the various relations compofed with it: but Bonaparte is under the moral and phyfical neceffity of coming to an agreement with his fubjects, that he will make them Mafters of the World, if they will but confent to be his Slaves. He proceeded to comment at length on the fpeeches of most of the members who had spoken in the prefent debate, and on those who perfevered in the war against Mr. Fox's warning voice; and concluded with declaring his opinion that this great country had no retreat in infignificance, and that, if we were reluctantly compelled into a war, we should purfue it with vigour and effect, or resolve to perish in the facred flame with glory and with honour. Mr. Canning complimented Mr. Sheridan, and passed an eulogium on Mr. Pitt. The debate continued till half past three o'clock in the morning; in the course of which, Mr. Fox (poke for two hours and a quarter, and was answered by Mr. Windbam. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in answer to fome questions put during the debate, ftared, that circumstances had arifen fince the figning of the Definitive Treaty, which tended to fupport the opinion in favour of large establishments; but that, from the flourishing state of the revenue during the two last quarters, there was every reafon to believe that the means would arife from it of defraying all expences. December 9. The Irish Militia Bill was read the third time, and paffed. Mr. Vanfittert moved for an account of money paid to the King's Household, and not provided for by Parliament. Agreed to. Mr. Alexander brought up the report from the Committee of Supply. Mr. T. Grenville recalled the attention of the House to the grounds he before fubmitted aginft voting for 50,0co Seamen ; he argued at fome length to fhew the neceffity of an explanation from Ministers, why this force was required; he next took a view of the different fpeeches made the preceding evening, entered largely into a defence of the conduct of the late Ministers, condemned Continental Alliances, and fincerely hoped that Mr. Pitt would foon be reftored to power. . Lord Hawkesbury replied to Mr. Grenville, and entered, as ufual, into a defence of the conduct of Minitters; in the courfe of his fpeech, he touched on all the points adduced by Mr. Grenville, admitted the right of Parliament to controul hins and his colleagues; and clofed with exefing the with of Minifters to fubmit to the opinion of the Houfe. Sir Francis Burdett, in delivering his opinion on the object before the House, thought we ought to abitain, as much as poffible, poffible, from all Continental Alliances; he was furprised to hear the return of Mr. Pitt wifhed for; touched on the old grounds of the neceffity of a reform in our folitary-cell fyftem; and concluded with his opinion, that the great power of France would fpeedily fall. Mr. Browne, Mr. Calcraft, and Dr. Laurence, delivered their fentiments. The Chancellor of the Exchequer obferved, that there feemed to be a fyftematic determination to impress an opinion, that Minifters had compromifed the character, and tarnished the honour, of the Country. He confidered the arguments that had been yfed, as a proof of the neceffity of the vote. Mr. Fox fpoke in refutation of the Chancellor; but regretted the aggrandifement of France After feveral other members had delivered their opinions, the report was read, and agreed to. December 10. The Houfe having refolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved for the Amount of the Produce of the Fermanent Taxes for the year 1802. He then obferved, that he had apprifed the House of his intention to move for granting 4,000,000l. on the grow ing produce of the Confolidated Fund: he did this on the probability of our being in a profperous fituation, and alfo in an embarraffed one; for, in confequence of the increafe in our revenue, there might be a larger fum in the Exchequer than that for which credit had been taken by Government; and, without permission of Parliament, this redundance could not be applied to the public fervice. Up to the 5th of April, 1803, he had taken credit for 4,500,000l. as the growing produce of the confolidated fund. On the 5th of October, it had amounted to 3,800,000 l. fo that there would be a confiderable furplus; and as the House would doubtless vote the fupplies of the year, he thought proper to lay before them the state of our finances, previous to Christmas. Before producing the Ways and Means, he adverted to the arrangements of the prefent year. A capital of 97,000,ccol. had been provided for: the Income tax was mortgaged for 56,000,000l. which together with intereft, loan, &c. amounted to the flock of 97,000,ocol. abovementioned, the intereft of which was 3,100,ocol. He now admitted the charge that had been made against him, of having laid on more taxes than were required; the flatement, however, he had formerly made had been realifed, namely, that the produce of the last year would not be short of 4,000,000l.: for the first quarter's taxes had amounted to 1,170,000l. In the course of the current year 18,000,000l.of unfunded debt had been taken out of the market by Government; and he was able to state that the grants of laft year, with the exception of the Army Extraordinaries, would be fufficient to provide for all the fervices of the year. The excess in the Army Extraordinaries would probably be more than 1,000,000l.; but he had the fatisfaction to ftate, that the whole amount of the Army Extraordinaries of the next year are not likely to be half the amount of thofe of the current year -The Navy Debt had been reduced one half, from 9,000,0cal. to 4,500,000l. The Unfunded Debt at the commencement of the laft feffion amounted to 37,377,2601. The prefent Unfunded Deht was 19,580,0col. including 4,500,000l. the amount of the Navy Debt for the year: but he was not able to state this with precifion, the Returns having been made up only to Michaelmas. Of this Unfunded Debt 15,800.000l.confitted of Exchequer Bills, but of thefe gco,cool. was provided out of the Land and Malt, and 3,00,000l. on which no interest is paid, nor are they in the mar ke, being a payment made by the Bank on account of the renewal of its Charter.-He then came to the statement of the Supply for the year, and the Ways and Means for raifing it. He took a view of the Army and Navy Elimates, from which it ap peared, that the total fum voted for the Army was 7,500,000 1.; for the Navy, confifting of 50,000 men at 71. per month, the Extraordinaries, Ship-building Charges, &c. made the fum for the enfuing year 6,669,3781. After enumerating the items he prefered the following as the whole of the fupplies: Navy, 50,000 men, at 71. per mar, 4,550,000l. Ordinary and Extraordinary, 1,218,2381. Building, &c. 901,1401.Army, 5,500,000l. Extraordinaries (in. cluding Surplus Extraordinaries 1802), 2,cc0,000l. Ordnance, 787,9471. Com Bounties, 524,5731.—Miscellaneous, England and Ireland, 1,000,000l. Irish Permanent Grants, 363,3391. To be contributed jointly between England and Ireland*, 16,845,2371. England's Separate Charges-To pay off Exchequer Bills on Aids, 1801, 2,731,000l. To pay off Exchequer Bills on Aids, 1803, (Bank), 1,500,000l. Repayment to India Company, 1,000,000l. Intereft on Exche quer Bills, Difcount, &c 6co,cool. Recuttion National Debt, ico,cool-Total Supplies, 22,826,2371. From the ftatement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it appeared that there was to be made to the East India Company a re * Two feventeenths of the above sum of 16,845,2371. are to be contributed by fre land, 1.981,792!.-Add for Ireland two feventeenths of 1,200,4011. for Civil Liit, and other Charges on the Confolidated Fund, not relating to the Publick Debt, 141,2231. On Account of Ireland, 2,123,0151. and on Account of England, 20,703,2 2 2 1. payment |