The General . 
 A. Poem 
 
 By 
 Francis Gentleman
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES

 
 THE 
 
 GENERAL. 
 
 [Price Half a Crown.]
 
 Speedily will be published) 
 
 The SECOND VOLUME of 
 
 A TRIP to the MOON
 
 THE 
 
 GENERAL. 
 
 POEM. 
 
 Refpe&fully infcribed to the Right Honourable the 
 
 Marquis of G R A N B Y. 
 
 By the AUTHOR of 
 
 A TRIP to the MOON. 
 
 nequeo monflrare^ et fentio tantum. Juv. 
 'Tis what I feel, yet ftrive in vain to fliow. 
 
 /w-Cul 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for W. NICOLL, and W. BRISTOW, in St. Paul's Church-Tard> 
 and C. ETHERINGTON, in Tork. 
 
 MDCCLXIV.
 
 
 
 THE 
 
 E N E R A L. 
 
 
 
 IMMORTAL Shade! of each immortal Name ! 
 That fhines recorded in the Lifts of Fame ; 
 Not thofe who from hereditary Light, 
 e With the falfe Glare of borrow'd Beams are bright; 
 But fuch as Merit with rich Blood combine, 
 
 o 
 
 Reflecting Honour on a Noble Line ; 
 That like the Phcenix^ with peculiar Grace, 
 Unftain'd preferve the Beauties of their Race. 
 
 Ilf the frail Buftle of this tranfient State 
 With immaterial Spirits can have Weight, 
 - . i ,' * 
 
 rr ^From thofe &theHal Manflons where you reft, 
 Star-crown'd, in Pomp of virtuous Glory bleft, 
 
 B Propitious 
 
 354714
 
 2 THE- 'GENERAL. 
 
 Propitious come an honeft Mufe infpire 
 Nerve her weak Wing lend your heroic Fire- 
 With your undaunted Ardour lead her on, 
 And teach her, Eagle-like^ to view the Sun : 
 None but the Bird of JOVE fhould tempt a Flight, 
 That rufhes on a Bla^g of ^loudlefs Light. 
 
 Firft, JUSTICE come with thy impartial Scale 3 
 Left 'Prejudice or Infreft Ihould prevail ; 
 Take frorrr RvfieEttbrtvfi^ Power tif Thotrgfit, 
 Ere that a fingle Compliment be bought ; 
 Shield Rea/oris Eye with thy protecting Hand, 
 From the dread Influence of PACTOLIAN Sand; 
 Whichy fcatter'd by Corruption-^ fhe flies, 
 Pretending Patriots choaks or dims their Eyes; 
 Corruption^ who, -as MIDAS -could of old, 
 With magic Touch turns any Thing to Gold, 
 Locks up the Senfes, or inverts their Power, 
 Melting the hardeft Heart with DANAE'S ShowV. 
 Nor yet let : pois'nous : Rage her Venom fpit^ 
 Satire run mad is the Buffoon of Wit ; 
 From whofe foul Mouth no Gharader's fecure. 
 That lays the Baftard Vice at any Door; 
 
 That
 
 THE GENER A L. 3 
 
 That prays or curfes, wheedles or knocks down, 
 Urg'd by that powerful Motive Half a Crown. 
 
 Wither fuch Bays if any Bays can rife 
 Beneath the Influence of fuch churlifli Skies ; 
 Where no mild Gleams of Summer cheer the Plain, 
 But Storms. and everlafting Winter reign; 
 Bays which, like Nightjhade^ fcatter Poifon round, 
 InfecT: the circling Air profane the Ground; 
 Call forth Deftru&ion from her dark Abodes, 
 And with fell Venom fwell ten thousand Toads. 
 
 Honeft iliay CHURCHILL be, for ought I know, 
 Some Lines depict him, and I wifh him fo : 
 Let him enjoy his Profit and his Praife, 
 In thefe fo politic and gen'rous Days ; 
 Let him fuccefsfully purfue his Plan, 
 And prey upon the terid'reft Part of Man ; 
 BlufhJefs, remorfelefs, and without Control, 
 Plunder th\ immediate Jewel of the Soul ; 
 Let him, Humanity thrown quite afide, 
 Indulge his Spleen, his Int'reft, or his Pride ; 
 Let him in Scandal wade thro' Thick and Thin, 
 To praife each Out and cenfure ev'ry In : 
 
 Let
 
 4 THE GENERAL. 
 
 Let him, to pleafe a Crowd of Knaves and Fools, 
 
 Paint MONARCHS, or their MINISTERS, as Tools: 
 
 Let him, ftill more to proftitute the MUSE, 
 
 A neighboring Nation by the Lump abufe : 
 
 Let him, in boundlefs Rage, pronounce the Lot 
 
 Of blackeft Infamy to ev'ry SCOT : 
 
 Let him, like Humankind's imperial * Foe, 
 
 Wifli to behead them at a tingle Blow : 
 
 Let him, if not content to rail at home, 
 
 O ? er the fubmiilive World's wide Limits roam ; 
 
 Fit to engage a fingle Foe or Hoft, 
 
 Ready to fight a NABOB or a Ghoft : 
 
 From Clime to Clime Malevolence transfer, 
 
 Diftinguifh'd Nature s Executioner. 
 
 All this, as gracious Heavn in Mercy fends 
 
 Plagues to perplex us for peculiar Ends, 
 
 With Patience will we bear but let him paule 
 
 Nor longer dare, in raging Party 's Caufe, 
 
 (Party, of whom it may be juftly faid, 
 
 Behold a Monfter ! without Heart or Head, 
 
 By Madnefs, Av'rice, Pride, and Jealoufy, 
 
 Ingender'd on the Snake-lock'd Sifters three, 
 
 While Tyrant Satire waves her bloody Rod) 
 
 So oft to trifle with an awful GOD. 
 
 * Caligula.. That
 
 THE GENERAL. 
 
 That GOD whofe Service to become a 
 The Rev rend BARD moft pioufly hath, quit; 
 And why ? Becaufe Oh Reafon moft divine- 
 His narrow Income could not purchafe Wine. 
 That GOD, who, were he cruel to this Earth* 
 As Men to Men for Profit are or Mirth, 
 With fportive Thunder would confound the whole,, 
 Nor fpare e'en mighty CHURCHILL'S Patriot SouL 
 
 Think not, miftaken Bard, I am thy Foe, 
 I neither know thee, nor can wilh to know : 
 Reflected in thy Works thy Mind I view, 
 And grieve to find it of a Sable Hue : 
 Strong Beams of Genius gild the STYGIAN Gloom, 
 And fancy Webs there in her fineft Loom ; 
 Exprejfion well arrays her verbal Band, 
 And Judgment leads them with a Matter Hand; 
 While jANUs-fronted Int'reft flily waves 
 A flaming Banner to all Party Slaves ; 
 Whofe gaudy Hieroglyphics catch the Eye, 
 A poor fantaftic Shade of Liberty. 
 This Patch- work Medley, blending Right and Wrong, 
 An impious, moral, foothing, fneering Song, 
 
 C That
 
 6 THE GENERA L, 
 
 That {hows the tortur'd Mufs in various State, 
 Now bred at Court, jiow'frefli from Eillingfgat^ 
 May cheat the Senfible, or charm the Rude, 
 May fteal or thunder through the Multitude. 
 
 For my poor Part, by various Paflions wrought,, 
 I praife the Numbers while I damn the Thought ; 
 I weep to fee fuch Flights of Golden Darts,, 
 With deadly Poifon tipp'd, to rankle Hearts ; 
 And, while the lovely Snake-like Verfe I fcan,. 
 Praife crowns the Bard while Cenfure marks the Ma 
 
 What has provok'd this unknown Scribe, you'll 
 This feeble, namelefs Mufhroom of a Day; 
 This unfledg'd Rhimer to attempt a Flight, 
 When fuch a Falcon Mufe appears in Sight ? 
 What could induce the unimpailion'd Elf r 
 Who wishes me unfeeling as.himfelf ; 
 What Motives have arous'd the flumb'ring Drone,, 
 Thus to affault me on Satiric Throne ? 
 ME ! ME ! a Monofyllable of Weight, 
 To give a thoufand grov'ling Reptiles Fate ; 
 Can fuch a lifelefs and infipid Thing 
 E'er hope to pierce me with his feeble Sting? 
 
 As
 
 THE" GENERAL, 7 
 
 As well a Bee, that hunts the flow'ry Field, 
 
 Might ftrive to wound thro' AJAX' feven-fold Shield: 
 
 Mankind muft ridicule fo dull an Ass, 
 
 Who breaks his Hoof againft a Front of Brafs. 
 
 Some Water-drinking Sprite for gen'rous Wine 
 Would make a native Blockhead brighter fliine : 
 Wine which he fneers at in his tart Reproof, 
 As turning poor Divinity aloof : 
 With my own Weapons dares my pond'rous Rage, 
 A DAVII> to GOLIAH on the Stage^ 
 
 Well haft thou pi&ur'd my unequal Force, 
 But think that DAVID check'd the GIANT'S Courfe; 
 I own thee Proof 'gainft all Attacks of Shame, 
 Plung'd over Head and Ears in SHANNON'S * Stream ; 
 But hajft thou too with great ACHILLES try'd 
 The mighty Pow'r of STYX'S awful Tide? 
 Is there no Spot wherein to make thee feel? 
 Y.es, CONSCIENCE will convert thee all to Heel. 
 
 To pleafe no Patron^ nor to grafp at Pelf y . 
 Slave to no Party' I oppofe myfelf : 
 
 Free 
 
 * A River in Ireland) whofe Water is faid to blefs thofe dipp'd in it with invincible Atfurance.
 
 8 THE GENERAL. 
 
 Free by my Birth, ftill freer by my Heart, 
 
 Of injur'd Humankind I take the Part; 
 
 Boldly I ftand 'gainft Paffions dang'rous Sway, 
 
 And with cool Wifdftrit'&x, the Middle Way; 
 
 Yet not fo cold, but, for my Country's Good, 
 
 In Danger's Onfet I could fpill my Blood ; 
 
 Give freely my poor All to aid her Caufe, 
 
 To guard her KING, and, guarding him, her LAWS. 
 
 With Generality and Friendfhip fir'd, 
 Why may not bounteous TEMPLE be admir'd? 
 TEMPLE ! whofe Principles refleded fliow 
 The Richnefs, Tafte, and Elegance of STOWE. 
 Tho' difF'ring Statefmen may explode his Aim, 
 Why may not DEVONSHIRE true Glory claim? 
 Whofe fteady Temper, and whofe honeft Heart, 
 Are nobly form'd to ad a Patriot Part. 
 May we not fafely honour and commend 
 In ROCKINGHAM a BRUNSWICK'S faithful Friend? 
 WE NT WORTH ! whofe Virtues ad without Controul, 
 Not more a Lord in Title than in Soul : 
 WENTWORTH! whofe Noble Deeds his Mind approve; 
 WENTWORTH ! whom Men and Liberty muft Love. 
 
 Of
 
 THE GENERAL. 9 
 
 Of filver-hair'd NEWCASTLE kindly fing, 
 A well-defigning Servant of his KING, 
 Tho' now, perhaps, o'erpowYd with num'rous Years, 
 Unfit to bear a Nation's cumb'rous Cares. 
 
 Hating, like SWIFT, a BISHOP for his Place, 
 Can we no Beauties in a DRUMMOND trace? 
 Shall modeft Truth reftrain her honeft Tongue, 
 And leave him in the undiftinguifh'd Throng ? 
 A Prelate by his Virtues dignify'd, 
 Juft without Rigour, awful without Pride 5 
 Pious without enthufiaftic Flame, 
 All that fheds Luftre on a facred Name, 
 Shines Rev'rend YORK compleat in ev'ry Senfe, 
 Religions Pride, and Boaft of Eloquence. 
 
 Why fhould we fear to fpeak a SAVILE'S * Praife, 
 Whofe Merits would adorn the richeft Lays ? 
 SAVILE! whom Wifdom views with doating Eye, 
 Patron of calm and decent Liberty : 
 SAVILE! to Public Good alone inclin'd, 
 
 The Friend of Britain, and of Humankind. 
 
 t 
 Would it feem Treafon, or a Lack of Wit, 
 
 To hail an able -Minifter in PITT ? 
 
 * Sir GEORGE, D To
 
 to THE- GENERAL. 
 
 To fay his Counfels gave a Nation Weight, 
 The Thunderbolt of Eloquence and State ? 
 Reafon cries no, Intention is the Bafe 
 On which the Pile of Praife or Shame we place. 
 Should we reverfe the Medal, and portray 
 Thofe who prevail in Minifterial Sway, 
 Fit to fupply with Grace their arduous Parts, 
 PofTefs'd of filming Talents, upright Hearts, 
 Would REASON and BRITANNIA cry out Shame, 
 Branding our Numbers with a venal Name ? 
 Let us hope not the Number is but fmall 
 That Councils guide, and cannot take in all : 
 This we may lay beyond the Reach of Doubt, 
 Some Hone/} and fome Able muft be out ; 
 Thence can we not infer, devoid of Sin, 
 None Honeft or none Able that are in. 
 
 As does Religion^ Politics afford 
 More than one Way to ferve the Sov reign Lord$ 
 Poor is that Soul, in its own Notions bleft, 
 That, chufing one ftrait Path, damns all the reft; 
 As by unerring Wifdom we are taught 
 That the moft Perfect are not without Fault : 
 A noble Emulation may divide, 
 And Honefy be found on ev'ry Side. 
 
 Shame
 
 THE GENERAL, n 
 
 Shame to black Scandal^ or foul-facd Reproach^ 
 Caft at a Man on Foot, or in a Coach ; 
 The fpatt'ring Bard, whatever his Pretence, 
 Is but a filthy Scavenger of Senfe : 
 Great Minds with Pleafure Emulation feel, 
 But meagre Envy trips at Virtue's Heel. 
 
 Let us corred, but not with Whips of Steel, ' 
 
 Feathers more winningly inftrucl: to feel ; 
 One Tickling leads to each defective Part, 
 The other, fluicing Blood, benumbs the Heart* 
 
 Oh may the Mufe, debauch'd, ne'er prove fo loofe 
 To- (lain herfelf with general Abufe ; 
 Impartial, may fhe be in Honour bold, 
 Nor praife, nor cenfure, at the Chink of Gold. 
 
 Here, for myfelf, I boldly muft declare 
 Againft Ill-nature everlafting War : 
 Whether in Eufy Bodies whifp'ring Tales 
 The carping, mean, illiberal Fiend prevails ; 
 Whether in Friendfhip's fair Pretences drefs'd, 
 She deeply wounds the unfufpeding Breaft, 
 
 Locks 

 
 12 THE GENERAL, 
 
 Locks up from Poverty a fruitlefs Store 
 
 Of Triumphs in a ruthlefs Creditor; 
 
 Whether, a venal Weathercock of Time, 
 
 She fpits her Venom or in Profe or Rhime, 
 
 From me the Serpent never ihall efcape, 
 
 Tho', PROTEus-like, flie hourly change her Shape, 
 
 If to immortal FAME fhe points the Way, 
 
 And he alone may mine with Speed decay. 
 
 May it go with me to the peaceful Grave, 
 
 My Tomb declaring to each Fool and Knave, 
 
 That Views of Profit, : Pomp., or Praife of Men, 
 
 Could never warp my Heart, nor gall my Pen. 
 
 Yet wherefore fhould I fondly fpeak of FAME, 
 Can Lays fo humble hope a lafting Name ? 
 To Pafiry-Cooks and Trunk-Makers a Prey, 
 My Works will feel precipitate Decay ; 
 While mighty CHURCHILL'S ftand erect on high, 
 FAME'S dreadful Gibbet to Futurity. 
 
 Is there no honeft Path to lengthen Life? 
 Muft a fequefter'd Mufe engage in Strife ? 
 Muft fhe caft off the Coynefs of a Maid, 
 Or fafter than a Nine-days Wonder fade? 
 
 Methinks
 
 THE GENERAL. 13 
 
 Methinks I hear the Voice of FAME reply, 
 
 Hold, IVe a darling Object in my Eye ; 
 
 Let wing'd Imagination deck her Plumes, 
 
 And Virtue facrifice her beft Perfumes, 
 
 Let Honour, Conqueft^ Freedom^ all combine 
 
 To nerve each Thought, .and animate each Line; 
 
 A noble Theme fhali dignify thy Lays, 
 
 And the World gladly hang on GRANBY's Praife. 
 
 Thus, Wren-like, couch'd beneath the Eagles Wing, 
 
 Tower thou may'ft aloft, and fafely fing ; 
 
 While far more tuneful Songfters in their Flight, 
 
 Wanting fuch Aid, ihall fink in endlefs Night. 
 
 Proud of the Tafk, unequal to its Weight, 
 With glad Submiffion I attend my Fate. 
 
 Dread War 1 enthron'd upon thy fanguine Shrine, 
 No Touch of foft Humanity is thine : 
 On a rude Rock, amidft a dreary Wafte, 
 Is thy unhofpitable Temple plac'd; 
 Sprung from the impious Bones of murd'rous CAIN, 
 Gorged with the Carcafles of Millions flain, 
 Thy Temple ', Defolation's Magazine, 
 An awful ! favage ! and terrific Scene ! 
 
 E Behold
 
 i 4 THE GENERAL. 
 
 Behold Ambition ftretching blood-ftain'd Hands, 
 Impatient at the rav'ning Portal ftands; 
 In vain the Widow s Cries, the Orphans Tzars, 
 Or Nature & Groans,, affault thy callous Ears. 
 Deaf as the Raging of a boundlefs Wind,, 
 That only proftrate Ruin leaves behind; 
 Parent of Horrors ! which ftill mark thy Way, 
 Hateful and fick'ning to the Eye of Day : 
 Fit only, like fell Monfters of the Wood, 
 To haunt in Deferts, and there proul for Blood r 
 Lion of Kings ! let loofe at their Command, 
 To ftalk tremendous o'er each ravag'd Land* 
 
 Death, grimly frowning in nodturnal State, 
 Lowrs on thy-Brow ? Prime Minifler of Fate : 
 Whether thou bidft him rufh in liquid Streams, 
 (Dire Emblems of the Light'ning's fulph'rous Gleams) 
 Or wing'ft him : in the Steers Eye-piercing Flafli, 
 When trufty Blades in hardy Combat clafli; 
 Whether he points the bearded Jav'lin's 'Blow, 
 Or iflues from the Poifon-teeming Bow ; 
 Whether, in artificial Earthquakes borne, 
 While Rocks lament their flinty Entrails torn, 
 He burfts embattled Multitudes on high, 
 
 Piercing,
 
 THE GENERAL. 15 
 
 Piercing, with horrid Roar, the trembling Sky: 
 Whether, thro' mean Blockade and Famine's Sting, 
 The Brave are conquered by this flejhlefs King^ 
 Th' infatiate Monfter ftill obeys thy Call, 
 And, {weeping off Diftinction, levels all : 
 Teaching this Leflbn to o'er-fwelling Pride, 
 That Duft and Humankind are near ally'd* 
 
 What ! fays the Mifer, gloting on his Pelf, 
 The fhining Idol ! more than fecond Self, 
 Won't all my Store, my coimtlefs Thoufands, fave 
 From the cold Comforts of the icy Grave ? 
 Shall pennylefs Companions fhare the Ground 
 Where I am laid, with equal Honour crown'd? 
 
 HJ&^JBlf'^O 
 
 How! cries the Hypocrite, with Saint-like Show, 
 Can't my Devotion check this mortal Foe? 
 Can't .all the Splendor, of ^my fparkling Eyes 
 Difarm his Cruelty, the Belle replies ? 
 
 . aj fcbnsl 
 
 The Skeleton retorts, with hollow Tone, 
 Gold, Pow'r,- jatfd Beauty .bend before my Thfone: 
 One only Method can fubdue my State, 
 Be truly good, and Tm no longer great. 
 
 Second
 
 16 THE GENERAL. 
 
 Second in Pow'r Captivity appears, 
 Circled with galling Chains and chilling Fears ; 
 More dreadful and more tort'rous to the Brave, 
 Than all the folemn Terrors of the Grave, 
 Sable Affliction's moft affecting Goad ! 
 Painful Exiftence, Mifery's Abode! 
 Bane to each focial Feeling of the Heart, 
 PROMETHEAN VULTURE to each vital Part! 
 Whether we view thee in the funlefs Caves, 
 Where fell Inquifitors immure their Slaves ; 
 Wolves of Religion^ crown'd with hellifti Flames, 
 Whom bleeding Pity, fill'd with Horror, names : 
 Whether we find thee at the laboring Oar, 
 (Sad Monuments of arbitrary Pow'r) 
 Or trace thee to SIBERIA'S dreary Plains, 
 Where painful Solitude with Exile reigns; 
 Exhauftlefs Fountain of corroding Care, 
 Thee next in Pow'r we find to Death and 
 
 Friends to the dreadful, the united Three, 
 Foes to calm Peace and fmiling Liberty p , 
 Behold afpiring GAULS, in dark Debate, 
 Framing DAEDALIAN Labyrinths of State: 
 
 Fabrics
 
 THE GENERAL. 17 
 
 Fabrics moft fair, and grateful to the View, 
 Enter not, Honefty, without a Clue. 
 
 There vainly Oaths and Treaties plead their Caufe, 
 The Faith of Nations, and their mutual Laws : 
 Gewgaws of Confcience, Rattles of the Brain, 
 Mere Speculation, delicate and vain. 
 Far other Motives GALLIC Bofoms move, 
 Than the ^therial Sparks of Patriot Love ; 
 A lawlefs Thirft of Univerfal Pow'r, 
 Still makes them wifli, and ready to devour ; 
 Nor heed the Means, how bloody or how dark, 
 So Laurels fpring to deck their Grand Monarque* 
 
 Their Principles and Manners brought to View, 
 Behold a fkipping, fawning, faithlefs Crew ; 
 A Mafquerade^ where Characters are fhown 
 In ev'ry outfide Likenefs but their own : 
 A Tribe of Mimes, with Feathers trimm'd, and Lace, 
 Made up of Dancing, Chatter, and Grimace j 
 As Parrots talkative, as Peacocks vain, 
 Deceit and Folly 's motley-colour'd Train : 
 Such fhines the fad Majority of FRANCE, 
 Where Virtues all compriz'd in Complaifance. 
 
 Can
 
 18 THE GENERAL. 
 
 Can it be ftrange that fuch a Contraft fhould 
 Still thirft for BRITISH Wealth and BRITISH Blood? 
 That, Slaves themfelves, they, with malignant Eye, 
 Behold and languim for our Liberty? 
 That, like th' arch Fiend, to work their fubtle Ends, 
 They wim to ftab us in the Shape of Friends ; 
 Since well they know, when open Force prevails, 
 Their Levity muft kick up in the Scales. 
 
 Reafon might well expect all this, and more, 
 As the fure Product of their Serpent Shore: 
 But for th' Imperial Eagle y brave and rude, 
 To ftain her Glory with Ingratitude, 
 To aim Annoyance at the friendly KING, 
 Who had fo lately plum'd her drooping Wing, 
 Staggers Credulity, bids Honour hafte, 
 And hide his Blulhes in fome dreary Wafte ; 
 Since, in the Face of wond'ring Heav'n and Men, 
 THERESA GEORGE forgot, and DETTINGEN. 
 
 When lawlefs Depredations fpread Alarms, 
 Which BRITAIN forc'd unwillingly to Arms: 
 When Forts were rais'd in unfufpeding Climes, 
 And harmlefs Villagers, in peaceful Times, 
 
 Like
 
 T H E G EN E R A L. 19 
 
 Like Sheep were fcatter'd o'er a barren Plain, 
 
 Or by the Tribe of fcalping Butchers flain : 
 
 While Wives (dead Hufbands welt' ring in their View) 
 
 Firft ferv'd the Luft of the rapacious Crew ; 
 
 Then gladly facrific'd their final Breath, 
 
 So to efcape fuch Minifters of Death ; 
 
 Who, pra&is'd in the favage, flaught'ring Trade, 
 
 In Cruelties refin'd their Art difplay'd. 
 
 When leagu'd with Savages, more virtuous far 
 
 Than thofe who plung'd them in the Gulph of War, 
 
 FRANCE rang'd in Blood whole Provinces along, 
 
 Horrid to tell as mercilefs as ftrong; 
 
 Taught Ruin thro' our Colonies to roam, 
 
 She treated us with Blandishments at home 3 
 
 So Steel-ribb'd Dames, * with moft alluring Grace, 
 
 Smile Men to- Death, and kill with an, Embrace. 
 
 While her back Settlements defencelefs lay, 
 
 To uncheck'd Conquerors an eafy Prey, 
 
 AMERICA, neglected, wept in Blood, 
 
 None the Moft Cbriftian- Maflacre withftood. 
 
 Strange 
 
 * This Diftich alludes to the Mode of Punifhment in fome Countries, where an fron Machine 
 is drefs'd up in the Form of a beautiful Woman with ftretch'd out Arras, within whofe Reach 
 the Criminal being placed, he is immediately crufh'd to Death.
 
 2 a THE GENERAL. 
 
 Strange to be told, yet not more ftrange than right, 
 Maternal ENGLAND, tho' {he mourn'd the Sight, 
 Lay totally unnerv'd, and flumber'd on, 
 Till Danger proudly dar'd her native Throne: 
 Till flufh'd Monf^eurs with Thoufands lin'd each Coaft, 
 Invafion, with refiftlefs Pow'r, their Boaft ; 
 And, may it not be told an After- Age, 
 May fuch a Blot ne'er ftain hiftoric Page, 
 So much alarm'd the Guardians of our State, 
 That Foreign Aid was call'd to baffle Fate. 
 Oh dark Remembrance! future Glory's Foil- 
 Brighter to {how our Ocean-bounded IJle. 
 The Sons of HESSE and HANOVER, tho' brave, 
 Could never BRITAIN'S tott'ring Freedom fave; 
 On our own Heroes muft our State rely, 
 Who live to guard it, or to fail and die. 
 
 Some Armaments indeed, of gallant Show, 
 Were order'd forth, to flop th' afpiring Foe ; 
 Some North^ fome South ^ fome Eaft, fome Weft were fail'd, 
 To what Effect ? each Expedition fail'd : 
 111 plann'd, or fpiritlefs, each warlike Scheme 
 Melted like Vapour, vanifh'd like a Dream ; 
 
 Which
 
 THE GENERAL. 21 
 
 Which racks, to no Effect, the tortur'd Mind, 
 And, like the Mountain lab'ring, leaves a Moufe behind. 
 
 At length the Lion^ roaring from his Den, 
 Breath'd his rough Roar, fo horrible to Men ; 
 Rais'd his huge Mane, emblaz'd his glaring Eye, 
 Wav'd his fell Tail, and foam'd for Liberty : 
 With Fangs and Claws in terrible Array, 
 O'er trembling Nations took his lordly Way, 
 To fcourge, with Sov'reign Rage, each Subject Beaft 
 
 of Prey. 
 
 To (how at large, and regularly trace, 
 The Flight of Fire-ey'd War from Place to Place, 
 Light by the Beams of his all-flaming Robe, 
 To traverfe the four Quarters of the Globe ; 
 To paint each Action, or to praife the Brave, 
 That conqu'ring fought on ev'ry Plain or Wave ; 
 Thro' each Campaign fucceflively to run, 
 Would want the Force and Fire of ADDIS ON: 
 Let me, content with more contracted View, 
 A. Jingle COMET'S lucid Path purfue; 
 To fhow each Article in Order fet, 
 Would make this Piece a verfify'd Gazette : 
 
 G Rough
 
 22 THE GENERAL. 
 
 Rough GERMAN Names would jar in ev'ry Line, 
 Wound each nice Ear, and clog my whole Defign ; 
 I aim not therefore at minuter Rays, 
 But ftrive to give the whole collected Blaze ; 
 Whence my dull clay-form' d Image to infpire, 
 PRQMETHEus-like, I'll fteal celeftial Fire. 
 
 Come MINDEN ! made immortal by the Day, 
 When pride-fwelFd GALLI A'S num'rous Hoft gave Way: 
 Thou glorious blood-ftain'd Theatre of FAME, 
 Which future Ages {hall with Tranfport name, 
 With thee the ^Era of our Glory fix, 
 And wond'ring hail the conquering Number Six : 
 Battalions six I which, firm as ATLAS, flood 
 Againft the thund'ring Rage of War's tremendous 
 
 Flood, 
 
 Which durft the fierceft Shock of Fate abide, 
 Breaft cumb'rous Waves, repel the rapid Tide, 
 And fmile to fee its Foam burft vain on ev'ry Side. 
 
 Eager to make the glorious Work complete, 
 Burning to catch the fav'ring Smiles of Fate, 
 Leading our Squadrons with impatient Fire, 
 With all the Spirit Glory could infpire, 
 
 With
 
 THE GENERAL, 23 
 
 With all the Zeal which Patriot Bofoms know, 
 
 Who fee, and wifh to rufh upon the Foe, 
 
 Brave GRANBY charged defpifing languid Rules, 
 
 Wars Pedantry that genuine Ardor cools : 
 
 By flow Precision into Practice brought, 
 
 That knows not when Occafion fhould be caught. 
 
 Trembling left Merit fliould affume her Place, 
 And leave her ling'ring in the martial Chace, 
 Fortune^ with Darts of pois'nous Envy ftung, 
 Labour'd to blaft his Laurels as they Iprung ; 
 Try'd what fhe could to ftop his conqu'ring Way, 
 And dim th Luftre of that glorious Day; 
 In Frenzy's Rage thus IFiftory upbraids, 
 Hence, Britijh Slave, while I protect CONTADES j 
 Your haughty Mafters mock my courted Pow'r, 
 To Louis I devote me from this Hour. 
 In Part fhe triumph'd, but each future Field, 
 Taught the relu&ant Sorcerefs to yield. 
 
 So in tranflucent Regions of the Sky, 
 
 When fpotiefs Beams would ftrike the ravifh'd Eye, 
 
 A momentary Cloud may intervene, 
 
 And fleeting Vapour dull the lucid Scene ; 
 
 Which
 
 24 THE GENERAL, 
 
 Which, cleaving to the Bofbm of the Gale, 
 Leaves pure unfully'd ^Ether to prevail, 
 Celeftial Gems again attracl: the Sight, 
 And fparkling fliine with double Luftre bright. 
 
 Wide is our Field for Fancy s vigorous Wing, 
 Frefh Images in rich Abundance fpring ; 
 Defcription, teeming with the crouded View, 
 Pants in the Chace, and labours to purfue j 
 While pining Flatfry^ fill'd with envious Spleen, 
 And wond'ring Grief beholds the copious Scene, 
 Where matchlefs Tints in genuine Beauty blend, 
 That juftly fcorn fo varnifhing a Frierid : 
 A Profpe fhe, reludlantly, muft own 
 "Ry'fimple Truth to moft Advantage fhown. 
 
 What wtzElogiums on the Good ^and Wife? 
 Faint Tapers lab'ring to illume the Skies : 
 Reversed, what are they to the vicious Great ? 
 Lights to difplay the Rottennefs of State. 
 
 i We need not {training Panegyric ufe, 
 A licens'd Freedom of the Magic MUSE, 
 
 To
 
 THE GENERAL. 25 
 
 To conjure ALEXANDER from his Grave, 
 
 And mortify his Pride with one more brave : 
 
 We need not bid the mighty JULIUS come. 
 
 To fee a Race of frejher Laurels bloom : 
 
 We need not, fawning, give our *fheme to Sight, 
 
 More ftain'd with Blood than SCANDERBEG in Fight; 
 
 Whofe {ingle Arm, in one romantic Day, 
 
 So Story fays, two thoufand fwept away. 
 
 Is it impoflible to grace Command 
 Without a lightening Eye or thundering Hand ? 
 True Merit needs no Foppington Difplay, 
 In Peacock Plumes of vain Hyperbole ; 
 But, like the Gems which light INDOSTAN'S Mines, 
 With native Worth and matchlefs Radiance jfhines. 
 
 To warm the Paffions, and to wound the Heart, 
 Why fhould we play the Scenery of Art ? 
 Bring to aftonifh'd Optics from afar, 
 The glitt'ring, dreadful Pageantry of War ? 
 Why wound the harrow'd Ear with harfh Alarms, 
 Hoarfe Drums, fhrill Trumpets, and the Clink of Arms? 
 Why wake each tender Feeling of the Mind, 
 To weep the felf-wrought Woes of Humankind ; 
 
 H To
 
 26 THE GENERAL. 
 
 To fwell the fallen Streams of widow'd Eyes, 
 
 To echo childlefs Parents' burfting Sighs ? 
 
 Why fhow the dread Effects of rav'nous Pow'r ? 
 
 Why flame the City, or fubvert the Tow'r? 
 
 Why fhould we give a melting Reader Pain,. 
 
 With Streams of Blood and Mountains of the Slain ? 
 
 Why pidture, what the Brave muft weep to fee, 
 
 Thofe dauntlefs Agents of Neceffuy ? 
 
 Who, while each Breaft with patriot Ardor glows, 
 
 For Juftice fight yet weep o'er dying Foes. 
 
 Glory ! bright Spark of an jflLtherial Flame, 
 Humanity and thou art ftill the fame : 
 Megrim'd Ambition vainly drives to ape 
 The Beauties of thy foul-enchanting Shape ; 
 Yet, like the painted Proftitute, can gain 
 Some mad Admirers to adorn her Train ; 
 Like her too, with the Lures of gay Deceit,, 
 The Cormorants of Policy can cheat, 
 Lead to Deftru&ion's Brink then headlong throw 
 The tow'ring Fools, to dreadful Depths below. 
 
 Not To thou treat'ft thy votive gallant Swains, 
 Who court, with rough Embrace, in martial Plains; 
 
 Who
 
 THE GENERAL. 27 
 
 Who on the Wings of Emulation tow'r, 
 Free from the paltry Views of Gain or 'Pow'r^ 
 Who only fhed their own or foreign Blood, 
 To work, by noble Means, fome geriral Goody 
 Who bravely ftand againft oppreffive 111, 
 And but from Principles of faving kill. 
 
 Faithful as chafte PENELOPE to thefe, 
 Undaunted by the War of Land or Seas, 
 Thy radiant Beams adorn each Hero's Head, 
 A GRANBY living^ and a WOLFE when dead* 
 
 A WOLFE ! methinks I fee the pearly Tear 
 Stand fwelling, trembling on its chryftal Sphere ; 
 Not fo it gufh'd, but in a rapid Tide, 
 That Day when our EPA M IN ON DAS died; 
 Like Flow'rs o'ercharg'd with Dew, you feebly bow, 
 And a deep: Sigh remembers gallant HOWE. 
 
 More.fweet than ARABY'S Perfumes muft rife, 
 To fmiling Heav'n fuch lovely Sacrifice ; 
 The laurelFd Shades receive it in its Flight, 
 While circling Cherubs fhare their fond Delight. 
 
 But
 
 28- THE' GENERAL. 
 
 But wherefore droop? return to BRITAIN'S Ifle, 
 And teach thy momentary Grief to fmile ; 
 Amidft furviving Sons, fecurely reft 
 InSAUNDERS, MONCKTON, HAWKS, and GRANBY blefL 
 
 Nor thefe alone but fhould we fpeak of All 
 Who bravely follow'd at thy arduous Call ; 
 Should we at Length recite each fev'ral Name, 
 We muft monopolize the Lift of FAME : 
 A Lift from whence, expos'd to GALLIC Eyes, 
 Difmay in trembling, lifelefs Form muft rife, 
 Chill their proud Monarch on his tott'ring Throne, 
 And, like MEDUSA'S Head, convert to Stone. 
 
 Oft have we heard of Heroes in the Field, 
 Whofe Courage forc'd the conquer'd Foe to yield ; 
 Gen rah and Men adorn'd in ev'ry Senfe, 
 Save with the virtuous Beam Benevolence : 
 That Beam divine ! without whofe cheering Ray 
 The darken'd Soul admits no Gleam of Day. 
 
 Where is the Merit, with rapacious Hand, 
 To conquer, but to defolate a Land ? 
 
 To
 
 THE GENERAL. 29 
 
 To feed his Appetite without Controul, 
 Behold the Beaft of Prey rapacious proul ; 
 Still Inftinft juftifies his hoftile Life, 
 Inftind with Reafon here at mortal Strife. 
 
 Shall MAN, tho' juftly rous'd to Self-Defence, 
 (A rational, yet oft a falfe Pretence) 
 Without a Spark of Mercy in his Heart, 
 Ruthlefs perform a more than Savage Part ? 
 Become to Humankind a lafting Curfe, 
 To feed his Avarice and cram his Purfe? 
 Not mov'd by Thirft of Glory ^ but of Gain, 
 Such Martial Ufurers their Rank profane ; 
 Yet fuch have been, and fbme Oh Pain to {peak 
 Who more, if poflible, through Honour break 
 Who farther yet the fliining Pelf purfue, 
 And rob the honeft Soldiers of their Due. 
 
 Down, Indignation keep thy Place below, 
 Nor let the Tide of juft Refentment flow; 
 Leave with one Wifli fuch Reptiles to their Fate, 
 Defpis'd by Honefty^ however great, 
 That of the fordid Crew it may be told, 
 LikeCRAssus, they, when dead, were gorg'd with Gold. 
 
 I From
 
 3 o THE G E N E R A L. 
 
 From this offensive Profpect let us fly, 
 And hafte to one that may delight the Eye ; 
 Behold a Portrait of uncommon Charms, 
 To animate and grace the BRITISH Arms; 
 Behold him giving Spirit full Career, 
 Alike untouch'd by Cruelty or Fear ; 
 Behold his Breaft with virtuous Ardor glow, 
 Behdld him conquer and regret the Foe ; 
 Behold him, from the fanguine Field retired, 
 With GLORY in a milder Shape infpir'd; 
 No proud luxurious Bafhaw in Command, 
 Behold him cherifh with a foft'ring Hand ; 
 Behold his honeft Heart and HbVal Purfe expand. 
 Behold him hoipitable Aid afford, 
 By timely Largefs and obliging Word ; 
 Behold him, with a Parent's tender Eye, 
 View, and each practicable Want fupply; \f\ 
 
 Behold him, Idol of each grateful Heart, 
 Unite the Genres and Prote&or's Part ! 
 While Armies know not whether to commend, 
 And love the Chief, the Father, or the Friend. 
 Nor flops his Bounty here behold around, 
 Thro' all Degrees its kind Effects are found; 
 
 Tow'ring
 
 THE GENERAL. 31 
 
 Tow'ring above imperfect Flefli and Blood, 
 
 It lights on all an univerfal Good. 
 
 So fev'n-mouth'd NILUS, Source of Plenty, reigns 
 
 A well-tim'd Providence to thirfty Plains, 
 
 So fwell his fertile Streams o'er Mother Eatfh, 
 
 So give they Plenty, Peace, and Gladnefs Birth. 
 
 ii.gwpi3.akT 
 
 This Portrait, tho' imperfect, it were Shame, 
 Like an ill Painter, to expofe and name ; 
 Yet fhould there one fo ignorant appear, -ira lioul 3u 
 So much fequefter'd from the {riming Sphere, 
 As not to know the Likenefs we advance, 
 Of ALBION'S Glory, and the Dread of FRANCE, 
 To him in Words the HERO we unfold, 
 
 Such GRANBY island POMPEY was of old. 
 
 / 
 
 nflifll4w3 
 
 Thrice happy BRITAIN ! Emprefs of the Main, 
 May Ages bkfs thee with a BRUNSWIC'S Reign \ 
 A BRUNSWIC worthy his illuftrious Race, 
 Of virtuous Royalty die Pride and Grace; - 
 KING of his People's Hearts! to Vice a Rod, 
 The undiflcmbling Servant of his GOD ; 
 Not more with..F^ and public Virtue fir d* I 
 Than with domeftic Harmony infpir'd, 
 
 Mark !
 
 32 THE GENERAL. 
 
 Mark ! Grandeur, mark ! and imitate the Plan, 
 That dignifies the Monarch by the Man. 
 
 A BRUNSWIG form'd, as Envy& Self muft own, 
 To fix and dignify his native Throne ; 
 A BRUNSWIG on whofe Glory-beaming Brows, 
 The Crown imperial double Radiance fhows : 
 Not fuch deftrudHve Beams as Flames infpire, 
 And wildly fet the groaning World on Fire; 
 But fuch mild Influence as, in temperate Skies, 
 The Sun celeftial fheds on human Eyes : 
 A BRUNSWIG fteady in his Country's Caufe, 
 Firm Bafis of our Liberty and Laws. 
 
 Well for the World doth Providence provide 
 Such Inftruments to check Ambition's Pride, 
 As wait the Signal of his Royal Hand, 
 Ready to guard, or to revenge his Land; 
 And wifely Pow'r is lodg'd in fuch a Heart 
 As cannot even think a Tyrant's Part ; 
 A Heart that owns no Merit in Succefs, 
 But as it gives extended Pow'r to blefs ; 
 That all the Pomp of ViElory difdains, 
 Unlefs when breaking proud Ambition's Chains : 
 
 Then
 
 THE GENERAL. 33 
 
 Then Royalty indeed may juftly tow'r 
 Stemming the Tide of Arbitrary PowV. 
 
 Thus mighty GEORGE fupports indulgent Sway, 
 While BRITONS gratefully with Pride obey. 
 '"J.K vr.rn v^b -.^ovK 
 
 Hear ! Nations hear ! nor envy while we ling, 
 Heav'n's choiceft BlejGRngi in a PATRIOT KING ! 
 
 To all who hold BRITANNIA worth their Care, 
 (May thofe who x do not ne'er her Freedom fliare) 
 This fervent Pray'r I faithfully propofe, 
 May all the Comforts human Nature knows, 
 May all the Smiles of moft indulgent Fate 
 Smooth to our KING th' Anxieties of State j 
 In the ftill Calm of a contented Soul 
 May filv'ring Years in long Succeffion roll ; 
 And when but why anticipate what Time 
 Muft bring to pafs in each Degree and Clime ? 
 May all his A&ions Love and Honour win, 
 Without all Glory ) and all Peace within. 
 
 Religions Minifters^ may they be all 
 Attendant only upon Virtue's Call ; 
 
 K By
 
 34 THE GENERAL, 
 
 By Dodlrine and Example mend their Flocks, 
 Nor trade for Livings as the Jews for Stocks : 
 May moral Merit make fuccefsful Way, 
 And with internal gain external Pay j 
 That, from an eafy and fufficient Store, 
 Blefs'd in themfelves, they may affift the Poor; 
 Untouch'd with furious Zeal (a hateful Name, 
 That takes Religions Shape, and proves her Shame j 
 Breaks rudely thro' all hofpitable Bounds, 
 And Chriftian Harmony at once confounds) 
 With Charity unbounded may they reach 
 The faving Hand to All \ and Mercy preach : 
 Correct with Tendernefs, inftrucl: with Smiles* 
 While Reformation crowns their pious. Toils 5 
 Each Pa/lor in his own contented Sphere, 
 To Virtue^ as a mitred DRUMMOND, dear* 
 
 May Senator S Y unftain'd with In f reft , feel 
 Their Country's Wounds, and prove the Means to heal ; 
 Difcharge their fev'ral Trufts with Honour fit, 
 As bold, as quick,, as uncorrupt as PITT. 
 
 Where tortur'd Law exalts her wrangling Voice, 
 May godlike Juftke be the gen'ral Choice ; 
 
 Smile
 
 THE GENERAL. 35 
 
 Smile where flie can, yet wear becoming Frowns, 
 
 Nor bend her Pow'r to fupplicating Crowns : 
 
 May Right, at leaft, affociate with the Fee. 
 
 And free-born Juries ftand for Liberty ; 
 
 May Eloquence and Equity unite, 
 
 As now in PRATT, to fliield us and delight, 
 
 To guard imperfect Nature from Decay, 
 May all thy Sons, HIPPOCRATES, difplay 
 Knowledge Medicinal and only give 
 The Means to make declining Patients live : 
 Not drain the Purfe with multiplying Ills, 
 With fruitlefs Bolufes and needlefs Pills ; 
 But try, with learned Honefty, to fave, 
 And cheat, like DEALTRY, the expecting Grave. 
 
 May Commerce ever fail thro' fav'ring Skies, 
 Free from th' Incumbrance of Monopolies^ 
 Ne'er may her Sons, infatiate after Gold, 
 War's Crimfon Banner haftily unfold j 
 Yet if again (as, Oh, too fure, I fear,. 
 While faithlefs and infidious Foes are near) 
 Her hoftile Blaft fhould hurricane our IJle y 
 And all our prefent golden Hopes beguile i
 
 36 THE GENERAL. 
 
 If fire-breath'd Ate fhould fuccefsful prove, 
 And hungry Vultures chace the peaceful 
 .May Refob'tion BRITISH Councils wait, 
 May Probity and Wifdom guide the State 
 Where Minifters prefide nor fa&ious Spleen, 
 IncumbVing clog the complicate Machine. 
 
 Yet wifh we not, with HERMES' flumb'rous Wand, 
 To clofe fuch ARGUS Eyes as watch the Land; 
 No, may they ever, for BRITANNIA'S Sake, 
 Keep clearly independently awake. 
 
 When to War's flinty Coucb^ from Beds of Down, 
 Our Heroes hafte for Honour's deathlefs Crown, 
 May Zeal unfliaken brace each martial Heart, 
 Well to perform the executive Part ; 
 Still may a H AWKE be found to fweep the Main, 
 A GRANBY to adorn th' embattled Plain. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES 
 THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below 
 
 ONIVBRSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS
 
 A 000 001 416