Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

of the baftions the defenders, encou raged by supplies of fresh troops, in vain endeavoured to retrieve their lofs; and the affailants, having previously divided their force, rushed forwards to the right and left, until they met at the oppofite entrance, which is called the Myfore Gate.

forwards, and furmounted every obstacle. take poffeffion of the works. At several At fome places they clambered over mounds, walls, bulwarks, and hindrances of various kinds, that had been fhattered by the cannonade: At others, where the fortifications were more entire, they afcended or defcended by the help of ladders. As the affailants approached the bastion and curtain that had been breached, the refiftance, which till then had fallen far fhort of expectation, began to increase. Awakened from a fatal fecurity, into which the garrifon had been lulled by the multiplicity of difficulties that the befiegers had to encounter, as well as by the ftrength of the place, and the number of the defenders, they now bethought of precautions, which, if feasonably applied, would, in all probability, have rendered fuccefs doubtful. The alarm once given circulated like wildfire. Multitudes crowded tumultuously to the point of attack. In an inftant, blue-lights and fire-balls, thrown in every direction, rendered all objects around the fort clear as at noonday; a blaze of mufquety, which added ftrength to this magnificent illumination, furnished it also with abundance of victims: a general discharge of rockets contributed to the awful grandeur of an exhibition in itself truly tremendous; and one univerfal roar of cannon all over the fort and pettah, at once ftruck the spectator with confternation and horror.

"Whilft the forlorn hope mounted the breach, the leading companies kept a conftant fire on the parapet; as thofe ascended, other divifions fcoured the ramparts to the right and left. The affailants, although broken in advance, pushed on with irrefiftible preffure. Instances of individuals at fignal combat were to be seen in different directions; courage was equal on both fides, but fuperiority in difcipline and bodily ftrength fecured to the British troops a firm footing on the ramparts. In fhort, before one hour had elapfed, the grenadiers march, beating all over the works, announced, to their friends without, complete poffeffion of the place. Of the garrifon, however, there were many who fought with a degree of valour that bor. dered on defperation; but the want of timely concert among them, rendered all attempts at oppofition abortive.

66

Although the struggle was of fhort duration at the breach, it was repeatedly renewed, as the columns proceeded to VOL. LVII.

"As women and children crowded along with the affrighted garrison thro' the gate, the carnage was dreadful. The height of the furrounding walls, the length of the arches, and the noise of the mufquetry, which had not yet subfided, notwithstanding the humanity of the British troops, for a time prevented all diftinction of age or fex.. About two thousand chofen troops, that haftened to ftrengthen the garrifon, preffed to get in at the Myfore Gate; but from the rapidity of the affailants, this reinforcement, which was too late in arrival, contributed only to encrease the confufion and flaughter. On the whole, upwards of fourteen hundred lives were loft in this momentous event; an event, which firmly fixed the war in the heart of the enemy's dominions, as it put Britain in poffeffion of, probably, the strongest and moft important fortress of Myfore."

We fhould here close our review of this work; but the fubfequent paffage, which describes the death and character of the Killedar, or Governor of the Fort of Bangalore, is too important, and too well written, not to deferve to be inserted, whether we confider the writer's credit, or the pleasure of the reader.

"Wherever gallantry is recorded, Balıauder Khan, Killedar of Bangalore, will hold a confpicuous place among the heroes of our times. True to his truft, he refigned it with life, after receiving almoft as many wounds as were inflicted on Cæfar in the Capitol. In death his manly countenance wore a mild yet commanding afpect. His appearance, refpectable from an old age of temperate living, was rendered venerable by a beard of confiderable length, every hair of which vied with filver in whitenefs; and his corpfe, fair as any European, covered with wounds, all received from before, and close to the point of attack, clearly declared that this refolute Mogul, befides a firm attachment to his prince, poffeffed the genuine spirit of a foldier. His remains were offered to the Sultaun for interment, but refused

3 L

with

with many acknowledgements of the attention; they were therefore decently interred according to the Mohamedan rites. It is faid, that the Sultaun, in anfwer to Lord Cornwallis's foldier-like offer, replied, that the Khan could be buried no where with greater propriety than in the neighbourhood of the place at the defence of which he had fallen. Muffulmans of the first rank in our army attended his funeral, with every mark of refpect and attention. At the lofs of this faithful fervant, and the feverity of the blow he had received, the Sultaun wept; but his reafonable grief was fucceeded by unreasonable and unmanly vengeance, which he wreaked on his unfortunate prifoners."

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

LONDON.

The Progrefs of Civil Society. A Didactic Poem, in Six Books. By Richard Payne Knight. 4to. Ics. 6d. Boards. Nicol A Whig's Apology for bis Confifiency.In giving his fentiments on the British conftitution, this writer labours hard to fhew that Mr Pitt is the last man who ought to be entrufted with the adminiftration of the conftitution, and laments most seriously the fatal diffolution of the Rockingham party; not merely because by that event a phalanx of firm patriots had been difunited, but becaufe it difcourages the hope of forming any fimilar combinations in future. He cannot bear

with patience that Mr Pitt's continuance in office fhould be confidered of fo much confequence, that people fhould believe the internal peace of the country and the existence of the conftitution depended on it; the reverfe appears to be his opinion, for he seems to think that, for the internal tranquillity of the nation and the fafety of the conftitution, Mr

Pitt cannot be too foon difmiffed from office :

but, though he wishes for a change of men, he is by no means fure that it would be attended with the falutary effects expected from it, unless a change were also to take place in the fentiments both of the King and of the people.

[ocr errors]

The Doctrine of Atonement illuftrated and defended, in Eight se mons preached before the University of Oxford in the year 1775, at the Lecture founded by the late Rev. John Bampton, M. A. By Daniel Veyfie, B. D. Fellow of Oriel College., 8vo. 5s. Boards. Leigh & Sotheby.

Obfervations upon the Plagues inflicted upon the Egyptians in which is fhewn the Peculiarity of thole Judgments, and their Correfpon

dence with the Rites and Idolatry of that People. To thefe is prefixed, a Prefatory Difcourfe concerning the Grecian Colonies from Egypt. By Jacob Bryant. 8vo. 178. Boards. Cadell jun. Davies.

don.

Letters written in France, to a Friend in Lon

Between November 1794, and May 1795 By Major Tench, of the Marines: late of his Majefty's Ship Alexander. 8vo. 4s. Boards. Johnson.

The Influence of Local Attachment with reA Poem. 8vo. 2s. 6d.. Spect to Home. Boards. Johnfon.

Military Reflections on the Attack and DeAuthor to have been the most vulnerable fence of the City of London. Proved by the Part of Confequence in the whole Island, in the Situation it was left in the Year 1794. &c. &c. By Lieut. Col. George Hanger. Moft refpectfully addreffed to the Right Honourable Thomas Skinner, Lord Mayor of London. 38. fewed. Debrett.

with Memoirs of his Life and Writings comMifcellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, Esq. pofed by himself: Illuftrated from his letters, with occafional Notes and Narrative, 4to. 2 Vols. by John Lord Sheffield.

21. 10s. Boards. Cadell jun. & Davies.

the Latin of Ifaac Hawkins Browne: tranfThe Immortality of the Soul; a Poem: from lated by John Lettice, B. D. late Fellow of Sydney College, Cambridge. To which is added, the Original Poem: with a Commentary and Annotations, by the Tranflator.

8vo.

4s. 6d. Boards. Cadel jun. & Davies. Efays on Education, or Principles of IntelFrame and Nature of Man. By John Wedlectual Improvement confiftent with the del Parfons, A. B. Vicar of Wellington, in the County of Hereford. 12mo. 45. Boards. Cadell.

the most authentic Sources of Information. The Life of Caius Julius Cæsar; drawn from By Charles Coote, L. L. D. 12mo. 3s. 6d. fewed. Longman.

Houfe of Commons, appointed to take into Firf Report from the Select Committee of the Confideration the Means of promoting the Cultivation and Improvement of the wafte, uninclofed, and unproductive Lands of the Kingdom. 8vo. Is. Debretts

An Effay on the Management, Nurfing, and Difeafes of Children from the Birth: and on the Treatment and Difeafes of Pregnant and Lying-in Women: with Remarks on the Domeftic Practice of Medicine. The Second Edition, revifed and confiderably enlarged. To which is now added, the Treatment and difeafes of Children at more advanced Pe

riods of Childhood; with Obfervations on Mothers nurfing their Children. By Wil

liam

[blocks in formation]

FOR HIS MAJESTY'S BIRTH DAY. BY HENRY JAMES PYE, ESQ. POET LAUREAT. I. WHERE are the vows the mufes breath'd, That Discord's fatal reign might cease? Where all the blooming flower's they wreath'd

To bind the placid brow of Peace; Whofe angel form, with radiant beam, Pictur'd in Fancy's fairy dream, Seem'd o'er Europa's ravag'd land, Prompt to extend her influence bland, Calm the rude clangors of the martial lay, And hail with gentler note our Monarch's natal day?

II.

For lo! on yon devoted fhore,

Still thro' the bleeding ranks of War,
His burning axles steep'd in gore,
Ambition drives his iron car.
Still his eyes in fury roll'd

Glare on fields by arms o'er-run,
Still his hands rapacious hold

Spoils, injurious inroad won. And fpurning with indignant frown The fober olive's próffer'd crown, Bids the brazen trumpet's breath Swell the terrific blaft of destiny and death. III.

Shrinks Britain at the found? tho' while her

eye

O'er Europe's defolated plains fhe throws, Slow to avenge and mild in victory,

She mourns the dreadful fcene of war and

woes.

Yet if the foe misjudging read
Difmay, in pity's gentleft deed,
And conftruing mercy into fear,

The blood-ftain'd arm of battle rear;
By infult rous'd, in just resentment warm,
She frowns defiance on the threat'ning ftorm;
And for as ocean's billows roar,
By every wave-encircled shore,
From where o'er icy feas the gaunt wolf roves
To coafts perfum'd by aromatic groves,

As proudly to the ambient fky, In filken folds her mingled croffes fly; The foothing voice of peace is drown'd A while in war's tumultuous found. And ftrains from Glory's awful clarion blown,

Float in triumphant peal around Britannia's Throne.

THE OLD MAID.

WHERE affections unite, and all things are right,

No ftate with the married can vie;

But if pique lead the way, or intereft fway, 'Tis better unmarried to die.

If a wife I had proved, to a man that I lov'd,
Whofe actions bright wifdom had sway'd;
How happy my life to have been a bleft wife,
And not a poor little old maid!

But if kind refpect to his will don't direct
Our steps through the mazes of life,
You had better live free, an old maid like

me,

Than be to a blockhead a wife.

SONNET TO THE EVENING STAR*. BRIGHT Star of eve! refplendent gem of night,

Beneath thy lucid orb I love to ftray, Drop feeling's tear, and mark thy quiv'r

ing ray;

"Till borne in fancy's car, with rapid flight, I mount thy fphere, and tread thy beamy way!

Or, if perchance I seek the ruin'd tow'r,^. To waste alone the contemplative hour Wrapt in deep thought, thy fecrets I furvey.. Methinks my angel Mary's form glides by,

And points to thee, her feat of blefs fereue Then bids me hope, nor grieves for joys terrene; Waves her fair hand, and feeks her native fky.

Adieu! bright star! the airy visions fade,
And leave me pensive in the ruin'd fhade.

* From Poems by Elifabeth Kirkham Srong, of Exeter.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

(The Philofopher, driven into banishment on a falfe accufation, complains of the harshnefs of his fate, and the inftability of human affairs).

Carmina qui quondam ftudio florenti peregi,

Flebilis, beu, maftos cogor inire modos, 56.
I WHO erewhile the lyre enraptur'd flrung,
And happier days in happier numbers fung,
Conftrain'd, alas! to wake the mournful ftrain,
Of alter'd times, and adverfe fates, complain
Yet do the weeping muses still attend,
To foothe the forrows of their fallen friend;
They, fweet companions of my weal or woe,
Whate'er my lot, no changing favour know;

The iron hand that all befide hath rest,
Those dauntless, firm, afsociates still hath left,
Unfhaken they have brav'd the tyrant's rage,
Pride of my youth, fupporters of my age!
For grief, anticipating Time's decree,
Hath haftened Age with all its ills on me ;
My temples with untimely fnow hath spread,
Shook my loofe nerves, and all my frame de-
cay'd. 1

O happy Death, that comes when Mifery calls!

The child of woe refign'd and thankful falls : But ftill more prompt the ruthless power is

feen

A grim intruder in Enjoyment's fcene;
Yet fhuns, with ear averfe, the cry of pain.
Implor'd to close the weeping eye in vain.
When Fortune favour'd, he was ever nigh,
With damping frown to dafh the cup of joy;
But diftant now in Sorrow's hateful day,
Life lingers on with most unkind delay.

Ah, why, my friends, did ye fo often boaft! And happy call a ftate fo foon is loft?

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

How finks the mind, alas! how loft,
In what chaotic tempefts tofs'd,
That wanders wide, and wilder'd far,
Forfaking Wisdom's guiding ftar,
The sport of every guft may blow,
O'erwhelm'd by every cafual woe!

Lo him, who late fo high could foar.
The boundless void of Heaven explore,
On Contemplation's pinions borne,
Mount to the Chambers of the Morn,
Purfue with bold undazzled eye,
The fun's bright courfe along the sky,
Or thro' the Night's more folemn noon,
Journey with the majestic Moon;
Each vagrant planet of the night,
Each glimmering ftar of fainter light,
Could trace throughout the ætherial plain,
And all their various rounds explain,

'Twas his to fearch all Nature's laws, Expound her wonders, and their cause ; Tell whence loud Boreas, trumpet roars ; This orb what moving spirit bounds, And thundering tempefts fhake the fhores; And fteady rolls it's ftated rounds; The Day ftar climbs the caftern way, Or why in orient splendour gay To fink in the Hefperian main; And flopes his western wheel again

foft the vernal hours,

What tempers
And decks the laughing earth with flowers;
Whence Summer's ardent luftre glows,
But gone is now bright Genius' boaft;
And Autumn's purple vintage flows.
Its light is out, its glory loft;
Prone in the dust in ruin thrown,
Intent on fordid earth alone.

METRE III.

(Philofophy removes the clouds that obfcured his fight).

Tunc me difcuffa liquerunt nocte tenebræ, &c.
STRAIGHT from my eyes was shook the Night,
Reviv'd, they drink the wonted light.
So, when the South collects a storm,
Deep-thickening clouds the fky deform,
Black gathering glooms incumbent low'r,
And anxious horror creeps before:
From the wide caverns of the North,
His blafts fhould Boreas the put forth,
Swift-fcattering fly the clouds away,
The heavens difclofe, and bring the Day;
Out fprings the Sun, and hill and plain,
Exulting hail his light again.

METRE

METRE IV,

(Philosophy exhorts him to firmness of mind) Quifquis compofito ferenus avo

Fatum fub pedibus dedit fuperbum, Sc. WHOE ER in confcious Virtue bold Can trample the proud creft of Fate, Uufhaken the mind's terror hold,

Unmov'd by Fortune's fmiles or hate; 'Gain'ft him in vain flail ocean roar,

In vain the threatening tempeft rife; Of rending Etna's fulphurous ftore

In flame and fmoke involve the skies;

In vain the thunder's loudeft terrors roll;
Calm 'mid the uproar is his dauntless foul,
Why then fhould Mortals weakly dread

The feeble Tyrant's powerlefs firoke?
Let hope nor fear the breaft invade,

Oppreffion's lawless rode is broke:
But he whofe peace to every wish,
And every little fear, gives way,
Nor can difcordant paffions crush,

And rule with felf commanding fway,
His fhield reje&s, and bafely quits his ground,
Forging the chains by which himself is bound.

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

May 2. General Smith moved the order of the day, for taking into confideration the proceedings of the Court martial, in the cafe of Colonel Cawthorne. He next moved that copies of the said proceedings be read, a few fentences of which being read pro forma,

Colonel Cawthorne then being in his place, was informed by the Speaker, that if he had any thing to say in his defence, this was the proper time.

The Colonel then rofe, and having claimed the indulgence of the House, proceeded to read a written defence from a paper he held in his hand:-He folemn. ly declared, that as to the charges brought against him, he never had acted from any corrupt motive whatever, and though the Court Martial had proceeded in his cafe with the pureft intentions, yet he hoped it would be found that the charges of mifapplication, corruption, and embezzlement were untrue; but though he faid this, he was far from throwing out any afperfion on the noblemen or gentlemen who fat in judgment on him on that occafion. He was, he faid, made chargeable by a military tribunal with what was an offence only of a civil nature, and this day he was called upon to answer charges of a military nature. He then continued to answer the different charges from the written paper which he held in his hand, and concluded by faying, that he had been charged with keeping the regiment incomplete, but he had received it incomplete by 160 men. General Smith thought it his duty, as a member of Parliament, to call the attention of the Houfe to the proceedings of the Court Martial on the unfortunate member now in queftion; he thought it

confiftent with their honour and good fenfe to pay the utmost attention to thefe proceedings; as for himself, he had read thefe proceedings, and they had confirmed every idea he had entertained on the fubject. He would not, therefore, trouble the House with a farther preamble, but would move, "that Colonel Cawthorne having been found guilty on the ift, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, roth, 11th, and 13th articles of the charges brought against him, be now expelled this Houfe."

Mr Wigley entered into a defence of Colonel Cawthorne; he could not fee that he had acted corruptly or fraudulently; he fpoke at fome length, and concluded by moving an amendment to the motion, "that the further confideration of the debate be adjourned till this day fix weeks."

General M'Leod feconded the amendment. This would, he faid, be a précedent to increase the influence of the Crown.

[ocr errors]

Mr Pitt faid, that the Hon. General very properly brought the fubject under the confideration of the Houfe; he had not ftudied the minutes of the proceedings of the Court Martial, but would rest his judginent on this, that a Court Martial was that to which the law of the land had delegated a power, to try fuch offences, and that it was fully competent to judge of the cafe; for himself, he thought it proper to give fo much credit to it, that if Colonel Cawthorne had been guilty of any thing to render him unworthy of public trust, whether they were not bound, for their own honour, remove him from that House there was nothing, he faid, that led him to give lefs credit to the decifion of a Court Mar

« ZurückWeiter »