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'Tis mine to pay one vifit to thy grave,
And lay upon thy tomb this leaf of praise.
Tho' fome there are who deem'd thee too fevere,
Stern ev'n in smiles, and in chastisement rough;
Yet to the gen'rous, emulative youth,

Thy frown alone was difcipline enough.
A parent always held my first esteem;

'Twas he who made me life's uncertain heir): You, as my tutor, was the next I lov'd;

'Twas yours to rear me with a father's care. Farewell, lamented fhade!-I can no moreAccept this little offering to thy fame; And if keen Malice dare profane thy worth, The mufe fhall wipe it from thine injur'd name. George's coffee-house, Dec. 6.

W. W.-TY.

On paffing through the parliament-clofe of Edinburgh at midnight.

S

O now, the doors are fhut, the bufy hand Of Industry fufpends her toil a while, And folemn Silence reigns: the men of law Throng not the paffage to the august court; Nor clients, walking o'er the pavement, curfe Their caufe's long delay: the labourer Lies wrapp'd in fleep, his brawny nerves unbrac'd, Gath'ring new vigor for to-morrow's toil. Now o'er their cups immoderate, the rout Of Bacchanalians, with impetuous laugh, Applaud the witless, but invenom'd jeft.

At

yon dim taper, poring on his bonds,
Or ledger, crooked Avarice keenly fits;
Or fleepless on his tawdry bed, fums up
His rents and int'reft. O thrice dire difeafe!
Oh doleful madnefs! Wherefore all this care,
This finful care, that from the mind excludes
All thought of duty toward God or man!
An heir debauch'd, who wishes nothing more
Than the old dotard dead, will throw it all
On whores and dogs away; then, curfing life,
That nothing gives but fcoundrel Poverty,
By his own hand a mangled carcafe falls.
Now fmoking with unhallow'd fires, the fons
Of curs'd Gomorrha ftroll along the streets,
Scenting the prostitutes: perhaps the fon
Of fome well-meaning country-man, entic'd
By lewd companions, midnight orgies holds,
Kennels with fome abominable wretch,
Contracting foul disease, one day to smart
His pious parents fouls with bitter grief,
And o'er their reverend hoary cheeks to pour
The fad parental tear.-

Behold how grand the lady of the night,
The filver moon, with majesty divine,
Emerges from behind yon fable cloud;
Around her all the spacious heavens glow
With living fires. In the pale air fublime
St Giles's column rears its ancient head,
Whose builders many a century ago
Were moulder'd into duft. Now, O my foul,
Be fill'd with facred awe-I tread above
Our brave forgotten ancestors. Here* lie
Those who in ancient days the kingdom rul'd,'
The counsellors and favourites of kings,
High lords and courtly dames, the valiant chiefs,
This was once a burial-place,

Whofe manly harnefs'd breafts, and mighty arms
Stood as the brazen bulwarks of the land,
Mingling their duft with those of lowest rank,
Hark! twas the clock ftruck one, the folemn
And bafeft deeds, and now unknown as they.
Yet vibrates in my ear: Such is the life, (found
The tranfient life of man: a while he breathes,
Then in a little with his mother earth (race
Lies mix'd, and known no more; even his own
Forget his name. And if his name remains,
What is it but an empty, airy found?
Cefar, and Ammon's fon, high-founding air,
Founders of states, their country's faviours, lie
In dark oblivion; others only live

In fables wild and vague: yea this fame age,
That faw the wave of Marlb'ro's fword decide

The fate of Europe, and her trembling kings,
Relate his actions past as an old tale,
Without concern: and foon the days fhall come,
When Pruffian peasants fhall ftrange stories tell
Of Fredric and his brothers; fuch as oft
The British labourer, by winter's fire,
Tells to his wond'ring children, of the feats
Of Arthur and his knights: a few more
years
Shall fee great Fredric and his glorious bands,
And all the millions of his raging foes,
All filent duft, and lodging with the hofts
(Down in the dreary manfions of the dead)
That fought at Canne or Thermopyla,
And thofe of later name that stood beneath
The banners of Godfredo or Guftave.

Say, ye immortal fons of heav'n, who rule
This nether world, who from old Nimrod's days
Down to the prefent, have beheld the fate
Of emperors and kings; fay, which the life
That the immortal fhade will like to own?
Does Cafar boast of his eternal name,
How, wading through the blood of millions, he
Inflav'd his country? No: he droops his head,
And imprecates Oblivion to o'erfhade
The horrid tale. Not fo poor Socrates:
With everlasting fmiles he humbly owns
The life that was a bleffing to mankind.
The heroes whofe unconquerable fouls
Would from their country's int'reft never flinch,
Look down with fweet complacence on th' realms
Their valour fav'd. O WALLACE, wondrous
Who durft alone thy country's rights affert, (chief,
Betray'd and fworn away by all but thee;
And thou great BRUCE, who many a doleful day,
For thy inflav'd and groaning country's fake,
Stray'd o'er the folitary hills of Lorn;
With what ecftatic raptures do you fee
A nation to this day blefs'd by your arms!
Such fhall thy happiness, O FRED'RIC, be,
Thou glorious pattern of a perfect king;
And fuch the recompenfing heaven of those,
The happy few, in blefs'd obfcurity
Who pass their days; whom Gabriel pointing out,
When in his filent rounds, unto his mates
Will fay, "There is the man who at all times
Acts as becometh an immortal spirit."
Such is the life that's worthy of a man,
And fuch the life that God himself applauds.
[Edin. Journ.]
4 2 2

HI.

7

F

HISTORY.

Rom CONSTANTINOPLE we have advice, that, after a lingering ill nefs, the Grand Signior, Sultan Ofman III. died on the 29th of October, in the 59th year of his age. The new Emperor is Sultan Muftapha, in his 42d year. He is the fon of Achmet, who was dethroned in 1730. They tell us, that he is esteemed to be generous, pru. dent, and circumfpect in all his actions; but extremely firm in his refolutions. Before the 17th of November he had changed the greateft part of the officers who compofed his predeceffor's court. The Kizlar Aga, or chief of the black eunuchs, and his fecretary the Jazigi Efendi, had both been depofed, and the former exiled to Rhodes. The Selichtar, or fword-bearer, the Boftangi Baf chi and Bunk Imrehor, or Great Mafter of the Horfe, had also loft their employments, the latter being fucceeded by the Vizir's fon-in-law; and the Vizir himfelf, who is generally esteemed, feems to be in the Grand Signior's favour. The Captain Pafcha, or High Admiral, had been exiled; and his predeceffor, Suliman Pafcha, fent for to be reinftated in that poft. Other changes were expected of courfe. His Sublime Highness diftributed among the janifaries double the fum given on the late Sultan's acceffion, each of them capable of fervice having received 24 dollars, and those not in a condition to act 14 dollars, the whole amounting to two millions and a half of dollars. A large fum was also given to the other different orders of foldiery. The minifters whom the Porte was to fend to the three frontier-courts of Vienna, Petersburg, and Warfaw, on occafion of the new Sultan's acceffion, had been nominated. About the time of that event happening, the Turks and Tartars were in motion, and appeared to have the defign of forming a camp in the neighbourhood of Choczim; but what fyftem the prefent Grand Signior may adopt, must be difcovered by time. We have also received advice, that a. bout the time of thofe motions a body of RUSSIAN troops was marching from the interior part of their empire towards

the Ukraine; and that the court of Petersburg, in order to prevent a rupture, thinks of fending an ambaffador to Conftantinople, to compliment the Grand Signior on his coming to the throne. No accounts concerning the Empress of Ruffia's indifpofition have come to hand for a confiderable while past. According to advices received fome time ago, a part of M. Apraxin's army was arrived in the duchy of Courland, to take up winter-quarters there; another corps was marching to Livonia; the Coffacks, Calmucks, and other irregulars, were to be fent into the interior parts of the empire; 12,000 men remained near Memel till further orders; and the Marfhal himself had received orders to quit the army, and repair to court, in order to give her Imperial Majefty an account of the motives which induced him to retire from Pruffia, after the victory he had gained near Wehlau.

Our accounts from the kingdom of PRUSSIA are, that the Ruffians, in their retreat, were guilty of horrible cruelties, having plundered and burnt a great many towns and villages; carried off all the cattle they could, knocking the rest on the head; murdered many of the inhabitants in cool blood; forced, with the greateft violence, a great number of young people to go along with them; robbed and profaned the churches; and treated the ecclefiaftics in the most cruel manner, caufing many of them undergo the punishment of the knout, because they did not nor could give the money exacted of them. It is added, that orders have been fent to Koningf berg in Pruffia, to draw up, with all convenient difpatch, a diftinct, exact, and fatisfactory account of all the towns and villages which have been burnt and deftroyed by the Ruffians, fupported by the teftimonies of the clergy, and other refponfible people, upon oath, fo as to take away all poffibility of doubt, and render it manifeft to all Europe, that the late irruption was made rather to destroy and depopulate his Pruffian Majesty's dominions, than with a view of deliver ing Saxony, which, however, was the fole caufe affigned for the invafion.

The

The following letter from STOCKHOLM, dated Nov. 26. feems to deserve notice. "The Pruffian party are not without uneasiness about the operations of the Swedish army in Pomerania. The news of the march of a large body of Pruffians hath occafioned the holding of feveral councils, in which it was refolved, notwithstanding the warm oppofition of the King, and the friends of Pruffia, to fend a reinforcement to that army. As his Pruffian Majefty's enemies as yet prevail, the King of Sweden yielded to the times. But there is reafon to think that affairs may foon take a very different turn, especially if the Swedes fhould be unfuccefsful. Col. Campbell, the British minister, takes infinite pains to gain his point. His winning manner, and great abilities, give room to think that his negotiations will not prove fruitless. It appears that he hath gained over Count Bond and fome other leaders of the Anti-Pruffian party, who conftantly reprefented the King of Pruffia as the worst enemy of Sweden."

The friendship and commerce between DENMARK and Spain, which was broken off in 1753, by fome misunderstandings which we then related, is restored; as appears by an edict publifhed at Copenhagen on the 12th of November.

We now come to the important affairs of GERMANY, and fhall begin with giving a Pruffian account of the battle of Rofbach, fought on the 5th of November, with fome of its antecedents and confequences, and an account from one on the oppofite fide; both which seem to be more particular and perfpicuous than what we formerly had. [596.]

We begin with an account published by authority, at Berlin, in eight pages 4°, fuppofed to be written by the King, viz.

A Bout the beginning of September, the army of the empire (as it calls itfelf), and the forces of the Prince de Soubife, affembled at Erfurth, in order to penetrate into Saxony, and make themselves mafters of the Elbe. Whereupon a part of the King's army marched to Naumburg. Qur light troops had in

their march a skirmish with those of the enemy, and had greatly the advantage. The army paffed the Sala at Naumburg, and proceeded to Buttlestedt. At this time the convention between the French and the Hanoverian army was figned at Bremerwerde. The troops of the Duke de Richlieu penetrated into the principality of Halberstadt, whither Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick was detached. He fcoured the country, and beat up the quarters of the French at Egelen, where he made 20 officers and 400 foldiers prifoners. On the approach of the grand army of France, the Prince of Brunswick took up his quarters at Wansleben, where he could hinder their receiving provifions. The King's army advanced to Erfurth, and the enemy retired. They were driven as far as the hills of Eyfenach. We had an advanced post of huffars and dragoons at Gotha: the Prince of Hildburghaufen marched with a large body to diflodge it, and was forced to retire with fome lofs.

The armies remained in this fituation till the end of October, when a body of Hungarians entered through Lufatia into the electorate of Brandenburg. It was imagined, that the army of Gen. Marshal was following this corps. The Prince of Anhalt was detached to oppose them, and the King advanced to Anneburg to attack them in the rear.

fined to the raifing of contributions, a This expedition of the enemy was conpart of which the approach of the Prince of Anhalt hindered them from collecting. While one part of the army haftened to the affiftance of the electorate, M. Keith retired with the reft to Leipfic. The efor executing the project they had long nemy judged this a favourable moment meditated. They advanced by cantonments through Naumburg, Zeitz, and Weiffenfels, with a defign to make themfelves matters of the whole courfe of the Sala, of Leipfic, and of our magazines at Torgau. Our Army was ordered to affemble at Leipfic. The troops in Lufatia and from the county of Magdeburg all arrived there on the 26th of October. On the 31ft the whole army marched to fall upon the enemy in their quarters.

We

We made fome prifoners, but could reach no farther than Lutzen. Next day, upon advice that the enemy were retiring on all fides, the King marched with the vanguard to Weiffenfels. The city,which was defended by Bavarians and troops of the circles,was immediately attacked and forced; but the enemy, to cover their retreat, burnt the bridge on the Sala. We made near 300 prisoners. It now appeared that the enemy intended to difpute with us the paffage of the Sala. The troops of the empire incamped upon the oppofite fide of this river overagainft Weiffenfels, and pofted themfelves behind inclosures of vineyards and in huts, in order to hinder us from repairing the bridge that was burnt down. They drew a line along the left bank of the river; and M. Keith, who advanced with the main body of the army to Merseburg, found that fourteen French battalions had burnt the bridge at that place, and taken poffeffion of the town, at the fame time that a French detachment burnt the bridge on the Sala near Hall.

The Marshal marched with a detachment to Hall, and repaired the bridge there; which forced the enemy to evacuate all the pofts they had on that river, and retire to Michele. We foon repaired the bridges, and croffed the river at Hall, Merseburg, and Weiffenfels. The three columns joined the fame day at the village of Rofbach. The King went to reconnoitre the enemy's camp; and finding that it might be attacked on the right, he determined to march to it next day.

On the 4th, he prepared for executing this project. The cavalry led. Upon arriving at the eminences from whence the enemy had been reconnoitred the day before, it was found that they had changed the pofition of their camp. It not only faced our army, but it was covered in front by a large hollow way. Its right was upon an eminence in a wood fortified with three redoubts, and barricades of trees. It was not thought pro per to attack this poft; the infantry incamped, and the cavalry alfo retired in to the camp. The enemy, finding that they were not going to be attacked, fent Out of their camp fome detachments, and

made fome discharges of cannon upon our horfe; which had scarce any effect. On the 5th in the morning, we were informed that the enemy were moving to their right; and our scouts brought word that the whole army was upon their march. About noon we perceived the head of their columns upon the extremity of our left. We would not take any step till we fhould be better affured of their defigns. At two in the afternoon, we perceived that they intended to double our left, and that they directed their march towards Merfeburg. Upon which our army drew up in order of battle; and, by a half-turn to the left, marched parallel with the enemy. We gained the rifing grounds; of which our cavalry made a good ufe, by attacking the enemy's cavalry in flank, and, after some discharges, entirely routed them. The infantry gained the village of Richardswerben, where it halted; and as we saw that the French infantry were forming in columns, and drawing up in line of battle to attack us, we marched up to them. The battle lafted but an hour and a half. Only fix battalions of our left engaged; and after pursuing the runaways beyond Burgwerben, night hindered us from reaping the fruits of the victory.

Next day the army marched to Freyburg.

On the 7th, a large detachment crossed the Sala, and advanced to Eckersberg.

On the 8th and 9th, we pursued the runaways as far as Erfurth. We have eight French generals, 250 officers of different rank, and 6000 common men prifoners; and have taken 63 cannon, 15 ftandards, two pair of kettle-drums, and feven pair of colours.

On our fide, Col. Prignitz is killed. Prince Henry, Gen' Seidlitz and Meinecke, flightly wounded; and our lofs both of killed and wounded does not amount quite to 300 men.

officer in the Imperial army, dated at The other account, in a letter from an Coburg, Nov. 12. is as follows.

THE Prince de Soubife having re

ceived orders from his court, not to lead the army of his Moft Chriftian

Majefty

Majefty beyond the Sala, but at the fame time not to omit any occafion that might offer of fighting the King of Pruffia on this fide that river, it was judged proper, that the combined army fhould provide themselves with a good camp, and there refolutely wait for the enemy. In confequence of which refolution they occupied that of Micheles the 4th of November, where they were posted so as to have a wood on the right, wherein the fifteen battalions of the troops of the empire (the reft having been detached, by order of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach, along the Sala, for the fecurity of the interior circles) had orders to continue, and cover themselves by felling trees; and this place was fortified befides with fome redoubts, being the only one against which the enemy could form its attack, and the intervals were guarded by feveral pieces of artillery. The Imperial cavalry and that of the empire occupied a very advantageous spot near this wood, and extremely proper for their purpose. The French troops, whofe left wing was defended by an impracticable ravin, joined them; befides all which there was a corps de referve of eight battalions and fixteen fquadrons, of the fame auxiliary troops, to be employed as occafion might require.

In this pofture nothing could be more defirable than to be attacked. On the 5th the enemy appeared, and reconnoitred the camp from the eminences, but discovered no tokens or difpofition to risk an action with the combined army fo advantageously pofted; but incamped near the village of Rofbach, where it was equally inacceffible both in front and flanks. This camp was on a ravin and a fmall eminence. A brook, no wife confiderable but for its steep banks, perfectly covered either army from the other; and the troops, posted in the manner of an amphitheatre, formed two lines of infantry on the hanging of the hill, and the third of cavalry, in the plain behind the two former.

It was three in the afternoon before they quitted their camp, and made a fhew of retreating to Merieburg; but taking advantage of an eminence, which intercepted them and their motions from our

view, they ranged their cavalry behind it. A perfon of credit and diftinction came in the interim, and affured the Duke of Saxe-Hildburghaufen, general of the combined army, that there was scarce a handful of the enemy behind the faid eminence. But by and by we saw them advancing on a full gallop towards our flank. The Duke, however, gained time fufficient for forming the two Imperial regiments of cavalry on the first line, and thofe of the empire on the fecond, by difpofing the flank in front. Himself in perfon led on the two former regiments to the charge, and attacked the enemy with fo much bravery, that we could see the two parties, for a confiderable while, engaging hand to hand. At length the Imperial cavalry began to penetrate through them; but the enemy's cavalry, much fuperior in number to ours, found means to furround them. However, they recovered their order, and, in conjunction with the French cavalry, repulfed the enemy four times. The Marquis de Caftres fignalized himfelf on this occafion, and received two wounds on the head from a fword.

The Prince of Saxony, in the mean while, put himself at the head of the infantry; and the officers of the French army having propofed to him to attack that of the enemy in columns, with bayonets fixed, his Serene Highness expreffed his fatisfaction at fo vigorous a refolution, and conducted in person the regiment of Piemont within 30 or 40 paces of the enemy. But the terrible fire which they made at once of their artillery and mufquetry, obliged that brave regiment to retreat; and inftantly fuch an univerfal panic poffeffed all the troops, that it was impoffible to ftop one fingle battalion or fquadron. Our general in chief, as well as the Prince de Soubife, the French commandant, took all imaginable pains to rally the troops; but to no purpofe; they were all quite overwhelmed with terror. It was therefore con. cluded, to contrive how to fecure a retreat. The night favouring us, the combined army profited of that circumftance, and retired to Freyburg, and afterwards. over the Unftrut."

Early

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