LETTER VI.

GENTLEMEN,

You deserve public thanks for the honourable invitation and the generous independent support you have given the poor poet who recommended himself to your favor. I apprehend, however, that he must have had recourse to some other influence, and tried some other charm than the doggrel rhymes he gave you a specimen of. To do him justice, the notes were not his own, though he has had the full benefit of them-they were furnished by another hand, with a view to give you an insight into his means, his conduct, and his character, and not to ; suffer you to be deceived by his words or professions, which, like those of all other poets in his situation, generally abound with fiction.

It

He seems to have afforded much satisfaction. is said that you have admitted him a member of your body; his name has been entered on the books; he has been allowed to dine at your table, and to assume the dress of your society;-you may be confident that he will return these civilities as soon as he has the means to do so, and will invite you to a place -at his table-in his own house-and give you employment in that or some other way, whenever the opportunity occurs. His foible is not "suæ parcus / publicæ avarus," and rely on it you will be rewarded as you deserve for the invidious and most ungrateful task imposed upon you on his behalf.

The sentiments you breathe are well known to

the public-they import charity, and a charity never misplaced Probitas laudetur et alget,"-this was his case-you found the poet naked and at your gate -you took him in and you clothed him, he was hungry and you fed him-he called upon you in his trouble, and you propose to relieve him out of his distress. For this you will deserve the thanks of the nation; and indeed, if we judge from reports, and newspaper accounts, you have received them already, and probably, should you be enabled to crown in the manner you wish, the work you so honorably and independently have begun, you will doubtless obtain what, in your opinion, is no inconsiderable honor

-the most flattering marks of Royal favor. And should the individual you patronise obtain, through your efforts, the place of Poet Laureat, and proceed to C*t*n H*u*e crowned with the emblems of triumph, and become the herald of your praise, yours will be the honor, and yours the reward;succceding in the former, you will not be disappointed in the latter, for as gratitude is a virtue you have never failed to exercise and recommend, you may be certain your pupil will not forget the lesson you have now taught, but will recompense you in the manner you deserve, and in the true spirit of Divine precept and your own practice, evince towards you that gratitude which you have shown to others.

The following lines are offered as a further specimen of the happy anticipation of the Crow Street Bard.

The best portrait of Rembrantz was drawn by his own hand.

And lo! this Secret'ry, whose every feature
Foretells the talent of the creature,

Lively and vulgar, low and pert,
He plays, au vif, the courtier-flirt;
Or hits, without the least alloy,
From taste, the saucy college-boy (1)
Oh! could a little sense control

The flight of his time-serving soul-
Could he be satisfied with all

The glories of the Four Court Hall, (2)
Nor e'er with daring steps presume
To figure in St Stephens room-
Could he but wisely be content

To play the pleader out of Parliament; (3)
None would have guessed that he had e'er
Observed what taste or virtue were;
Nor ever known a circle higher

Than that around the Grub street fire.

(1) It is truly ridiculous to see this gentleman, dressed like a young Collegian, in a cap and gown, sauntering about the Courts, living, dining, entertaining and drinking in chambers, as if he was in his Junior Freshman year, or as any idle frequenter of a tipsy college ta

vern.

(2) This gentleman commenced a career in the study of the law, which being too tedious for an aspiring mind, he exchanged it, by chance, at an election in the north for one better suited to an independent mind, determined to raise himself without the aid of those humble but useful assistants-Servility and cunning,- cum sint.

Quales ex humili magna ad fastidia rerum

Extollit, quoties voluit fortuna jocari.

(3) The grand and lofty stile of this Legal, Parlimentary Nautical Character is finely exemplified on every great national question, particularly on all Constitutional subjects, and those that regard the liberty of the Press; to the latter he has an involuntary, an official, and an

Tis' shame to offer to the view,
This kind of Puysan Parvenu,
This Filch in Navy robes arrayed,
This Hack in Parliamen'try trade,
And yet! not all the blame attaches
To him!—he naturally snatches,
At tassel'd gowns, and caps of College
To serve his purpose (4) and their knowledge
But why this travestie permitted !

Is it that we've no one better fitted!

And thus in utter disregard

Of right and wrong; our name is marr'd,
A useful member is displaced (5)

ex necessitate attachment-for an instance of the sublime and Beautiful, see in note. "I advocate not to be advocated"

(4) This gentleman is representative for the Borough of Athlone, and it is said, that as Lord C-s-tl-m-e's Union Contract has expired, the seat reverts to its patriotic possessor, so that Mr. C-k-r's employers will be put to the expense of 5000 pounds, unless they mean to deprive Parliament and the Empire of the oratorical, the splendid, and the statesman-like abilities of this experienced Senator, which every indivi❤ dual of the united kingdom would regret most exceedingly, with the exception of the Member in question, for he confessedly is not an egotist.

(5) These lines are peculiarly happy! who would have thought that twelve years ago he would have written what is now so strictly applicable to his own case! shade of the injured Williams, thou art avenged! spirit of insulted Crow-street, rest in peace! the engine recoils; and "the present state of the Irish Stage," is worse than the first; who on reading the above lines will not say to alma mater.

Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed

And batten on this Moor? Ha! have you eyes!
You cannot call it love!

Yet several of the Fellows (certain of the repeal of the statute of celibacy) will exclaim, omnia vincit amor et nos cedamus amori !!--"all's well now, sweeting, come away to bed."

Let him not vainly hope to ride
In safety o'er the public tide,

To buffet every gale that blows, (6)
And sweep the sea of all his foes;

While in the trimming (7) Fleet are reckoned
First rates, none, but one o' the second.
And all the rest-his bold defenders,
Are cutters, luggers, hulks and tenders.

(6) The early taste this person displayed for marine poetry, and a place at the Admiralty are very remarkable, and are here whimsically exemplified!

(7) The following specimen of a University, Loyd's list will give a tolerable recapitulation of my opinions of the Santa Trinidada Company.

JUNE 4th, 1818.

Admiral Cunningham, W. P. in spite of very bad weather, still continues to keep his station off the Bagnio Slip. If the Young Husband squadron should attempt to put to sea, we are confident the learned Admiral will give a good account of them.-The respective forces are as follow:

Remains in port the Mercury, G-fl-n, armed en flute.

Opposed to this superior and fully equipped armament, there is un