NUMBER LVIII. King's, who are fathers, live but in their people. DRYDEN. Such Kings, like flars, with influence unconfin'd, W HEN the inimitable author of that fine allegoric poem of Telemachus, introduces his young hero to the future place of rewards and punishments, he takes efpecial care to mark out to him the miferable fate of bad, and the fuperlative felicity of good Kings; of Kings, renowned for their wisdom, justice, and beneficence; whom he places in honour and bliss, far above the heroes renowned for their valour and military atchievments. "Those who have reigned with justice, and have had a tender love for their people (fays he *) were the favourites of the gods. While Achilles and Agamemnon, full of their quarrels and battles, do ftill even here retain their turbid difpofitions, and discontented pride. Just Kings, purified by the divine light which feeds them, have nothing more to defire to complete their happiness: with eyes of * See the Adventures of Telemachus, B. 19. com compaffion they behold the restleffnefs of mortals; and the great defigns, which diftract the thoughts of ambitious men, appear to them, like the sports of children; their hearts are replenished with truth and virtue, which they draw at the fountain-head; they have nothing more to fuffer either from themselves or from others; no more uneafy appetites, no more neceffities, no more fears! every thing is at an end with them, except their joy, which is endless! Yes,* gracious Monarch; yes, thou Father of thy people; yes, univerfally-beloved Sovereign; the tender tears of thy subjects, thy children; the unaffected concern, which throbs at every heart, and melts in every eye, pathetically express their venerable esteem, their filial love of thee; their filent and dejected grief, more speakingly than all the powers of eloquence, proclaim thy title to that blissful region, where good Kings reft in undisturbed pleasure; where cares, and fears, and anxieties ceafe; where honours fade not, and where joy is endless! Oh how pleafing to yield our breath, and pay the last fad neceffary debt, lamented by the voice of general love; bewailed by the tear of univerfal affection; embalmed in the precious memory of reverential, grateful efteem! How pleafing to die, as it were, in the arms of regretful weeping *This paper was written the morning after the late King's death. weeping anxiety; to leave a longing defire of us behind, and to cease to exift, ere we cease to be valuable and neceffary! This was the happy lot of our departed Sovereign; on whom the favour of heaven seems to have fhed its choicest bleffings. Formed by nature for royalty, he early fhewed those great and fhining qualities, which adorn the princely diadem. Undaunted courage diftinguifhed him in the field; firmness and fortitude, tempered with mild clemency, and melting compaffion, bespoke him worthy to fuftain the difficulties of empire. It is true, the glaring acts of conqueft, and the founding eclat of military prowess fill the trumpet of fame with the loudeft breath: but the ftill and noble virtues, which cultivate and bless a people, as they merit the highest honour, so do they add the trueft dignity to the man. George the IId, had enough of the fire of heroisin to have won him immortal renown in the tented field, had he been luftful of fuch glory: but he was happy enough to move in another, and a better sphere; and to fhine, like a good ftar, with a benign influence, on mankind. He was a friend of liberty; and though born a King, he was not only anxious to secure that firft of bleffings to his own fubjects, but he may be justly ftiled the general affertor of human liberty; and it may be faid of him with the ftrictest truth, that he never drew the fword in ony other cause. No other cause could have prevailed with a Prince of of his generous nature to draw the deftructive fword. For can we imagine, that HE, who: scarce ever figned the neceffary inftrument of condemned malefactors execution, without tears and the most uneafy reluctance; can we imagine, that HE, who could fhed the pitying drops over his brave young General's grave; that HE could commiffion the inftruments of ruin, without concern; or fend forth the minifters of devestation, without the most preffing neceffity? . The fplendid virtues of heroifm may render us eminent in the tongues of men; the endearing virtues of humanity can alone render us be- : loved by our nearest friends and domestics. Ask them, and they will tell you, if their brimful hearts will allow them utterance, that their gracious mafter was not more great, than good; that every focial excellency adorned the man; that they have loft the friend, the father, the benefactor! Uniform and regular in his actions; steady in his attachments; grave, calm, and magnanimous in his difpofition; and adinirable for his moderation and strict temperance. The fun rarely found him afleep on his pillow; but with its rifing rays faluted the illuftrious King, bending the fuppliant knee before the throne of the King of Kings! And it deferves remarking, that at this hour, when he had just performed his morning-duty, and fitted himself, VOL. II. G as as it were, for heaven; the call to glory came; and without a pang, almost without a groan, the kind hand of his heavenly Father, received his foul to himself! Received him, after having indulged him to us, for a long series of important years and bleft him with fuch felicities, as have rarely fell to the lot of Kings, to the lot of the most favoured and happy of Princes. For it was his, to fee his people united in the firmeft concord, and moft friendly union; fuch as Britain never before experienced, such as her annals cannot parallel, in her moft fortunate days! It was his to fee indignant faction perish, and languishing party wafte diminished into death! It was his to fee a thankful harmonious people joyfully concurring with all his commendable measures; and contending how moft to express their zeal and their love! It was his to fee the flag of his kingdom ride triumphant over the fubject deep; it was his to behold the British Lion roused to unusual courage, and victorious in every quarter of the globe. It was his, to receive valuable acquifitions to his crown; and conquefts of the most important nature; made ftill more important and more valuable, by the notable conduct and unequalled bravery of those who gained them! For, to the glory of our King, and of our times, let it be remembered, that no period can produce a more plentiful harvest of truly gallant and heroic actions. But |