MILITIAL Mr. Pye brought in his Militia Bill, which was read a firft time, and ordered to be printed. CALL OF THE HOUSE. Mr. Vyner rofe to make a motion, the purport of which he faid was only to oblige Members to do that duty to their conftituents and to the nation at large which became them, and indeed only that which they virtually became bound to do when they took their feats in that Houfe. He then adverted to the great fum which Gentlemen were already apprifed would be required this year for the ordnance estimates. Ir. his opinion that was a matter of fo much importance to the country in general, as to merit the fulleft deliberation of its reprefentatives in Parliament. He then moved that this House be called over on this day three weeks. The Chancellor of the Exchequer obferved, that a Call of the Houfe could only be juftified by more effential reafons than those which had been given by the Hon. Member who made the motion. In his opinion, the public bufinefs which he had mentioned did not demand a general call of the Houfe. There was no novelty in the demand which would be made this year for defraying the expence of the fortifications— the money then propofed had in fact been voted two feflions ago, and the fubject was again agitated laft year, when it was thought proper to defer the further confideration of it. The Board of General Officers which had been appointed to investigate and enquire into the propriety and utility of the plans propofed, was a matter of fuch public notoriety, that no gentleman could poflibly fay he was ignorant of it, and it was in confequence of the report of that Board approving of the plan in general, that the money was to be demanded; there could therefore be no intention of taking the House by furprife, as he had fome days ago given notice that the Ordnance eftimates would be moved for on Monday next, and he forefaw great inconveniency in poftponing the confideration of them to a more diftant day. For thefe reasons he certainly would oppofe the motion. Mr. Martin declared himfelf to be no friend to the fortifications--they muft of neceflity occafion an increase of the standing army, of which every friend to his country ought to be jealous. On this account the motion fhould have his fupport. Mr. Fox faid, that if ever there was a queftion which could juftity a Call of the Houfe, the queftion relative to the fortifications was one of the most important, and one as to which there prevailed much ferious difference of opinion. For his part, he was one of those who expected that it would not be renewed; at least it would have been but decent had the Houfe been fooner apprifed of it. The expence of the proposed platt of fortification, he obferved, was perhaps that which was lefs known than any other part of it. He begged gentlemen to confider, that when the fyftem was once adopted, it muft be pursued, and the question was not whether the fum propofed ought or ought not to be voted, it was the commencement of a plan which would involve pofterity in its confequences, and entail upon the nation endless expence. Confidering it in that view, it was the duty of the Houfe to call together all its Members. Mr. Pitt perfifted in his former opinion, that the bufinefs of the Ordnance ettimates was not of that magnitude or importance as to render a Call of the Houfe neceffary. Mr. Vyner ipoke a few words in explan tion: after which the question was put, and the Houfe divided, when the numbers were, Ayes 54 Noes 100 Majority against the motion 46 CONCLUSION OF THE WESTMINSTER ELECTION. Mr. Fox rofe, and acquainted the Houfe, that from the filence of the Houfe on all fides, from the tranquillity which reigned within doors and without, on the fubject of the Weftmintter Election, he might now be permitted to fay, that it was concluded. He would not wantonly revive the debates which it had occafioned. But furely he might be allowed to confider it as a circumftance not a little flattering to himfelf, that notwithftanding the influence which had been used to crush his intereft, the chicanery and vexatious management which characterised the whole oppofition to his election, all the plans and exertions of his enemies to difappoint his detire of representing the city of Weftminfter had not fucceeded. He now therefore ftood up in his place to make his election; and though he regarded the borough which had done him the honour of returning him with much gratitude and refpect, he refigned his feat for Kirkwall, that he might fit as Member for Wettmintter. Lord Hood thought it did the city of Weft minster much credit, that they had fat down at laft in quiet acquiefcence with the retuit of that very troublefome and intricate bufines. For, in his mind, the ablett, the most indefatigable Committee that ever tried a con tefted election, muft have been extreme.y puzzled to come to a decifion in this. And where fo much ambiguity remained, nothing could be more laudable than the moderation of all parties. [To be continued.] POETRY. HYMN of CALLIOPE: At the Clofe of a Poem entitled "GIBILTERRA SALVATA," By the Marquis IPPOLITO PINDEMONTE, Noble Venetian. Tranflated by Mrs. PIOZZI, late Mrs. THRALE. 7HAT laurels for thy fons fuffice, wife! Who lifts more high her towery head, As gathering tempefts round her fpread! 'Tis thus the hound-chas'd lion turns, And with increafing fury burns; The Hydra thus Herculean ftrength confounds, While heads fucceed to heads, and heal her bard-dealt wounds. 'Twas not in vain the voice from high, Refounding thro' our nether sky, Defenceles Britain taught to dare, And fix the fea her feat of war; Till Aha's proftrate pomp was feen Bending before old Ocean's Queen; For fuch was all-controuling Heaven's command, Who fways by force the fea, with laws shall rule the land. But Fame must fade, and Power must On all but thee, fweet fainted Peace! Her white wand stretch'd o'er all but Muft then thy flame contracted blaze, Or lend to leffer lights her rays? It muft; but Poets' piercing eyes explore, And fee how inbred worth compenfates foreign power. Where flowly turns the fouthern pole, And distant conftellations roll, A fea-girt continent lies hurl'd, That keeps the balance of the world; But filtred fogs and hoary frost Defend th' inhofpitable coaft, Which, veil'd from fight, cludes the pilot's His partial affections by beauty and love; Each charm the difplay'd, but th' inflexible fire Bid her leave her beft ftatue and quickly retire, Content o'er gay Venice her empire to hold, By cuftom unbridled, by laws uncontroul'd, This fentence encourag'd pale Dian to dare, But bashfulness check'd, and her fpirits defpair; Now banish'd to Britain, well pleas'd fhe refides Near Loddon's cool current, and Thames's green fides; Her crefcent o'er Windfor's fam'd turret difplays, And Modefty lillens to Chastity's praise. Next Pallas protested, that if they'd fubmit To her, they fhould never be wanting in wit; She talk'd of Petrarca, her favourite fon, Said Greathead fhould finish what he had begun; Then nam'd his two friends;-but there Jove ftopt her tongue, Or the goddefs had lengthen'd till midnight her fong. Young Flora meanwhile from her unfading How have I wish'd that beam to be The morning dew that wets the role, Of her who never thinks of me. But her who never thinks of me. Then go, fair hope! for ever go, * A fmall town fituated on the fummit of a mountain in the vicinity of Florence; it the Fafula of the anticats, of which there are yet fome remains. His rude difcordant tide Rolls to the Western deep. This is my fav'rite hour of blifs fevere, To me more grateful than the gaudy time, When vocal Spring awakes Her gaily painted flowers; Than when red Summer glares with sultry gaze On the parch'd hills; er fallow Autumn throws His golden treasure round, And drains the purple vine. Amidst the dreary Appenines I hear The tumbling rocks increafe the torrent's roar; And the wide ranging wolf Howl on the mountaia's fide; While Echo, ftarting from her icy bed, Mimics the uproar wild, and Fancy comes In pilgrim robe array'd, And waves her magic wand. Lo! at her call the fairy vions rife, That calm the fenfe of woe; Remembrance brings The mirror of the past, And fober reafon reigns. Where are the jocund hours of wanton mirth, That late beguil'd my youth? where are the friends That join'd the choral lay, When life's fair morn began? Perchance they chafe the fleeting pleasures ftill, Nor caft one thought on him who liftens here To the wild Itorm, and wooes Grim midnight to his arms. Then welcome to my foul, congenial power! Rough winter, hail! I love thy hoary locks, Thy tempeft-breathing fighs, The deluge of thy tears. The SNOWBALL, a CANTATA. By CUTHBERT SHAW. RECITATIVE. A na strephon new 5 Harriet, wanton as the fportive roe, fall'n fnow, Th' enamour'd youth, who'd long in vain admir'd, By ev'ry look and ev'ry gefture fir'd, While round his head the harmless bullets fly, Thus breathes his paffion, prefac'd with a figh: AIR. Ceafe, my Charmer, I conjure thee, Oh! ceafe this pastime, too fevere; Tho' 1 burn, fnow cannot cure me, Fix'd is the flame that rages here. Bnow in thy hand its chillnefs lofes, Each flake converts to glowing fire, Whilst the cold breaft all warmth refuses; Thus I by contraries expire. No!-in that bofom gentle Love refides, And sweet Humanity inhabits there ; What need my veffel fear the 'whelming tides, When Venus guides me with her filver ftar ? Secure, my bark in Hope's fair haven rides, Defpair's wild waves I've left at diftance far. VI. CONTENT. NO more my breast shall heave inceffant fighs, Content beneath my humble roof shall dwell; Confenting glances fteal from Delia's eyes, And her foft bofom's fecret meaning tell. Hy men, with speed the filken bands prepare: Ye laughing Loves, the myrtle garland twine; Let fcatter'd rofes fcent the ambient air, And hov'ring Joys furround the facred shrine. Then radiant, with the radiant fun, arife; The Graces wait attendance meet to pay; Venus herself from Cytherea flies To crown the triumph of thy nuptial day: Then fhall fhe own none worthier beauty's prize, E'er felt the power of Love's imper'al fway. H. S. On a LADY's forfeiting her GLOVE, and refusing to comply with the Terma for having it restored. WHAT HAT doft thou afk? Reftore thy I can't, indeed, my deareft love, To one who always lov'd you fo. It gives me pain to hear you tell To skreen your lovely hands from cold or Or that can give a kiss as sweet. 'Tis fure ungracious to deny, When 'twere a merit to comply With eafy, gentle terms, as love can grant Be then the forfeiture obey'd, I fhall a happy man be made, 'Tis all I wish, 'tis all I want. Then to the kind propitious Power My gratitude fhall be addrefs'd, W. |