The Judges, however, pronounced their belief
(Howe'er he might deal with the traitor and thief,)
It would not, just then, be expedient to force
The great stream of property out of its course,
Or that, for example, the person who gets

Lord Camelford's land* should be charged with his debts;

Such visions and dreams might pass off in a pleader,
But never would suit a political leader.

And that as to law and religion, the Nation
Abhorr'd foreign projects and rash innovation;
And ne'er would consent their palladium to see
In the hands of the Son of a French Refugee.

* Lord Grenville succeeded to the late Lord Camelford's real estates.-E.

THE CHOICE OF A LEADER.

No. V.

March 6, 1815.

WITH clumsy alacrity MACKINTOSH rose,

Removed his old hat from the bridge of his nose,
Uncover'd his eyes to the light of the day,

And show'd his dark locks lightly sprinkled with grey

Those patriot locks, which at liberty roam,
Untarnish'd with powder, untamed by the comb;
Which, wild and erect on his forehead, are seen,
True types of the freedom that harbours within.

He spoke, but to copy his idiom and tones The muse her despair very candidly owns ;The sound was as Virgil describes of the croak

Of ravens, that sit on the sinister oak,—

The language, where flourish and flimsiness join,
Resembles good English, as counters do coin.

"With ample respect for the erudite, great, "And eminent men who adorn this debate, "With deference deep and profound to the chair, "Or rather to those whom I see sitting there, "I humbly beg leave to express my surprise "On a question so plain how a doubt can arise ; "And that it should not be allowed on all hands "What views and what talents the crisis demands.

"Is this a fit season our notice to draw

"To quiddits and quirks of the Old Bailey law; "The rise of a duty, the fall of a loan; "Or drunken affrays of Maccollopmahone? "When Europe (I love great examples to quote) "Is like the head dish at a Spa table d'hote; "Where men of all nations, with stomachs not nice, "Are anxious to seize the best spoonful and slice.

"When tyrants are basely colleaguing to trench "On the rights of that innocent people the French; "I gave to their efforts in Liberty's cause "My first and shall still give my latest applause; "You all must remember my earliest work, "To vindicate Gaul* from the slanders of BURKE; "I ventured the banners of freedom to wave

"In the face of that pensioner, bigot, and slave;

“And sanguine in hope, with sublim elocution,

66

Applauded the march of the French Revolution; "Defended-of mortals the wisest and best

"MIRABEAU, CONDORCET, PETION, and the rest, "By whose active minds and stout hands were o'erthrown

"Of priestcraft the altars of despots the throne“Precursors and guides in their brilliant career, "Of HE'BERT, MARAT, and the great ROBES

PIERRE

* Vindicia Gallicæ, by James Mackintosh.-E.

"We saw, by their efforts, the limits of France "In rapid progression o'er Europe advance,

"Before her, Kings, Princes, and Commonwealths

"fall

"On the Po, the Tessino, the Rhine and the Waal! "And who can behold, without sorrow and pain, "This flourishing Empire dismember'd again?

"Her standards repell'd from the Sarre and the Dyle,

"All the way to the out-works of Verdun and Lille: "The friends of political freedom will mourn

"On this side the Rhine to see Germans return; "And even the cruellest heart it must touch, "That Holland is basely transferred to the Dutch!

"But this is not all the complaints of the Poles "Should ring in our ears, and sink deep in our souls!

"That nation, once happy, united, and free,

"Near forty years since was divided in three!