after many gallant actions in the conquest of the country. Our limits forbid our entering largely into the poem, which possesses great merit, and by every Briton ought to be read with admiration. We shall, however, make a quotation of some length, by way of specimen; it is the speech of a Druid, predicting the future prosperity of this country, and enumerating the learned:

"Know thou, tho' nations far remov'd may boast
Of wits inventive, various and sublime,
Tho' arts that to th' inquiring mind disclose
New figures, by the nicest touch improv'd,
Will please alternately, and inform their kind;
Yet, as in arms, even here Britannia's sons
Will hold the foremost rank. On every theme
That fills the human mind, on every scene
That calls gay fancy to expand her wings,
What train in science, skill'd or vers'd in art,
Lets in resistless light! I see a sage
Man, while he names him, will exult to see
The human intellect approach so near
To what we deem divine: a god-like son
Of Albion, measuring in exalted thought
Heaven's mighty arch, unfolding as he scans
Th' expanse, the laws that hold within their spheres
The planetary orbs, and to mankind,

In wonder fix't, unravelling all the springs
Of nature's secret harmony.* What powers
Meet in yon great philosopher, whose mind
Fathoms the depths of science, and extends
Her else contracted circuit in his walk,
As his rapt eye revolves from theme to theme.†
I see a man of comprehensive thought,
In science as in wisdom deeply skill'd,
Who scans the mind with penetrating eye;
Th' ideas not inherent, but acquir'd,

And brought by just experience into form
A's rudiments of knowledge, who explores
Its reason, fancy, passion, memory, will,
To man unfolding treasures lodg'd within,
But first by him disclos'd! On lighter themes,
Themes ever new, that hold delighted thought
As in th' enchanter's circle, and supply
Flowers cull'd from ev'ry field; what joyous train
On yonder lawns disport! Unbeaten paths
They choose, and see spontaneous foliage shade,
And blossoms variegate their walk: the thorns
Shrink at their touch, while o'er the smiling field
Beauty and elegance resume their reignt.

But chief the sons of harmony, the throng
With touch ineffable, that break the dream
Of slumbering ecstacy, arise in view.

Lo! by the bank of yonder willow'd stream
The son of Nature lies, the parent's lov'd
And favour'd offspring; taught beneath her eye
To seize her happiest attitudes; to give
Her perfect image to mankind, with all
The mild, the new, the beauteous, the sublime,
Attendant on her gait! To yonder Man
Of Albion, sinking as with years, and woe,
Who lifts to heav'n these dim and blasted orbs
In bitterness of heart, th' Eternal gives
Internal light, a spirit on fiery wings
Rapt to its great original, that soars
Beyond the visible diurnal sphere ! ||
O ye in later times, ordain'd to share
These sacred gifts that, while ye please, improve
And smooth the manners of a warlike race,
As once the fathers of poetic song,

Who tam'd erewhile and harmoniz'd the mind!
Whether along the lyre's resounding strings

Locke. + Addison, Steele, Congreve, &c. + Shakespeare.

Milton

Ye fling a careless hand, and bid the source
Of music swell an ever varying lay; *
Or soar on Epic pinions, or with strokes
That melt or raise, adorn the moral song:†
Ye in the page of history, who hold
A faithful mirror to mankind, nor there
Alone display their actions, but explore
The springs of mighty changes, and of deeds
That hold in every age the world in gaze,
you
what triumphs are reserv'd! I see
The graces sporting in your walk, adorn

For

And bless the land where Science holds her reign!"

From this agreeable specimen the reader will judge respecting the merits of the poem, which we have read with much pleasure. Every Briton will eagerly contemplate the origin of our island. Such kind of poems, though no doubt mingled, in no small de'gree, with the fictions of poetic machinery, yet are always gratifying to posterity.

Retrospect of the Political World,
FOR OCTOBER, 1801.

T is with the sincerest pleasure, and with the most

Iheartfelt satisfaction, that we record in this our monthly department, the commencement of PEACE between the FRENCH REPUBLIC and the UNITED KINGDOM of GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND.For some time past the matter has been in agitation, and numerous were the reports circulated respecting it. Agreeable to their prejudices did individuals speculate either for or against it. But we were relieved from the uncertainty by the disclosure of ami

* Dryden, Pope, &c.

Pope, Addison, Prior, Young, Thomson.
Hume, Robertson, Gibbon, &c.

ty on the 2d day of October-a period memorable in the annals of our country! So completely sudden was the arrival of the glorious news, that perfect astonishment seized persons of all descriptions. Not only the opposition, but even the ministerial prints were strangers to the business-whilst all therefore suspected the failure of the negociation-all were surprised by the annunciation of Peace between France and the British dominions. We shall add the following Gazette Extraordinary on the subject

"London Gazette Extraordinary.

"Downing street, Oct. 2. "Preliminaries of Peace between his MAJESTY and the FRENCH REPUBLIC were signed last night at Lord Hawkesbury's Office in Downing-street, by the Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, on the part of his Majesty, and by M. Otto on the part of the French Government."

The next step was to ratify the Preliminaries of Peace, which was accordingly done by the two Governments with all possible expedition. On the roth it was known to the public in the following manner: "London Extraordinary Gazette.

"Downing street, Oct. 10. "The Ratification of the Preliminary Articles of Peace between his Majesty and the French Republic, signed on the 1st instant, were this day exchanged by the Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and by M. Otto."

General Lauriston arrived with the ratification; he is one of General Buonaparte's Aid de Camps, and was received here with the greatest cordiality. As soon as he was known, the horses were taken from his carriage, and he was drawn by the populace, accompanied with loud acclamations of joy. The

Park and Tower guns were fired on the occasion. In the evening the city was in a blaze with the illu minations-they were also continued on the Monday evening, and in some places even on the Tuesday evening. It is remarkable that on Saturday night during the illuminations, a tremendous storm of thundering and lightning took place-it seemed as if heaven joined with earth, in reflecting back its reverberations of joy!

The Definitive Treaty will be signed at Amiens (half way from Calais to Paris) in a very short pe. riod.

Dispatches have been received at last from GENERAL HUTCHINSON in Egypt, announcing the fall of Alexandria into their hands. Thus the conquest of Egypt is completed. It is however by the conditions of the peace to return back to the Turks, its old masters, who, it is to be hoped, will govern them with justice and moderation.

May the distinguished blessing of PEACE, now again poured into our bosoms, be duly improved by us after so long a series of bloody and merciless contentions! May it prove the happy omen of prosperity to all the NATIONS OF THE WORLD!

Oct. 1.

MONTHLY CHRONOLOGIST,
FOR OCTOBER, 1801.

RELIMINARIES of Peace between

PREL
his Majesty and the French Republic

signed by Lord Hawkesbury and M. Otto in Downing-street.

7. Lord Grenville assembled his corps of Volunteer Cavalry in Stoke Park, and after thanking them for their vigilance, told them that the blessing of peace being restored, his Majesty had no further occasion for their services.

8. Mr. Locke's beautiful ship of 1200 tons,