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The downy feather on the cordage hung
Moves not the flat sea shines like yellow gold
Fus'd in the fire, or like the marble floor
Of some old temple wide!

ANON.

Upon this beach King Charles the Second landed on the 26th May, 1660, about one o'clock in the afternoon, attended by many of the nobility and gentry. He was conducted by the mayor to a canopy raised near the sea-side, and there presented with a large Bible, having gold clasps, by Mr. John Reading, a minister, who made a suitable address on the occasion. We are not made acquainted with his Majesty's reply-but the manners of Charles, after his restoration, did not accord with the pure precepts of christianity.

Higher upon the beach, and under the cliff, we were amused by contemplating the romantic cottage belonging to the Father of Sir Sydney Smith, and situated close to the resounding waves of the ocean! The cottage has a singular appearance having apparently for its roof the inverted hulk of a vessel! Passing by it, the venerable old gentle man politely permitted us to inspect a part of it, appropriated to the use of his son-he seemed justly proud of the Hero of Acre, and his parental feelings must feel a high gratification from his recent return to his native country.

Near the Pier stands the Ship Inn, where the celebrated Samuel Foote, the Comedian, breathed his last, Oct. 21, 1777; his corpse was carried back to the metropolis for interment. He had been ül for a considerable time past, and was now on his way to France for recovery. He was an extraordinary character-and was usually denominated the English Aristophanes. His comic powers, in private as well as in public, almost exceed credibility. The following anecdote, told of him by Mr. Bos

well, in his Life of Johnson, shews the truth of the assertion: The first time," says Dr. Johnson, "I was in company with Foote, was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased; and it is very diffi. cult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him; but the dog was so very comical, that. I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, throw myself back in the chair, and fairly laugh it out. Sir-he was irresistible !" Other anecdotes might have been introduced of a similar kind; but those who knew him, declare that wonderful were his powers of imitation. He published twenty different dramas-they are marked by strong lineaments of humour and vivacity.

Nor must I forget to mention, my young friend, that I visited the spot which contains the remains of the poet Churchill-he had been to visit his be loved friend, John Wilkes, Esq. at Bolougne, and died there Nov. 5, 1764. It is supposed, that hav◆ ing made too free with the French wines, his in temperance hastened his dissolution. He was brought over and buried in an old churchyard belonging to the town of Dover, where a small head stone is seen, with this laconic inscription :

Life to the last enjoyed,

Here CHURCHILL lies!

CANDIDATE.

In St. Mary's church, however, a small tablet has been placed to his memory, by his friend, Mr. Underwood, with these lines, which I copied on the spot

"In memory of that celebrated poet Mr. CHARLES CHURCHILL, who died at Bologne, in France, aged 32 years, and was buried in this town November, 1764.

"The rich and great no sooner gone,
But, lo! a monumental stone,
Inscribed with panegyric lays,
Such fulsome undeserv'd praise!
The living blush-the conscious dead
Themselves appall'd, that truth is fled!
And can it be, that worth like thine,
Thou great high-priest of all the nine!
Should moulder-undistinguish'd sleep?

At very thought the muses weep;
Forbid it gratitude and love!
O, for a flow like his to prove
How much regretted-honest bard!
Accept this shadow of regard!

"Thomas Underwood, the Impartialist, erected June, 1769."

The works of Churchill are collected in two volumes they display a lofty independence of mind, under the inspiration of genuine poetry. In one of his pieces, acknowledging his former irregularities, and declaiming against the arbitrary measures of the court, he bursts forth in these indignant lines— Enough of this-let private sorrows rest; As to the public I dare stand the testDare proudly boast, I feel no wish above The good of ENGLAND, and my country's love; Stranger to party-rage, by reason's voice Unerring guide, directed in my choice. Not all the tyrant powers of earth combin'd, No, nor of hell, shall make me change my mind; What! herd with men my honest soul disdains, Men, who, with servile zeal, are forging chains For freedom's neck, and lend a helping hand To spread destruction o'er my native land! What! shall I not e'en to my latest breath, In the full face of danger, and of death,

Exert that little strength which nature gave,
And boldly stem, or perish in the wave!

But whilst we pay this tribute of respect to the talents of the poet; the moral character of the man meets not with our approbation. To use the words of the late amiable Dr. Kippis, speaking of Churchill" He has unhappily added another name to the catalogue, already two numerous in the literary history, of those men of genius, who would have arisen to a much greater excellence in writing, and to a far more illustrious reputation, had their intellectual talents been accompanied with the uniform practice of virtue!" It may not be improper to add, that Churchill was originally a clergyman; but, upon the success of his poetry, .he flung aside the gown, and plunged into dissipation. Such characters are entitled to our commiseration. They hold out to youth this awful lesson, that the most brilliant talents are of little avail, either to our peace or to our reputation, without the essential requisites of virtue and piety!

I shall close this sketch of Dover with just mentioning, that two kind friends accompanied me one morning before breakfast, up to Shakespeare's Cliff -the ascent was steep, but the prospect on every side, from this famous eminence, was charming beyond description. To the right, the coast stretched itself along by Hythe towards Sussex; to the left appeared the town of Dover, with its tremendous castle; whilst before you lay the expanded ocean, with many a stately vessel gliding along hither and thither, reminding the spectator of the blessings of navigation! But the height of the cliff above the sea is truly terrific-and looking over the precipice, my friend caught me by the coat, through mere apprehension of the danger which might be. incurred in so perilous a situation. Well did the immortal Shakespeare exclaim

There is a cliff, whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully on the confin'd deep-
How dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!

The crows and coughs that wing the midway air,
Seem scarce so gross as beetles. Half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire: dreadful trade !
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.
The fishermen that walk upon the beach
Appear like mice, and yon tall anchoring bark
Diminish'd to her cock: her cock a buoy,
Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge
That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.

In descending the hill, we perceived a Flag of Truce arrive from Calais; we got down to the shore just time enough to see the captain and mate land; the latter threw the dispatches, contained in a white leathern bag, carelessly over his shoulders, and immediately deposited his burden at the custom house, whence it is conveyed to London without delay, It is a curious reflection, that these persons, carrying the communications from either the English or French government, know nothing of their contents, on which have lately depended the peace and happiness of the world!

In times of PEACE, the passing and repassing of individuals in such numbers, to and from the continent, forms a matter of astonishment. The distance from Dover to Calais is only 21 miles; the vessels employed before the last war were thirty, exclusive of the packets; fitted up elegantly, for the accommodation of passengers. In a fair day, when the atmosphere is clear, the coast of France may be seen very distinctly-from some of the eminences, even the town of Calais may be discerned,

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