País them; but I affure you I did not mean to feal them, and there's the half crown I left to pay for them. Mr Willfon was fo pleafed with the ingenuous declaration, that he returned his money, gave him a fecond bunch of grapes, and in the most friendly manner explained to him the impropriety of yielding to a defire without reflecting upon its confequences. Charles liftened to him with the greateft attention, and promifed never to forget his precepts; and Mr Willion was fo delighted with the openness of his manner and his readiness to acknow ledge his failings, that he invited him to come and eat grapes whenever he felt an inclination. Charles was fo much pleafed with Mr Willfon's kindness and conversation, that, without faying any thing to his father, the next day he repeated his vifit, and was much delighted at being introduced to a companion about two years older than himself. An intimacy between the two boys foon fucceeded, and Charles heard, with real concern, that his new friend was to return to Winchester fchool in lets than a fortnight, and he experi enced fo much fatisfaction in his fociety, that the idea of a feparation was truly painful. Charles's mind was naturally too active for him ever to remain unoccupied, and those hours which other boys ufual ly devote to study and improvement were by him fpent in fome fanciful invention or mischievous exploit. Although he was not cruel by nature, and, on the contrary, had really a very feeling heart, yet from mere want of reflection and boyish folly, he was often guilty of actions that might have been attributed to hardness of heart. His favourite nurfe had left the family fome years, and it generally fell to the lot of Mrs Dorcas (as the was called) to comb his hair, wash his neck, and pay those little attentions to his perfon which had formerly been performed by his good old woman, as he used to call his nurse. As Mrs Dorcas fancied herself rather degraded by this office, which he thought beneath a lady's maid, fhe did not perform it with that civility Charles expect ed, and open warfare was declared be tween them. Dorcas thought it very pretty to have all the airs of a fine lady, and therefore he was fubject to thote little imperfections which generally attend the character; fuch as conftant alarms, frequent hyftericks, and occa fional faintings: as Charies fancied all thefe fymptoms of delicate feelings rather affected than real, he took care to call them often into action, fometimes by tying black crape over his face, and fanding upon a ladder against her window; at others, by dreffing himself up in a white sheet, and going into her bed-room after the family were retired to left, and a thoufand tricks of that fort too numerous to relate. Mrs Dorcas had a brother, a gardener, in the fame village, who might certainly be faid to be the only person in it that was not abfolutely attached to Charles; but the fifter's prejudice extended to the whole of the family; and as Charles unluckily happened to injure a bed of tulips, as he one day ran through the man's garden in purfuit of a favourite rabbit, the diflike was ftrengthened into abfolute hatred, although he gave him all the money he had in his pocket, and promised him more, as foon as he had a fresh fupply. The man, not satisfied with the compenfation, went direly to Mr Hartley, and iffuing a formal complaint against his fon, demanded reparation for the injury he had luftained. For this conduct Charles was determined to be revenged, and getting up at four o'clock the next morning, affifted by his friend Joe, he contrived to cover every leaf of the tulips with thick blacking; and, not fatisfied with that revenge, they cut off all the hair, and then shaved a little white French dop, which had been prefented the gardener's wife by a French prift who lodged with them. Before Charles's introduction to Mr Willion's family he had never even heard the very mention of Latin and Greek; but now that he was told that a knowledge of thefe languages was abfolutely neceffary for every gentleman to be acquainted with, he felt his own inferiority, and conjured his father to let him return to fchool with Henry Willfon. Mr Hartley received his fon's request with the moft inexpreffible afton fhment, and attempted to convince him of its folly, by a full detail of his own fufferings, both when at fchool and at college; but Charles was neither to be diffuaded from his defign, nor intimidated from pursuing it, and his father's oppofition feemed only to increase his ardour. The going to fchool was positively denied, but a tutor at home was at length agreed to, as foon as a proper one could be found; in the mean time, Henry re turned turned to fchool, and at parting prefented his friend with a book of travels, by way of occupying his time until the arrival of the expected tutor. Charles received the gift with the highell fatisfaction, and hurried home to feaft his imagination with its contents. To defcribe the avidity with which he perused the work is impoffible; he rofe early, fat up late, and forgot the joys both of cricket and trap-ball; every country that he read of he longed to vifit, and the inactivity of his own life was abfolutely irkfome. Although Hartley Abbey was not fix miles from Portimouth, yet Charles had nearly completed his eleventh year without having rambled fo far from home. Henry's prefent had put all his ideas into motion, and calling Joe, he inquired if he knew the way to Portfmouth. Know it, Sir! replied the boy, aye, every inch of the ground, as well as you do round our paddock. Well, faid Charles, I have a fancy to fee it, and if you will rife early to-morrow morning, we can be back again before my papa comes down ftairs. Joe was delighted at his young mafter's propofal, and promifed to call him at fix o'clock. As Charles was generally an early rifer, and always had a bafon of milk as foon as he came down, the houfemaid gave it him as usual, and faw him go out attended by Joe, without afking any questions. As he was in the habit of taking a great deal of exercife, he arrived at Portímouth without being fenfible of the leaft fatigue, and beheld a fcene that called forth his aftonishment, adiniration, and delight. The fhips, docks, arfenals, ftorehouses, and barracks, were all objects of delight and amazement; and, as he flood filently viewing the wondrous scene before him, a middle aged man dreffed in a fmart navy uniform approached, and in a good humoured friendly manner offered to accompany him round the dock-yard. Charles, who was all curiofity and aftonishment, gladly accepted the ftranger's civility, and, before they had feen half the curiofities the place contained, he yielded to his intreaties to accompany him on board his fhip. Joe, who was exceffively afraid of the water, and likewife began to apprehend he should get into difgrace with his mafter and mistress, endeavoured to diffuade Charles from accepting the officer's invitation; but, eager to indulge the impulse of the moment, and delighted at the op portunity of gratifying his curiofity, he was wholly inattentive to all that was faid to him, and, defiring Joe to await his return, he stepped into a boat which his companion hailed, and was on board the fhip in less than ten minutes. Jofeph continued fauntering about the dock yard for fome time, and at length feated himself upon fome planks of timber, impatient for his young mafier's return, and dreading the refentment of his old one. In this agitated ftate of mind, how muft his terrors have increased at perceiving a fudden darkness overspread the fky, and hearing the mariners declare there was every appearance of a violent tempest. The gathering ftorm foon burst over his head, loud peals of thunder were fucceeded by vivid flashes of forked lightning! The wind arofe, the rain defcended, and evening approached to complete the horror of the scene! Drenched with the torrents that had fallen, terrified at the prospect around him, and convinced it was impoffible his young mafter could return, the affrightened boy at length determined to endeavour to find his way to the abbey; but before he had reached more than half the diftance, night advanced fo haftily upon him, that he was abfolutely unable to proceed, and, feating himfelf under the fhade of a fpreading oak, he loudly bewailed his own misfortunes! He had not remained there many minutes, when he perceived diftant lights glimmering in various places, and diftinctly heard voices in different parts repeat alternately the names of Master Hartley and Joe Turner! Here I am! exclaimed Joe, his heart palpitating with joy at the found; here I am, under the oak tree! The lights quickly approached, and what was Joe's aftonishment at beholding his mafter (who for eighteen years had never gone beyond the precincts of his own eftate) drenched with rain, and accompanied by Mr Willfon, his fervants, and half the parish. Where's my boy? he exclaimed; where's my darling boy? tell me directly, you rascal, or I fhall lose my fenfes with terror and anxiety! Compofe your fpirits, my good Sir, faid Mr Willfon, and do not give way to unneceffary alarms; I doubt not but the lad will be enabled to give a very good account of my young friend; then, turning to Joe, Come, my good fellow, faid he, be brief, and tell us where you have left young Hartley. Joc inftantly fell upon his knees, regardlef gardless of the pool of water into which he plunged, and in a very prolix ftyle related the whole account of what had happened, from their leaving the abbey in the morning to Charles's accompany ing the ftranger on board his ship. The idea of his fon's being expofed to the danger of the warring elements in fuch a tremendous night was too much for Mr Hartley's fortitude to fuftain, and he beat his breafts, tore his hair, and abfolutely acted the part of a madman. Mr Willon pitied both his weaknefs and want of refolution, and ufed every argument in his power to perfuade him to return to the abbey, but in vain, for be refolved to go on to Portsmouth, and Mr Willfon had too much compaffion to fuffer him to be unattended. The tempeft continued to rage with the moft dreadful violence during the whole of the night, and never abated until fix o'clock the next morning. The unhappy father could not be perfuaded to go to bed; and, as foon as it was light, he fallied forth to take a view of the fhipping, and endeavour to get intelligence of his darling fon. But what an agonizing profpect met his view! Ships driven from their anchors! mafis floating on the water! boats upfet! and every object that met his eye tended to imprefs the idea of his child's being loft for ever! Agonized with grief, and frantic with defpair, he flopped every creature that he met to endeavour to obtain fome intelligence of his boy, and at length he had the good fortune to encounter one of the failors who had rowed him to the fhip. His joy at this circumftance was almoft equal to his grief, and taking out his purfe, he promifed the man the whole of its contents, if he would reftore the child to his longing arms. All that! exclaimed the man, rubbing his hands, and looking at the purfe with aftonishment; why, that's enough to make a man jump maft high to think of! However, your honour, I'll haul young Fresh Water overboard, and moor him fafely by your fide, or never tread the gangway again, that's all! So faying, away he flew, jumped into the firft boat, and rowed towards a large, fhip that appeared to have fuffered but little injury from the late tempeftuous weather. Mr Willfon, who had rilen early and miffed his companion, juft arrived upon the beach as the failor had taken his leave, and drawing a telescope from his pocket, anxiously watched all his motions, and ia lefs than ten minutes after he boarded the Bellona, which was the name of the fhip Charles had been enticed to take a furvey of, he had the fatisfaction of feeing him return accompanied by the runaway and a naval officer. Mr Hartley's joy at once more beholding the object of his affection was greater than can be imagined, and lieutenant Anfon returned with his little companion to apologize for the uneasiness he had unintentionally occafioned; he told Mr Hartley, that being attracted by the ingenuous countenance of his fon, he had entered into conversation with him, and finding him anxious to difcover the utility of the objects around him, he had offered to explain them, and, being delighted with his remarks and charmed with his fociety, he had inadvertently taken him on board a fhip without inquiring whether he was expected at home: that the fucceeding form had rendered it impoffible to carry him on fhore, and his courage and manly conduct during that scene of danger had endeared him to all the officers, and it was their united wish that Mr Hartley would fuffer him to become a sailor. Suffer him to become a failor, Sir! exclaimed Mr Hartley, why I would much fooner make him a fhoe-black! My very existence depends upon his fociety, and my life would fall a facrifice if I was deprived of it. As to your making your fon a failor, my good Sir, faid Mr Willfon, that is a mode of life I fhould not think of recommending; but let me have the pleasure of convincing you that it is your duty as a parent to render him fit to fill fome one ftation in life with honour to himfelf, and credit to his father. From fome ftrange prejudice, or fome private pique, you feem to have an averfion both to Science and information; but Providence has bleft you with a fon, Mr Hartley, whofe fuperiority of abilities and ardency of imagination abfolutely require a conftant exertion, and if you do not take the trouble of turning them into their proper channel, you will convert that into a misfortune, which might have proved a real bleffing. So you will, papa, faid Charles; and I am fure I understand what Mr Willfon means: I should like to be a failor, to be fure; and fo I told Mr Anfon, because then I always fhould have fomething to do; but I would much rather go to Winchefter, because then I might get before boys that are older than myfelf, for Henry fays, thofe who have a mind to fag may A may always get forward at Winchef ter. Well, well, we'll think about it, faid Mr Hartley, for if you will puzzle your brain with Latin and Greek, you e'en muft; but, remember, I'll quit Hartley Abbey, and take houfe at Winchester, for I would not fleep another night without you to become mafter of the universe. The plan of taking a houfe at Winchefter was immediately adopted, and at the fame time a diftant relation of Mr Willfon's arrived in the country for the benefit of the air. This gentleman was one of the principal affiftants at Winchefter school, and being delighted with the natural fuperiority of Charles Hartley's understanding, undertook to prepare him for his admiffion into the fchool; ODE, and in the courfe of three months clofe application he was as completely versed in the rudiments of Latin grammar as many boys who have ftudied it the fame term of years; and before he had been entered one year, he obtained a superiority over others who had been ftationed there four or five. Charles's mind, once occupied in a laudable purfuit, was no longer amufed by mifchievous exploits, or childish amulements; and when the period arrived that he was to quit Winchefter, he carried away with him the most flattering teftimonies both of his conduct and abilities; and though he was not admitted into that feat of learning until he had attained his eleventh year, yet by close study and intenfe application he foon outftripped his predeceffors. POETRY. FOR HER MAJESTY'S BIRTH DAY. Performed at St James's. WRITTEN BY H. J. PYE, ESQ. POET-LAUREAT. Set to mufic by Sir WM. PARSONS. THO HO' the dun mift and driving rack, Awhile may hide the orb of day, Aloft he keeps his radiant track Burning with undiminish'd ray; And foon before his gorgeous fire The evanefcent clouds retire; Then, bursting forth to mortal fight, His glories flash with keener blaze, Dim with their force the dazzled gaze, Sowing with flame Divine the empyreal Fields of Light. So while the lowering Clouds of Fate O'er Europe's torpid regions spread, They feem'd enthron'd in gloomy State, To hang o'er Albion's drooping head; Supreme in glory yet she stood Superior to the vapoury flood, And foon, before her kindling eye, The fcatter'd clouds difperfing fly, In awful Glory while appear, Red with vindictive Flame, the Terrors of her Spear. Their Fleets, the Victor's Trophy, captur'd ride, In future battles doom'd to combat on our fide. Seas where deathlefs Bards of yore Singing to the filver tide, Grecian Art and Roman Pride, Saw ye fo Bold, fo free a Band, See floating friendly in the wind, The Ruffian Eagle with the Crefcent And fhall on Earth Rome's cowering With ruffled plumage and with languid Imperial Auftria roufe! While Albion's Fleet Sweeps ftern Oppreffion from the Main, Send forth thy Legions on the Embattled Plain; 'Till Savage Inroad turn to Foul Defeat; Strike with United Arm the Blow, Lay the Gigantic Boafter low; 2 O'er do glare, Impreffing fuperftition's fons with care, Who trembling think each moment is their laft. While fnow-fed torrents in the valleys foam, At eve the cotters from the ftorm retire, And warm and happy in their humble home, They envy not the noble's fplendid dome, But prefs the lip of love with honeft fire. Hail Independence! thy benign command, In rugged chimes can fwell each breast with joy, Thy power unnerves the tyrant's bloody hand, Beneath thy banners, foldiers firmly ftand, Or in thy noble caufe undaunted die. No more the rofe and pink with beauty glow, Diffufing fragrance thro' the genial air, The froft bound rills no longer gurgling flow, The trees are leaflefs, mountains crowned with fnow, And nature wears the aspect of despair. Ye gay! ye proud! fafe from inclement fkies, While round the fire the laugh and joke delight, Ye liften not to mifery's piteous fighs, Ye look not where the fhivering female iyes, Expofed to all the horrors of the night! Ye fee not yonder youth with paces flow, Who trudges, heedleis of the gufhing rain, |