Her glory, and her pride; Yes! Jefferson!
The cause of freedom, and the cause of man,
Shall not to thy protection trust in vain;
Thou too shalt be another Washington.

295

301

Meanwhile the hostile squadrons, urg'd by fate, Made their descent on Boston's warlike shores ; Such was the heavenly will; for thro' the extent Of all Columbia, scarce was there a spot Where freedom's altar blaz'd with brighter flame :No! not Virginia's ardent soul out-stript The energies of Boston. Here fate will'd The British squadrons to fulfil their doom, And work the work of Heaven in aid of man. Here Gage, Cornwallis, Burgoyne, Clinton, Howe, Pigot, and Carleton, and some other names, Which time will lend to history, made descent.

306

292. Jefferson!-The high respect in which Washington held this enlightened friend of the human race, may be gathered from his having placed him at the head of the department of foreign affairs. And when we add that his country has thought him qualified to fill that chair, which was once occupied by Washington himself, all further commendation would be useless. See Life of W..v. 244. 417-8.

299. scarce was there a spot &c.-See Ramsay, i. 189, &c. Lord North observed; " that all the disturbances that had been in the provinces, or colonies in America, had originated in the town of Boston," &c. Debrett, vii. 70. Mr. Burke said; The cause of Boston is become the cause of all America. By these acts of oppression, you have made Boston the lord mayor of America." Almon, i. 6. See Life of W. ii. 151; and compare i. 235. 343, &c.

66

301. Virginia's &c." Virginia led the way in opposition to the Stamp-act." Ramsay, i. 59.

306. other names,-Such as, Parker, Tarleton, de Heister, Grant, Leslie, Grey, Kniphausen, Matthews, Stirling, Percy, Erskine, Prescot, Phillips, Reidesel, Frazer, Powell, Hamilton, Arbuthnot, O'Hara, Nesbit, Ross, &c.

Scarce had their feet burthen'd the generous soil,
When to their wondering eyes, the bird of fate,
With plumage just renew'd, tower'd to the left 310
Screaming aloud, and in her talons bore

Two timorous doves; these after various wheels
Poising herself in air, she lifeless dropt
Close to Cornwallis', and to Burgoyne's feet.
Amazement seiz'd them both; they knew the omen,
But knew too late, for Heaven had destin d them
Its instruments in freedom's glorious cause. 317
Short-sighted Man! How often dost thou work
The work of good, when thy poor narrow soul
Is bent on nought but evil! And now the time 320
Approach'd, when victory and freedom join'd
Would show the world how little art avail'd
And discipline, against the sons of men,

When with one mind resolv'd to guard their rights.
There was a mount near Boston's sea-lav'd walls,
Which all the coast commanded and the foe.

Here Freedom, and Columbia in one night

326

Rais'd such intrenchments that th' astonish'd Britons

328. Rais'd such intrenchments &c.-" The provincials proceeded to Breed's hill, (instead of Bunker's hill,) and worked with so much diligence, that between midnight and the dawn of the morning, they had thrown up a small redoubt about eight rods square. They kept such a profound silence that they were not heard by the British, on board their vessels, though very near. These having derived their first information of what was going on, from the sight of the work near completion, began an incessant firing upon them. The provincials bore this with firmness, and though they were only young soldiers, continued to labour till they had thrown up a small breast work," &c. See the account ofthe battle in Ramsay, i. 201, &c.; Life of W. ii. 289, &c.; Belsham, ii. 145.

330

Scarce thought them real; but Gage's piercing eye,
Soon undeceiv'd, still more admir'd the skill,
And science they portray'd. Instant he saw
His danger, and as instant gave the sign

Of blood. And now the nitred thunder mixt
With sulphurous lightning, pour'd their iron hail
From sea and land upon the sons of men.
But Freedom saw, and with celestial breath

335

Breath'd on the storm, which in the rooted earth
Whizz'd its averted way. The British chief,
Inflam'd with rage that Freedom's haughty sons
Should thus withstand his power, and undismay'd
Extend their dangerous works, instant resolv'd 341
To force the intrenchments with his choicest troops;
This honour, interest, safety, all enjoin'd,
And thus to Howe he spake; "Thou seest the foe,
How daring his rebellious spirit defies
345

Our distant power; 'tis time we show our force
In all its terrours; take some chosen troops,
And let the horrent bayonet drive thence
Those haughty rebels: on thy well-known worth
My firmest hopes rely for prompt success;
For should the setting sun o'ershade the plains,
And those proud rebels still retain their post,
Disgrace, and ruin must attend our cause,
And British valour cease to be the theme

350

Of universal praise. Haste then, and crown'd 355 With well-earn'd laurels may'st thou soon return!" Thus spake the chief, and Howe obedient heard. And now the British veterans 'gan their march;

Destructive march, the bitter cause of woe

To victors as to vanquish'd; but scarce reach'd 360
Their midway course, when Freedom, who that day
Had Warren's form assum'd, thus to her sons
Exclaim'd aloud; "Now is the time arriv'd,
When all those rights and privileges, for which
Your noble fathers left their native home,
And came to dwell with savages, and brutes,
Rather than they would forfeit; which alone
Make life itself a blessing, and endear
Man to his Maker; these endanger'd all

365

By the iron hand of power, now rest on yon, 370
Pure as you have receiv'd them from your sires,
Down to your children to transmit as pure.
Think that the spirits of those godlike men

Now look from heaven on you their chosen sons;
Yes; far above the rest are ye now chosen,

375

To guard the post of honour, and defend

Your rights, your laws, your country, and your God.
See there the foe, who, proud of discipline
And military art, has dar'd to doubt

Your courage, O Columbians! But nor fear, 380
Nor tremble at his threats; such potent aid

Have you in Freedom, come by Heaven's high will Herself to join your cause. Then hear her voice, Be arm'd with terrour, and repel the foe."

379. has dar'd to doubt &c.-" European philosophers had published theories, setting forth that not only vegetables and beasts, but that even men degenerated in the western hemisphere," &c. Ramsay, i. 193; ii. 33. But compare gen. Conway's speech, Nov. 1775, Almon, iii. 201.

She said, and breath'd such ardour in their breasts, That they scarce waited till the hostile files 386 Had reach'd the intrenchments; when no signal given,

Such streams of sulphurous fire pour'd from the

mount,

That their astonish'd ranks felt, in full force,
The present Deity. Confusion saw,

390

And urg'd their staggering columns, while Dismay,
And Flight, and Death, with vast gigantick strides,
Strew'd with the dead, and dying all the hill.
As when Vesuvius' subterranean wind

395

400

Pours from its yawning crater on mankind
Its fiery horrours, while the pitchy smoke
In vast successive columns veils the sun,
And trembling man flies from the redden'd gloom
To seek his safety in the distant plains;
So fled the British squadrons from the fire
Of Bunker's terrours; art, and discipline
Yielded to artless valour; but their chief,
Brave in an odious cause, and urg'd by shame,
Flew thro' the broken ranks with eagle speed, 404
And thus exclaim'd; "For shame, ye Veterans!
Where are those boastful threats, that discipline
On which you vaunted to subdue the foe
At the first onset? Where is gone your fame,
Your British valour? See those raw recruits
Mock all your skill; those daring rebels laugh 410
At all your efforts, and despise your fame!
Where would you fly? Your distant homes refuse