MR.

WHY TE

ON READING HIS

MIRR OUR FOR YOUTH, &c.

BY

ANTHONY KIN G, L.L.D.*

STRANGE! that in Critic guife fuch charms you boast; When most severe, 'tis then you please the most : Correct in Judgment, and refin'd in Taste, So true to Nature, and in Art so chafte, You, like the Bee, Dramatic fweets can fip, Still prompt to turn the Poison from the Lip; You check the fond extravagance of youth, And fix the Mirrour on the fide of Truth; By fad example ftem the giddy rage, That goads intemperate folly to the Stage; Familiar facts present before the eye, While Pity's felf in justice heaves the figh, To fave unthinking Innocence from shame, And spare those pangs that would embitter fame; Since none but those incautious who explore The fhoals of Fortune, would approach her shore ; By this, we know the precepts you pursue; By this, we learn the praise that is your due: The Pulpit, Senate, and the Bar declare'

The foftering touches of your early care;

N n

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Nor

* Author of the Frequented Village-The Moriad-Essay on National Education, and other Miscellaneous Piece

Nor lives a youth, ambitious of a name,

But grafts his laurels on your well-earn'd fame:
Yet not reftricted to this favour'd foil,
Even Britain fhares the harvest of your toil;
Freedom's firft Champions your alliance boast,
And in a fingle name we name a Hoft.
See SHERIDAN!* whom all the Nine infpire,
Explor❜d by you, you rous'd the latent fire,
Which blazing now, develop'd and intenfe,
Burfts with a flood of radiance on the fenfe;

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Gives light to counfel and to fenates laws,

And juftly from the world extorts applaufe.

'Tis thine, to teach our youth to fpeak with grace;
To nerve the tongue and animate the face;
To earn those laurels, which the ftage has won;
To speak like ROSCIUS,-but his fate to fhun.

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REBUS. * Mr. WHYTE opened his Seminary for the Inflitution of Youth, Monday, April the 3d, 1758, encouraged to the arduous undertaking by the late Mr. Sheridan, an enthusiast on the important fubject of Education. That Gentleman's two fons, Charles-Francis, and Richard-Brinfley above alluded to, were his first Pupils; but, 'tis a circumftance worthy of remark, their early years afforded no hopes of that vigour of genius for which they have fince been diftinguished, and of the two, Richard-Brinsley, the youngest, continued for fome time the moft unpromising. Their Mother, a Lady no less respected for her domeftic Virtues, than admired in the Literary World, on committing them to his care took occafion to inculcate the neceffity of arming himself with Patience, adding, “These Boys " will be your tutors in that refpect; I have hitherto been their "only inftructor, and they have fufficiently exercised mine; for two fuch impenetrable Dunces I never met with."

WHAT cunning mortal Rebus-Writing taught?

Whether from Phoebus' felf the hint was caught,
Or from the tuneful Sifters first it fell,

'Tis hard, I ween, and of small ufe to tell; Tho' book-learn'd critics oft, or story errs, Have spun out volumes on as vague affairs;

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But be it or not of origin divine,

My friends approving I shall ne'er repine.

You, honour'd and esteem'd, call forth the Muse`;
She feels your influence and fhe can't refuse,

And tho' in cabalistic rhyme she deal,

Her love fhe owns, nor wishes to conceal;

Your skill the matchlefs Nymph may foon reveal.

Add to a toy peculiar to the Fair,

One half of what fhe does when pert and rude,

Familiar fops would on her lips intrude;

Next take a fyllable, the fame in found

Of what beneath the Sun is no where found,

Join'd with one half of that, which, 'tis confefs'd, 20 Fir'd Shakspeare's thought, and glow'd in Milton's breast, And, if exact you hit it to a T,

My Care's great boaft, and Nature's pride you'll fee.

Yet hold- -me too a Sifter claimant charms;

Excites my praife, and every bofom warms;

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Let

Let me the tribute of Affection pay;

Thus Juftice dictates, and fupports the lay.

Behold yon beauteous thrub, fragrant and tall,
Spreading its verdant honours o'er the wall!
That beauteous fhrub, propitious, ftrikes my eyes, 30
And emblematic well my verse supplies:

There, in its modeft, comely foliage feen,
We trace her mild, engaging air and mien;
Its odorous flowrets copiously dispense

Types of her blooming youth and innocence;
Seven letters juftly constitute its name,

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Twice two of which announce the lovely dame.
Fearless thus far of Cenfure's carping tooth,

In myftic numbers I have afferted truth.

Ye fqueamish Dons! of intellect fublime,

Now shake your pates, and execrate such rhyme :
"Poor fimple ftuff! for children only fit!
"What, play on fyllables! the dregs of wit."
Enjoy your own, we neither fret nor fwell,
Laughing's our plan, fo vive la Bagatelle!

IMPROMPTU.

ON DUBLIN IMPROVEMENTS,

MDCCXC.

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WHERE Dirt-holes three months fince difgraced

College-green,

A Temple erected to Mercury's feen;"

But in High-ftreet St. Michael they've left in the lurch, And for years to a Dirt-hole converted his Church.

IMPROMP

WRITTEN ON A YOUNG LADY'S FAN.

THIS toy, fweet Nymph! by thee difplay'd,

May ferve thy charms to fhield,

And for our peace, fo bright a maid
Should always be conceal'd.

But in thy hand, accomplish'd Fair!
Still faithful to thy fame,

The spark ftruck by thy shape and air
It fans into a flame.

EPIGRAM S.

VOX ET PRETEREA NIHIL.

OVID.

TALKWELL, diftrefs'd, forlorn and poor,

Without me could not live ;'—

Now, purse-proud grown, he bars his door!
Well! I've no more to give.

ANOTHER TO THE SAME.

DICK! hold thy vain protesting tongue;

I am not fo raw a gull;

'Tis but the flourish of a drum, Great cry, and little wool.

ON A COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S ENTERING THE HOUSE

AT THE CLOSE OF A LONG-WINDED SPEECH.

TURGESIUS had gabbled himfelf out of breath;

A Nick! cries Laconic, I am in at the Death.

ΤΟ