AN ALLEGORICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND OF PROMISE.

ON

N the first day of April, going upon a fool's venture, I embarked on board the good fhip Expectation, Captain Courtly commander, which fet fail directly for the Land of Promife. After we had paffed the Cape of Good Hope, we fteered towards the Fortunate Islands, and with a fair wind foon arrived at the end of our voyage, and put into port.

We were all along very much deceived with respect to the distance; for when we thought ourselves clofe upon the coaft, we found, by our foundings, that we were yet a great way off land, and the utmost speed we could make scarce brought us nearer.-Nothing indeed could be more enchanting than the prospect we still had before our eyes of this country afar off: the mountains seemed to be covered with gold, the vales to gliften with precious ftones, the trees to be laden with the richest fruit, and the rivers to flow with milk and honey: the breezes that blew towards us, wafted the most refreshing sweets: nor could we perceive the least cloud in the ferene fky, but the fun fhone continually with the most dazzling luftre: in fhort, every thing tempted us to advance, with an appearance of uninterrupted joy and happiness.

As foon as we had landed, I found the inhabitants. in a perpetual hurry of business, running to and fro, regardless of every body but themselves, and wearing the face of care and importance. There was a prodigious crowd ftill pushing on towards the principal city, called Favour; the entrance to which was guarded by the ftrong gate of Intereft, and nobody was allowed to go in by any other way. We faw many conftantly preffing forward for admittance, and as conftantly repulfed yet fome of them took to the fortrefs of Hope, where they waited for a more favourable opportunity.

There

There are innumerable air-castles fcattered all over this district, which the people are continually amusing themselves in building up, and pulling down; but the greatest of all is the caftle of Vanity, from the ramparts of which are difplayed enfigns of blue, red, and green ribands. Some few, conducted by Pride, bent their steps thither; but the most part had their eyes fixed on the Grand Treasury, the accefs to which is ftrongly barricadoed by authority. Some fmall portions of the wealth lodged in this repofitory are dealt out in the form of bribes, penfions, and fecret fervices: the reft is divided among the chief keepers.

In the heart of this country there is a very high pro montory, called Ambition, on the top of which is feated the grand palace of Preferment. Numbers were feen daily labouring to climb up to it, but came tumbling down again, and were dashed upon the rocks of Difappointment. Some indeed, who took the high road for Dependency, got places therein, and others ftole into it through the bye-paths of Patriotifm. Those who afpired to the lofty pinnacle of Power, endeavoured to turn others out, and put themselves in their room: but this is a very tottering fituation; for, during my fhort ftay among them, I faw feveral thrown down, and thofe very perfons advanced whom they had before served in the fame manner.

I can fay very little as to the religion profeffed in the Land of Promife; diffimulation and hypocrify being openly practifed among them. The fect of Independents is entirely unknown to them; nor have they any Freethinkers. Indeed there is fcarce any one has an opinion of his own, but (according to the ftrict fubordination obferved among them) the inferior borrows his fentiments from the fuperior. This is very remarkable in two hoùfes, as they are called, where almost every one speaks as he is ordered.

As to their manners, they are exceeding polite and complaifant,

complaifant. You are fure to receive a fmile, a fqueeze of the hand, a nod, or a bow, from every body you addrefs yourself to. They are always mighty glad to fee you, are your very humble fervants, profess the highest efteem for you, are ready to do you any fervice, and you may command them; but their memory is unhappily very fhort, and fometimes they forget they ever knew their most intimate acquaintance. They are particularly fond of procraftination; and to-morrow is a word continually in their mouths, but they are unwilling to do any thing to-day. Their hearts and their tongues are at a very great distance, and you must generally interpret what they fay by the rule of contrary.

Through the middle of this country runs along the fmooth river of Attendance, whofe tide is very even and gentle. The people are conftantly rowing down the stream; but fometimes it happens, that, being quite spent, and unable to steer their barks properly, they are overwhelmed in the gulf of Defpondency, or swallowed up in the quickfands of Despair.

ODE TO A PIG,

WHILE HIS NOSE WAS BORING.

[From the Exprefs.]

HARK! hark! that pig-that pig! the hideous note,

More loud, more diffonant, each moment grows—

Would one not think the knife was in his throat?
And yet they 're only boring through his nofe.

Thou foolish beaft, fo rudely to withstand
Thy mafter's will, to feel fuch idle fears!
Why, Pig, there's not a lady in the land
Who has not also bor'd and ring'd her ears.
Pig! 't is your master's pleasure-then be still,
And hold your nofe to let the iron through-
Dare you refift your lawful fov'reign's will?
Rebellious fwine! you know not what you do!

4

Το

To man o'er ev'ry beast the pow'r was given;
Pig, hear the truth, and never murmur more!
Would you rebel against the will of Heaven?
Thou impious beast, be still, and let them bore!

The focial pig refigns his natural rights
When first with man he covenants to live;
He barters them for fafer flye delights,

For grains and wash, which man alone can give.

Sure is provifion on the social plan,

Secure the comforts that to each belong:Oh, happy fwine! th' impartial fway of man Alike protects the weak pig and the strong.

And you refift! you struggle now because

Your master has thought fit to bore your nofe!
You grunt in flat rebellion to the laws
Society finds needful to impofe!

Go to the foreft, piggy, and deplore
The miferable lot of favage fwine!
See how the young pigs fly from the great boar,
And fee how coarfe and fcantily they dine!

Behold their hourly danger, when who will
May hunt or fare and seize them for his food!
Oh, happy pig! whom none presumes to kill
Till your protecting master thinks it good!

And when, at laft, the clofing hour of life
Arrives (for pigs muft die as well as man),
When in your throat you feel the long sharp knife,
And the blood trickles to the under pan :

And when at laft, the death-wound yawning wide,
Fainter and fainter grows th' expiring cry,

Is there no grateful joy, no loyal pride,

To think that for your mafter's good you die?

VOL. III.

THE

THE DUTY OF THE SATIRICAL MUSE. WITH AN ALLUSION TO THE AUTHOR OF THE SUITS OF LITERATURE."

SEEK

[From the "Progrefs of Satire."]

EEK the noble praise of him who draws
His pen in Virtue's and Religion's caufe,
And mark what awful fcenes, what deeds confpire
To roufe the patriot's zeal, the poet's fire!
See the cool fophift, with collected mind,
Spread poifon, rage, deftruction o'er mankind!
See bafe Oppreffion, uncontroll'd by shame,
In Freedom's garb, ufurping Freedom's name!
See, Britain, thy triumphant flag unfurl'd!
- Thy fons undaunted, "midft a falling world!"
And oh! while yet thy gen'rous bands maintain
True Freedom's empire o'er the circling main,
Senfe, Learning, Genius, in thy caufe unite!
Be bold in eloquence, as firm in fight!

"Senfe, Genius, Learning, Wit, in me combine,”
A nameless Sat'rift cries-" all, all are mine!
'Tis nine, by keen unerring judgment grac'd,
To reign defpotic arbiter of tafte,

To awe by myftic threats the paffive town,
Raife by a fimile, extinguifh by a frown,
And brand the name of each devoted wight,
But hide my own, fecur'd by friendly night."
Alas! can pride to fuch importance raise
A wretched mortal, puff'd by transient praise?
Thou, who no faults, no weakness canft excufe,
Hear thy own merits from th' ingenuous Muse;
Who, proud all juft diftinctions to admit,
Proclaims thee half a poet, half a wit;
Now vig'rous, fpirited, almoft fublime,

Now tagging feeble words to feeble rhyme;

Now arm'd, 'gainst daring crimes, in Virtue's cause,
Now meanly cavilling at petty flaws;
Now candid, now by prejudice debas'd,
(A bigot's principles, a pedant's tafte;)
Prompt to repet Religion's barbarous foes,
Yet crush her fons, and aggravate their woes;

PUR

And