He glitter'd to the western ray, And now the feather'd bag display'd Now all complete appears our 'Squire, With like devotion all the choir Thus having borne them round the town, Last at the pole they set them down ; And to the tavern take their way And now the mob, dispersed and gone, Lean'd sad and solemn o'er a brace; We strive 'gainst wind, and tide, and rain, Where changing name and constitution, "Go, summon all our brethren, greeting, To muster at our usual meeting; VOL. I. Their conduct and their lives depend. JONATHAN MITCHEL SEWALL Was born at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1748. He lost his parents at an early age, and was adopted by his uncle, Stephen Sewall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. He studied at Harvard College, and afterwards entered into mercantile business, which he finally abandoned for the profession of the law, and settled in Portsmouth New Hampshire, where he passed the remainder of his life, with a high character for integrity and disinterestedness. He died March 29th, 1808, in his sixtieth year. Mr Sewall applied himself to poetry in his youth, and many of his pieces were made public previous to the revolution. Ossian charmed his juvenile fancy to such a degree, that he versified nearly the whole work. Specimens of this performance, with other miscellaneous pieces, were published in a volume in 1801. It was his custom, when confined to his bed by long indisposition, to beguile the wearisomeness of his sleepless nights, by the composition of verses, which, when he had sufficiently recovered to handle a pen, he committed to writing. The piece best entitled to our regard among his productions, is the ode of War and Washington, a patriotic Tyrtean strain, which was sung throughout the country during the revolutionary war, and served to inspire zeal and courage in the cause of independence. No national lyric ever aroused more enthusiasm, or was chanted with better effect than this war song of the American revolution. It was the favorite strain throughout the ranks of the army in every part of the country, and kindled the martial ardor and patriotic feelings of all. Such relics are the most precious and interesting which can be gathered from the literature of the times. WAR AND WASHINGTON. VAIN Britons, boast no longer with proud indignity, By land your conquering legions, your matchless strength at sea, Since we, your braver sons, incensed, our swords have girded on, Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, for war and Washington! Urged on by North and vengeance, those valiant champions came, Loud bellowing Tea and Treason, and George was all on flame, Yet sacrilegious as it seems, we rebels still live on, And laugh at all their empty puffs,-huzza for Washington! Still deaf to mild entreaties, still blind to England's good, Mysterious! unexampled! incomprehensible ! The blundering schemes of Britain, their folly, pride, and zeal. Like lions how ye growl and threat! mere asses have you shown, And ye shall share an ass's fate, and drudge for Washington! Your dark, unfathom'd counsels our weakest heads defeat, Our children rout your armies, our boats destroy your fleet, And to complete the dire disgrace, coop'd up within a town, You live, the scorn of all our host, the slaves of Washington! Great heaven! is this the nation whose thundering arms were hurl'd, Through Europe, Afric, India? whose navy ruled a world? The lustre of your former deeds, whole ages of renown, Lost in a moment, or transferred to us and Washington! Yet think not thirst of glory unsheaths our vengeful swords, To rend your bands asunder, and cast away your cords. "T is heaven-born freedom fires us all, and strengthens each brave son, From him who humbly guides the plough, to godlike Washington. For this, Oh could our wishes your ancient rage inspire, Your armies should be doubled, in numbers, force, and fire. Then might the glorious conflict prove which best deserved the boon, America, or Albion; a George, or Washington! Fired with the great idea, our fathers' shades would rise; To view the stern contention, the gods desert their skies. And Wolfe; 'mid hosts of heroes, superior bending down, Cry out with eager transport, God save great Washington! Should George, too choice of Britons, to foreign realms apply, And madly arm half Europe, yet still we would defy Should warlike weapons fail us, disdaining slavish fears, spears, And rush, all desperate! on our foe, nor breathe till battle won; Then shout, and shout America! and conquering Washington! Proud France should view with terror, and haughty Spain revere, While every warlike nation would court alliance here. And George, his minions trembling round, dismounting from his throne, Pay homage to America, and glorious Washington! |