THE BOROUGH. LETTER I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. These did the ruler of the deep ordain, Pope's Homer's Iliad, book vi. line 45. Such scenes has Deptford, navy-building town, Such Lambeth, envy of each band and gown, And Twickenham such, which fairer scenes enrich. Æquoreæ miscentur aquæ: caret ignibus æther, : Ovid. Metamorph. lib. xi. ver. 520. B VOL. II. The Difficulty of describing Town Scenery-A Comparison with certain Views in the Country-The River and Quay -The Shipping and Business-Ship-Building-Sea-Boys and Port-Views-Village and Town Scenery again compared-Walks from Town-Cottage and adjoining Heath, &c.-House of Sunday Entertainment-The Sea: a Summer and Winter View-A Shipwreck at Night, and its Effects on Shore-Evening Amusements in the BoroughAn Apology for the imperfect View which can be given of these Subjects. THE BOROUGH. LETTER I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. "DESCRIBE the Borough"-though our idle tribe Cities and towns, the various haunts of men, Then let thy fancy aid me--I repair From this tall mansion of our last-year's mayor, Can scenes like these withdraw thee from thy wood, Draw then the strongest contrast to that stream, With ceaseless motion comes and goes the tide, Flowing, it fills the channel vast and wide; Then back to sea, with strong majestic sweep Here sampire-banks (2) and salt-wort (9) bound the flood, Which some strong tide has roll'd upon the place. From that clear space, where, in the cheerful ray Far other craft our prouder river shows, Hoys, pinks and sloops; brigs, brigantines and snows: But one poor dredger where his oysters lie: He shall again be seen when evening comes, The steaming bowl or foaming tankard by ; |