128 En raps at the Commencement of the Year 1831. [FKB. 



while the impression of the Russian armies, they will receive direct 

 assistance from France. 



But, whatever direction may be given to the Continent, one fact 

 is unquestionable -that no year, since the commencement of the first 

 French revolution, ever opened with such universal preparations for 

 War. France is already forming immense camps on her frontiers, and 

 raising her regular force to nearly half a million of men. Austria is 

 arming new levies, remounting her cavalry, and sending troops by the 

 ten thousand into Italy. The Piedmontaise army is to be instantly 

 raised to 130,000 men. Poland is, naturally, exerting all her strength, 

 and ordering every man into the field. Russia has ordered a levy through- 

 out her whole empire. Every manufactory of arms in Europe rings day 

 and night with the note of preparation. Every Cabinet is holding 

 anxious deliberations. Every continental king is alarmed for his throne. 

 Of all the powers of Europe, the only ones who seem to be beyond 

 the sphere of this terror, are Sultan Mahmoud, and our own Monarch. 

 Yet the Sultan is incessantly labouring to reinvigorate the national 

 strength, and prepare, by the full development of the remaining ener- 

 gies of Moslemism, for the storm of war which hangs over him from the 

 North. Our country is still a fortunate exception. Yet, if we can have 

 no fear of foreign conquest, nor of domestic revolution, we have our 

 trials too, and we shall see them deepen from day to day, unless the old 

 spirit of England return, and we meet the evil by that fearless determi- 

 nation to extinguish abuses, to purify the conduct of public affairs, and 

 at all risks to do our duty, without which the fate of all governments 

 tells us there is no substantial power. 



TO A LADY, READING. 



OH ! while polluted lips impart 



High virtue's maxims, boasts, professions, 

 Which wake no echoes in the heart, 



And leave on our's but cold impressions, 

 While in thy life a model shines, 



Of all that's innocent and holy, 

 AH nature prompts, and truth refines, 



In mind so wise, in heart so lowly ; 



'Tis strange to hear thee breathe the names 



Of faults which thy pure soul is scorning ; 

 Such zeal thy blest example claims, 



We scarce require, from thee, such warning. 

 Wanderers, who long to find the right, 



Need but be told thine own sweet story ; 

 And none but fiends, who fear the light, 



Would cast one shadow on thy glory. 



I who on none, save thee, e'er gazed 



With envy daring not, nor deigning 

 Still love thee more than I have praised, 



Feel more than are thy flatterers feigning. 

 Speak what thou wilt, our smiles and tears 



" Chast'riing, by pity and by terror" 

 And Heaven preserve thy future years, 



As free from sorrow as from error! I- H. 



