160 The Blacklock Manuscripts at Annan. 



" Would we but serve th' unhappy as we ought, 

 With what respect, what delicate address, 

 What unaffected tenderness of heart. 

 Must we perform the service we intend 1" 



Some of the pieces in the volume are historical in character. 

 In an ode on the Rel)ellion of 1745-6 the infamous Duke of 

 Cumberland is thus addressed : — 



" O glorious youth, delight of Fame ! 

 Th' immortal Muse's favourite theme, 

 And Heaven's peculiar care!" 



An unpublished poem on a man who better deserved the 

 title of " Glorious William " than the merciless prince has a place 

 in the collection. It is entitled " On the Re-admission of a great 

 Commoner to the Administration," and clearly belongs to the 

 year 1766. The author assails Chatham with great virulence, 

 condescending now and again to the use of coarse language. 

 Here are the most interesting verses: — 



" Let demagogues trumpet the praise of the nation. 

 For cautious and delicate use of taxation ; 

 America, conscious of gaining the hit, 

 Will assert independence, supported l')y P . 



With joyful presages the Genius of France 

 Views her navy increase and her commerce advance. 

 Views the lords of the ocean their colours submit, 

 Deterr'd by the thunder she borrow'd from P . 



Old Scotia, too late for her freedom alarm'd, 

 Her majesty blasted, her Thistle disarmed. 

 Now vainly her impotent venom may spit ; 

 Just curses and infamy trouble not P . 



Let thy manes, Belhaven, indignant arise, 



Thy prophecy now can no longer surprise. 



Yet of its completion the Union acquit. 



Since thy country's disgrace and perdition was P ." 



Four of the poems direct our attention to an episode in the 

 personal history of Blacklock — his rejection by the people of 

 Kirkcudbright in 1762. " Pistapolis," the longest of them, is an 



