1823.] Original 



part in a dance or game at cards, and 

 enjoy the music. The gallant captain 

 communicated to the ladies the pur- 

 port of the innkeeper's visit, in order 

 to take their pleasure upon the pro- 

 posal. They signiDed how glad they 

 should have been, under other circum- 

 stances, to have availed themselves of 

 the opportunity, but that their dress- 

 clothes were all in their trunks and 

 imperial, and could not be unpacked : 

 to this the captain himself subjoined, 

 that he was still less equipjjcd for 

 entering such an assemblage. The 

 host, with a reverential address, as- 

 sured the company that there would 

 not need a word of apology to the mas- 

 ter of the ceremonies, on account of 

 the dress of persons of their distinc- 

 tion, — the cause of whose honouring 

 them with their presence would be 

 known to him. What! said the captain 

 to his civil landlord, "Pent on entrer 

 la salle de I'AssembUe en hottes et cm- 

 lotes de cuivre?" (meaning culotes de 

 cuire.) " Certainement, (replied he,) 

 mmisieur, peut V entrer dans aucune Itabit 

 qu'il lui plaira." Here the enquiry 

 ended; but the aubergisle did not fail 

 to wonder, and to express his surprise 

 to others, that an English officer should 

 wear copper breeches. The circum- 

 stance ran through the town like wild- 

 fire, and occasioned most of the heads 

 of families in it to repair to the ball 

 Ihat evening, to witness what they con- 



Podty. $39 



sidered a most extraordinary invention 

 in the manufactures of their neighbour- 

 ing islanders. At the usual hour the 

 Assembly-room doors were thrown 

 open; and, for the first time, it was 

 witnessed, that the so highly polished 

 French people directed more of their 

 attention to their male guest than to 

 their female ones, although highly 

 gifted both in person and manner. 

 Company continued to pour in till the 

 room could hold no more ; and the buz 

 of enquiry, "Which is the English 

 officer in copper breeches?" was un- 

 ceasing. It was discernible to Capt. 

 Knatcbbull himself, that something 

 extraordinary was in the wind ; inso- 

 much, that he plainly demanded why 

 so many persons fixed their eyes on 

 him, and on his dress, in so peculiar 

 a manner. He was then at once told, 

 that the innkeeper had propagated tho 

 story, that a guest at his house, of dis- 

 tinction in family and rank in the Eng- 

 lish navy, would make one of the party 

 that evening at the ball in copper 

 breeches. In an instant it occurred 

 to the captain, that he had substituted 

 the word cuivre for cuire ; and at once 

 regretted and laughed that he had 

 conmiitted the blunder, — which, how- 

 ever, was cleared up just in time to 

 prevent the aiibergiste from being sus- 

 pected of practising the deceit " of a 

 bottle conjuror," in order to fill his 

 house with profitable company. 



ORIGINAL POETRY. 



LINES 



ON THE DEATH OF DR. JENNER. 



IS there a heart, with gratitude possess'd, 

 That feels not more than commonly 



distress'd 

 At Jenner's death ? Is there a man on earth 

 Who kuewhis genius and hisgen'ral worth. 

 That shall not learn with unilissembled grief 

 His years have been so brilliant and so brief; 

 And, hopeless of his equal, mourn the day 

 His spirit left its tenement of clay? 

 Is there a mother, conscious of the pow'r 

 Which sav'd her offspring in affliction's 



hour, 

 Who oft has seen the fell contagion* spread. 

 And fill the charnels witli untimely dead ; 

 That shall not hear the tidings of our loss 

 Witli inward anguish and sincere remorse. 

 And, giving all her gen'rous feelings vent, 

 bathe with her tears his sacred monument? 

 No! not a Briton but with pain shall Lear 

 Th' iHiwclcomc tidings of his clos'd career ; 



* Small-pox. 



Mothers shall weep, and silently deplore 

 That Jenner lives to grace the world no 



more ; 

 Andev'ry Beauty treasure in her heart 

 The recollection of his healthful art ! 

 Tho' crown'd with age, and with his conn- 

 try's praise, 

 The Senate's plaudits, and the Muse's lays; 

 Tho' bless'd by millions, snatch'd from 



Death's embrace. 

 And the fellscourge of half the human race, — 

 Still has he sunk too early in the gloom 

 That marks the starless midnight of the 



tomb ! 

 Too early left us, for that unseen spot 

 Where mortal pains and sickness are forgot, 

 Where all the good, the gen'rous, and the 



brave. 

 Smile o'er the puny conquest of the grave, — 

 Feel raptures none but angel spirits know. 

 And loathe the mem'ry of this world of 



WOI! ! 



Oh ! where shall Woman ever hope to find 

 A benefactor with a nobler mind ? 



Where 



