1802.] 
Sir, as I have already faid, let us fearch dif- 
paffionately, but diligently. The extent of 
the eftablifhment need but be proportioned 
to the exigency. Should there be little low 
fever in general at Briftol, a fmall houfe of 
recovery only will be in general requifite, un- 
lefs we expand our ideas and provide for the 
wortt. 
Should the fame call for a fever-ward be 
found to exift here as elfewhere, its erection 
Original Poetry, 
253 
would confer honour equally on the city and 
on its promoters. We have, you fee, expe- 
rience and example in favour of the meafure. 
It would create a monument, facred to the 
refcue of the poor, and the prefervation of 
the rich from contagion. Withing your 
official dignity ‘may be diftinguifhed by fo 
happy an event, I am Sir, refpeGfully, yours, 
Tuomas BEpDoEs. 
Clifton, March 5, 1802. 
ORIGINAL POETRY. 
ee, Be 
MONODY o7 FRANCIS DUKE of BEDFORD, 
cube died March 2, 1802*. 
ONCE more, my harp, I ftrike thy trem- 
bling ftrings 5 
But not again to joy thy notes I raife! 
Grief o'er the chords her hand diftrefsful 
flings, 
And, faintly paufing, oft the fong delays. 
Mourn, mourn! around the grave of Ruffell 
mourn ! 
Ye great! ye young! ye gay! furround 
his bier ! 
Alas! from ev’ry blifs thus early torn, 
He fpeaks, tho’? mute, and fondly claims 
the tear! 
Peers of his greatnefs! fellows of his youth ! 
Approach, approach! Lo! fallen from his 
round 
Is earthly dignity! Behold, with ruth, 
Of rank, of title, pow’r, the narrow 
bound! 
For him no more fhall pomp difplayher charms, 
Nor ceremony greet him with a {mile 5 
In flatt’ry veil’d, no more fhall fervile {warms 
Of ifycophants attend him to beguile. 
No more fhall friends around his board repair, 
Or join convivial in foft pleafure’s train ; 
The chofen few no more his thoughts fhall 
fhare, ¢ 
Nor the ftill fenate liften to his ftrain. 
One tribute paid, and his career fhall clofe : 
The fepulchre fhall guard his honour’d duff; 
Within the houfe of death he fhall repofe, 
Nor wake till the revival of the juft! 
Ye! who with grief the holy rites: have join’d, 
And feen his corfe in folemn fadnefs laid, 
Initructed turn '——His fate with wealth com- 
bin’d 5 
His fenfe; the beauty in his form dif- 
play’d 5 
The patriot zeal which glow’d within his 
heart; 
The gentle tear, which tender pity drew; 
Avail'd not to repel the fatal dart, 
The with’ring hand of death remorfelefs 
threw ! 
* This was printed in a newfpaper foon 
after the event, but with alterations. The 
prefent is fromthe writer’s own copy. 
Ye poor! who throng oné parting look te 
clagn, -\ : 
In fpcechlefs exftacy, and broken fighs ? 
Your grateful forrow fhali embalm his name $ 
Your faithful orgies waft him to the fkies? 
5 E 
ee 
EVENING, a” ODE. 
HAL, folemn vifionary hour ! 
Thy filent dim return I greet; 
No gleam to gild yon mouldering tow’r, 
No found for echo to repeat. 
Sweet {prite of eve! that loveft to glide, 
In filence, ’mid the twilight fky, 
Whofe form can only be defcried 
By mufing fancy’s favoured eye? 
Sweet fprite! by whofe aerial pow’r 
Are fancy’s fineft vifions wrought, 
That hovereft at this fairy hour, 
To prompt the foft, the penfive thought } 
Sweet fprite! with whom my youth hath 
fhed 
Full oft the tender pleafing tear, 
Whofe form has thrilled my brea with 
dread, 
What ftrain may pleafe thine hallowed 
ear ? 
With thee the raptured bard teforts, 
To thee tefigns his foul fublime; 
To range ’mid terror’s awful courts ! 
To glance beyond the bounds of time? 
Thy milder influence, too, hath, taught 
His foul in melting ftrains to grieve, 
Strains that, with fofteit fadnefs fraught, 
Shall gentle bofoms deeply heave. 
Oh! may to methine afpe& wear 
The fweet, the inexpreflive grace 
Of her my breaft ftill holds fo deat, 
Of her whom fancy loves te tracz. 
And when I rove the heath along, 
Gr ’mid fome dark dell lingering ftrayy 
To meditate my fimple fong, 
Oh thou! infpire the ruftic Iay ! 
And if the mellow moon-light fall 
On haunted grove, or vale remote, 
O then thy fairy minftrels call 
To fwell the fine voluptuous note. 
And 
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