38 
¢<. Why, as to that, (faid Peter,) I thank 
my fiars I am not indebted to nature for 
a grain of it—but you mufi know 1 have 
lately bought a good many eftaies from men 
of a bright fancy and high genius, and 
they gave me their wit into the bar- 
ain.” 
Mr. Law, projector of the Miffiffipi- 
{cheme, was a Stotch gentleman of nar- 
row fortune but great ambition ; he had 
travelled through great part of Europe, 
and fubfifted chiefly by gaming, by which 
he acquired confiderable fums, particu- 
larly in Italy, where he firft hatched his 
paper-project, which afterwards gave 
birth to thofe deteftable bubbles that 
brought both England and France .to 
the brink of ruin. He offered his {cheme 
firtt to the King of Sardinia, wha told 
him his dominions were too {mall for 
fuch a project ; adding, If I know the hu- 
mour of thé French, I am fure they will 
relifh your plan! Mr. Lawtook his Ma- 
jeliy’s advice, and it fucceeded. The 
Regent Duke of Orleans came into ‘his 
views. In December 1719, Law ab- 
jured the Proteftant religion, and in the 
January following was made Comptroller- 
Original Poetry. 
[ Aug. J, 
general of the Finances; in which fitua- 
tion he fo managed and conirolled, that. 
he amaffed almoft all the cath of the 
kingdom and brought it into the King’s 
coffers, and was himfelf nominally worth. 
half_a million; but not having the pru- 
dence or forefight to fecure a fhilling of - 
it in foreign banks, he was obliged ta 
relinquifh this immenfe treafure, and the: 
very next year to fly fecretly from 
France, to avoid being torn to pieces by, 
the enraged people. Such a fudden ele- 
vation, and precipitate downfal, is f{carcely 
to be paralleled. From being the firit 
man ina great kingdom, on whom all 
the people gazed, asat a meteor, he was 
in the twinkling of an eye reduced to the 
low rank of a forry vagabond, whom all 
men defpifed ; for after wandering about 
Europe for fome time, he died at Mu- 
nich,very poor.- After his deceafe, his wi-- 
dow lived at Utrecht ina private manner ; 
but his fen was fo fortunate as to procure 
a cornetcy of horfe, and his daughter, a 
very amiable young lady, married the | 
Lord Wallingford, fon to the Earl of 
Banbury. 
.. ORIGINAL POETRY. 
a ae 
The cL ost of DAY. 
NO breeze difturbs the fummer leaves, 
That fleep refrefh’d with evening dew 5 
An amber cloud the moon receives, 
And veils her crefcent from the view. 
The voice of neither herd nor flock, 
With tones of love, falutes my ears, 
In echoes from the mountain rock, 
That wears the mofly robe of yeavs. 
New hay and honeyfuckles lead 
Their fragrance to the breathing vale, 
And famelefs flowers their odors blend, 
And with their fweets the fmell-regale. 
As en I travel through the gloom, 
That dims the clofing eye of day, 
Glow. worms, with filvery lamps, illume 
The verdant borders of my way. 
The lark, fweet minftrel of the fkies! 
His carol ended, finks to reft, 
And by his feathery partner lies, 
So happy in their humble neft! 
Thus, in a green fequeftered dell, 
‘Safe from the frowns.of wealth or care, 
In fmiles of peace my foul. would dwell 
With her, my faireft of the fair! 
But now I mourn her, abfent far, 
My blooming flower of {weet delight! 
Whofe prefence, like the evening ftar, 
Would cheer the lonely brow of night. 
: . W. Evans, 
——EEE 
Jo MARIA. 
SHOULD Phebus e’er forfake my maind,. - 
Their favour fhould the Nine refufe, 
Yet I, propitious fair,, could fing 
A theme in thee—in thee a Mufe. 
Thy native charms, thy moral grace, 
The pow’r cf fiGiion far excel ; 
Each beauty decorates thy face, 
Within thee all the virtues dwell. 
Such melody thy notes tome 
As {weeteft poet never fung 5 
And true perfe€tion would it be 
To fing thy merics with thy tongueij 
Let Phebus, then, defert my mind, 
Their fuccour let the Nine refufe, 
I, matchlefs maid! fhall ever find 
A theme in theein thee a Mufe. 
T. OLDHAMe 
4 TRi¥ 
