1803.) 
with her. All thefe, above forty perfons, 
were dragged before the tribunal of the 
Burning Chamber, which, without fol- 
lowing the ufual courfe of juftice, de- 
tected fécret crimes by means of -fpies, 
whofe tattle, to efcape the reproach of fri- 
volity, muft always be exaggerated. The 
trials were private, and in every thisg 
the example of the Inquifition was imis 
tated. Acquittal, fufpicion, conviction, 
were meafured out, at the diflcretion of 
this fecret tribunal. In the midwife’s 
lift appeared the names, the diftinguilhed 
names, of the Countefs of Soiffons, of her 
fitter, the Dutchefs of Bouillon, and of 
Marfhal Luxembourg, all three perfonal 
enemies of the Minifter. At the perf- 
dious hint of the King, the Countefs vo- 
luntarily banifhed herfelf to Bruffels. The 
Dutchels fed to England, fearing (the 
faid) to be interrogated, though uncon- 
fcious of guilt. The Marfhal went calmly 
to the Battille. Exorcifms, or rather the 
reverle, fale of himfelf to the Devil, were 
forged around his fignature, and other 
tricks employed to render him the object 
ef vulgar fulpicion and abhorrence.— 
Original Poetry. 
oly 
While in confinement, propofals were 
made to him, through a prieft, named 
D’Avaux, to agree on a marriage between 
his fon and the daughter of Louvois, 
which the Marfhal had already treated as 
a difparagement. Like a true Nobleman, 
he repeated in prifon all the haughtinefs 
of his anfwer; and was kept five wecks 
in a narrow dungeon, until difeafe threat- 
ened his life, and awoke in Louvois the 
apprehenfion of paffing himlelf fer a drug- 
mixer. The culprits of ordinary rank 
were punifhed by the common hangman: 
thofe of an elevated clafs, after a confine- 
ment, more or lefs rigid, were fuffered to 
retire into obfcurity, loaded with dark un- 
anfwerable fufvicions. Glafer was ac- 
guitted. Exili, after being in durance, 
was fuffered, for unknown reafons, to 
efcape. The two women, who were fup- 
poled chiefly to have vended the Aqua To- 
fania, Lavigoureux and Lavoifin, were 
both burnt alive. 
Thus ended an alarm and an inquifition, 
which ftil] furnifh calumny with charges, 
and injultice with precedents. 
Oe RT 
= 
ORIGINAL POETRY. 
weer ee 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
A TRIBUTE Of RESPEOor to the MEMORY of 
that effeemed POET, the late WM. COWPER, 
ESQ: 
SAY, fainted Bard !—infpired Cowper, 
fa 
Y> 
Doft thou to kindred fpirits pour thy lay ? 
In happier regions charms thy holy fong 
The gladden’d hearts of heaven’s immortal 
throng? 
HasTime at laft, whom thou, bepain’d below, 
Didft charge with tardinefs and flight too 
flow, 
With iron pen recorded as he flew, 
That thy chafte Mufe has bid the world adieu ? 
Has Death’s pale Angel grafp’d thy tuneful 
lyre, 
Cool’d thy heart’s ardour——-quench’d its fun- 
lke fire ? 
Has the Great Power that fets the prifoner 
free 
Loofen’d the bands of thy captivity 3 
The boon by thee invok’d in mercy giv’n, 
And pafs’d thy ** unbound fpirit” back to 
heay’n ? 
He has—and thou, delightful Bard ! «afar, 
Borne, like Elijah in his fiery car, 
‘Thro’ op’ning clouds haft wing’d thy eagle 
flight 
To peaceful climes, and manfions of delight ! 
O could fome mortal bard, yet left behind, 
Thy lyre re- ftring—thy caft-off mantle find 5 
Or catch fome fpark that fhot its brilliant ray 
From forth thy chariot bound thro’ heaven’s 
high way ; 
O could fome poet rife in wifdom bold, 
And half thy beauties to the world unfold ; 
Roving on Fancy’s wing, thv fire impart, 
And feel thy genius beaming on his’ heart ! 
I'd humbly with, though vain the with would 
be, 
That fome {mall portion might alight on me. 
Yet though, inchanting Bard ! of theebe- 
reft, 
Thy Mufe ftill lives—her power to pleafe is 
left ; ; 
And long as mortal minftrelfy may charm, 
And facred poefy the breait can warm.; 
Long as her lafting {ceptre Memory {ways 
O’er Time’s laps’d reign, and works of for- 
mer days, 
Recalling vifions to the raptur’d mind 
That fancy rais’d, or genius left behind, 
Rekindling holy ardours in the breaft 
Of throuded bards, and poets now at reft ; 
So long, beloved Minftrel ! fhall thy lays 
Delight the world, and merit all its praife. 
Pilgrim forlorn ! oft fcar’d by giant Fear, 
*Tis thine no more life’s darkling sourfe to 
fteer 3 
3U2 To 
