By far my elder brother in the Muses, VERSES INTENDED TO BE WRITTEN BE- WHOSE is that noble, dauntless brow? Stranger, to justly shew that brow, Would take His hand, whose vernal tints Bright as a cloudless summer sun, Among the illustrious Scottish sons THE AMERICAN WAR. A FRAGMENT. WHEN Guildford good our pilot stood, Ae night, at tea, began a plea, Then up they gat the maskin'-pat, And in the sea did jaw, man; And did nae less, in full Congréss, Than quite refuse our law, man. turn quarrel tea-pot Then through the lakes Montgomery1 takes, Down Lowrie's Burn 2 he took a turn, And Carleton did ca', man; But yet, what-reck, he, at Quebec, 8 Montgomery-like did fa', man, Wi' sword in hand, before his band, Amang his en'mies a', man. dash drive before him what matters 1 General Richard Montgomery invaded Canada, autumn 1775, and took Montreal, the British commander, Sir Guy Carleton, retiring before him. In an attack on Quebec he was less fortunate, being killed by a storm of grape-shot in leading on his men at Cape Diamond. 2 Lowrie's Burn, a pseudonyme for the St. Lawrence. 8 A passing compliment to the Montgomeries of Coilsfield, the patrons of the poet. 1 Poor Tammy Gage, within a cage, Burgoyne gaed up, like spur and whip, In Saratoga shaw, man. Cornwallis fought as lang's he dought, And did the buckskins claw, man; But Clinton's glaive frae rust to save, Then Montague, and Guildford too, And Sackville dour, wha stood the stoure, knoll wood could sword obdurate dust 1 General Gage, governor of Massachusetts, was cooped up in Boston by General Washington during the latter part of 1775 and early part of 1776. In consequence of his inefficiency, he was replaced in October of that year by General Howe. 2 General Howe removed his army from New York to Philadelphia in the summer of 1777. 8 Alluding to a razzia made by orders of Howe at Peekskill, March 1777, when a large quantity of cattle belonging to the Americans was destroyed. The German Chief to thraw, man: thwart loosed Then Rockingham took up the game, Saint Stephen's boys, wi' jarring noise, And bore him to the wa', man.1 Then clubs and hearts were Charlie's cartes, Till the diamond's ace, of Indian race, On Chatham's boy did ca', man ; cheers 1 Lord North's administration was succeeded by that of the Marquis of Rockingham, March, 1782. At the death of the latter in the succeeding July, Lord Shelburne became prime minister, and Mr. Fox resigned his secretaryship. Under his lordship, peace was restored, January, 1783. By the union of Lord North and Mr. Fox, Lord Shelburne was soon after forced to resign in favor of his rivals, the heads of the celebrated Coalition. 2 Fox's famous India Bill, by which his ministry was brought to destruction, December, 1783. And Scotland drew her pipe, and blew, "Up, Willie, waur them a', man!" Behind the throne then Grenville's gone, A secret word or twa, man; vanquish And Chatham's wraith, in heavenly graith, Wi' kindling eyes cried: "Willie, rise! But, word and blow, North, Fox, and Co., armor struck Till Suthron raise, and coost their claise cast off Behind him in a raw, man; And Caledon threw by the drone, And did her whittle draw, man; And swoor fu' rude, through dirt and blood, knife 1 In the new parliament called by Mr. Pitt, after his accession to office, in the spring of 1784, amidst the many new members brought in for his support, and that of the king's prerogative, there was an exceeding proportion from Scotland. |