The stars shone out as o'er a boundless grave
Then gradual plunged into the western wave.
No land was seen to stretch the waves between ;
Nor rock, nor tree, gave feature to the scene;
But all above was blue, and all below was green.

'Twas night-a still, calm night, that o'er the main,
Seemed in its death-like solitude to reign:
The north star glitter'd o'er the icy pole,
That heavenly guide that cheers the seaman's soul.
A murmur, as of distant tempests, rose,

Rousing the slumberers from their short repose;
Loud and more loud the boding sounds drew nigh,
Till looks of fear were seen in every eye;
Dark clouds athwart the sky began to sweep,
Till midnight threw around her shadows deep:
Big drops of rain upon the vessel fell;
The winds began to howl, the waves to swell;
Till the wild sea in wrath was seen to rise,
And white with fury lash the blacken'd skies!
Awful was heard the thunder's bursting crash-
And fearful seen the light'ning's fiercest flash
That tore apart the deep condensing clouds,
And show'd the sailor rocking in the shrouds.
Useless the seaman found his toil and care;
The steersman grasp'd the helm in cold despair;
The sun rose darkly on his daily path,
Pouring a red beam on that scene of wrath.
Before the mighty winds the vessel flew,
And cries of horror burst from all the crew!
Nought was expected but immediate death,

--

And prayers were mingled with each trembling breath.
Thrown from their feet by one tremendous shock,
They found the vessel parting on a rock :

Then shrieking, sunk amidst the mountain waves,
And thunders rolled a dirge above their graves.
Augustus seized a boat and gain'd the shore;
Some arms alone he sav'd, of all his store;

Then sunk, o'erpower'd by toil, and felt awhile no more.
But, soon recall'd to life, the youth arose,

To sad remembrance, and severest woes;
A wild and savage race around him stood,

Eager to shed and feast upon his blood.

And now the fire was blazing on the ground

With frightful yells they danced the flames around-
A chief advanced to lay the victim low;

His club was raised to strike the fatal blow!
Augustus then, by threaten'd death made bold,
Resolved, not cheaply, should his life be sold;"
Although alone he stood, where hosts combined,
With no dependance but his mighty mind!
Full at his foe he aim'd the tube of death-
The certain bullet stopt the monster's breath.

The rocks re-echoed with the thundering sound;
The savage race fell frighted on the ground;
O'erpower'd by wonder, and subdued by fear,
"A God," they cried, "has brought his thunder bere!
The lightning smites, obedient to his will;
And Heaven hath sent him with its powers to kill!"
With trembling awe, the late exulting crowd,
Before his feet, imploring mercy, bowed.
With rising hopes, Augustus' bosom burn'd;
Who thus their fears to his advantage turn'd.
"Behold!" he cried aloud, "this very hour,
Ye brutal race, your lives are in my power:
From heavenly realms I come-the sun, my sire!
If I command-ye perish in his fire!
Then, ere I crush you with the bolts of fate!
Chuse ye at once my friendship or my hate!
And mark! Ere from this spot ye flee away,
The shades of night shall blacken on the day:
The sun, ye worship, shall conceal his face,
To show that he obeys our godlike race!"*

He ceased. The orb of day he knew full soon,
Would be eclipsed by the revolving moon;
And scarce to them his wondrous speech was done,
Ere the moon past betwixt the earth and sun!
Then all at once was terror and despair,
And shrieks of anguish fill'd the echoing air:
And as the darkness deeper round them grew,
Some in distraction to their forests flew-
Others, Augustus, on their knees implored,

T'

appease the angry God whom they adored! With frighted looks, a chief approach'd and cried, 'O deign to bid him turn his wrath aside! Lest we consume in his approaching fireOr robb'd for ever of his beams, expire! Haste, ere we sink into our yawning graves, And all our nation shall become thy slaves." "Behold!" the youth replied, "my faith I prove! This darkness from the sun shall soon remove; By slow degrees shall wholly pass away, And you once more be blessed with perfect day. But who again offends-provokes his doomDestruction instant sweeps him to the tomb!"

Soon as they saw the light of day restored, Th' untutor'd nation wondered and adored! "Our God," they cried, "obeys his mighty voice,— While he befriends us, we may well rejoice!" Then, prompted by this strange, though strong belief, With one accord they named him for their chief!

* This stratagem was resorted to by Columbus.

Nor was the boundless power they gave, abused,
But only for the public welfare used.

A neighbouring tribe, with thirst of vengeance fraught,
The curse of war upon his people brought;
But, soon o'erpowered by his superior might,
Yelling they fled with wonder and affright!

Vain were their matted shields—their poison'd darts-
Vain was the war-whoop to inspire their hearts!
In vain for feast of blood their hosts combined,
Vain the strong arm to match the stronger mind!
His growing empire spread on every side,-

Those called him king from fear, and these from pride!

Yet still he govern'd but a barbarous race, 'Midst whom no ray of mind he yet could trace; And, though he fill'd an undivided throne, He grieved that learning cheered himself alone. Long were their savage habits unsubdued,Long were they cruel, ignorant, and rude; But when he spread a written language round, Like summer showers upon a fruitful ground; O'er all the land its genial influence stole; The seed that heaven bad planted in the soul, To burst its long confinement, then began; Το prove the power, and mark the scale of man, Then Superstition, with her tyrant train, No longer o'er th' unfetter'd inind could reign : Chased by the beams of intellectual light, She fled to her congenial realms of night. The wond'ring people soon began to find Pleasures ne'er dreamt of, dawn upon the mind. Their idol temples, drench'd with human gore, Now echoed with the victim's shrieks no more; The captive's frightful fate-the feast of blood was o'er! A growing pride in every mind was felt;

No more, like brutes, in caves and woods they dwelt :
A city slowly rose upon the view;

Their vessels courted every breeze that blew;
The compass led them to each distant shore,
And commerce added to their useful store.
Her various wealth the fruitful earth resign'd,
Metallic ores the furnace heat refin'd;
The elements ev'n felt their growing skill,
Air, fire, and water, yielded to their will!
Science began to shed her morning ray,
And give the promise of a glorious day.
The fine arts next essay'd to show their charms,
To gild the deeds of virtue and of armis,
To shed a sweetness on the passing hour,
And soften rugged manhood by their power.

Fair Poesy was first the crown to claim,
The ardent votary of immortal fame!

The pencill'd canvass glow'd with colours warm,
The sculptur'd rock assumed the living form;
Music's sweet magic on the senses stole,
Soften'd the passions, and inspired the soul.

Augustus thus his knowledge well applied ;
His store the lack of all the rest supplied;
He waked the dormant powers of the soul,-
His mental strength gave vigour to the whole,-
Till every mind its proper bias learn'd,

And every genius to its object turn'd;

Till all with love of fame and inborn transports burn’d.
From barbarous tribes he saw a nation rise,

And toil to emulate the great and wise;
Saw science, arts, and arms, adorn the men,
Who once like tigers slumber'd in their den ;
Shed happiness around, and mental light,
Where all was terror, and where all was night:
And, when he sunk lamented to his tomb,
Left an immortal wreath of fame to bloom;
And this engraven on his honour'd urn—
That "Wisdom is the principal concern."

ON LEAVING BRIGHTON.

J. B.

FAREWELL ye green waves by whose brink I have wandered,
And saw the bright sun spread your surface with gold;
Farewell lovely scene, which at evening I pondered,
When silvered by moonlight the white surges rolled,

No more shall I see from afar the sail gliding,

O'er the wide waste of waters commissioned to roam; Nor behold the light bark in the ocean confiding,

Nor gaze from the cliff on the broad sheets of foam.

Adieu, ye pure breezes, so fresh from the billow,

With the blessing of health on your soft cooling wing;
And the washed pebbly shore that at noon was my pillow,
I must sigh an adieu, where my wishes still cling.
No more shall I hear the wild roar of the ocean;
Nor float on its surface with each wave to rise;
Nor gaze with delight on its undulous motion-

Yet home still is dear, and its pleasures I prize.

J. B.

REVIEWS.

A View of the present State of the Salmon and Channel Fisheries, and of the Statute Laws by which they are regulated; shewing, that it is to the Defects of the latter that the present Scarcity of the Fish is to be attributed. Comprehending also the Natural History and Habits of the Salmon, with some of its Peculiarities hitherto undescribed. Together with the Form of a New Act, designed to remedy the Evils so generally complained of; and an Abstract of the Evidence before the Committee of the House of Commons upon the Subject, with Notes, By J. Cornish, Esq.-London: Longman and Co. 1825. 8vo. pp. 217.

THERE is no subject of general interest, of obvious importance, or of scientific research, which does not properly come under the notice of the Philomathic Journal. It is sufficient for our purpose if it stand connected with the physical, moral, or intellectual improvement of mankind. Recognising the paramount importance of the practical and useful, we introduce to our readers the present state of the Fisheries of this country in general, and of the Salmon Fishery in particular; and we do so the more cheerfully, because the subject has lately occupied the attention of the Legislature, and is still far from being fully appreciated, or generally understood.

The fisheries of Great Britain are a source of wealth that has been hitherto nearly neglected. While some nations have derived political importance from them alone, and Holland has for centuries been in the practice of fishing on our coasts with the greatest success, we have contented ourselves with sending a few labourers into the harvest, who have in many instances trodden down and destroyed more than they have reaped. Various reasons have been assigned for this negligence on our part, and various remedies have been proposed; but still we have continued the same supine and even ruinous system, till at length the evil has attained a magnitude that will not be concealed, and must speedily be checked.

It is an undisputed maxim in political economy, that every facility should be afforded to the production of food of good quality, and at a moderate price. There is this peculiar