THE DEATH OF SCHOMBERG.* [It is said that many a sea-fight was won by Dibdin-The excellence of his songs is indisputable, and it is certain that where all the orations and arguments that could be applied have failed to mine deep enough into the heart to reach the latent vein of courage, a national song has brought the latent ore to light. The antients were well aware of their efficacy; and though one ingredient in such a composition was frequently wanting, I mean the simplicity that adapts itself to every ear, yet in one of the most admired of them, this quality is displayed in a rare degree I mean the hymn of Callistratus to Harmodius and Aristogiton, "E μverou xλadì,” &c.—a composition matchless in its kind, and to which no translation that I have ever seen, not even that spirited one by Mr. Denman, published in Bland's anthology, and lauded by Lord Byron, does justice. Perhaps Sir William Jones's imitation has more of the spirit of the original than any translation. Burns in Scotland, the aforesaid Dibdin, and others in England, and Moore in Ireland, have by means of such effusions, roused the latent energies of thousands-Would that the spirit called by the latter bard from the "vasty deep" of political ferment had been one to whose stirring influence we could have safely confided ourselves! As it is, let us not be behind-hand -We can boast of bards, as well as patriots amongst us, and have a field at least as wide, and as thickly strewn with the flowers of poetry as the most republican or Italian of our opponents. I need scarcely say, that I step forward into the untenanted ground merely to plant the standard of England upon it, and to occupy it till the strength of our ranks shall have made it securely ours-I am the point of the wedge, the narrowest part, though the first applied, and I serve but to open the way for others. At this juncture for Protestant, for British Ireland, every power, even the most inconsiderable, should be applied, and brought to bear in concert upon its enemies. I should add, that I have given to the following song, (if song that can be called to which no tune is appropriated) an easy measure, so that it may be readily adapted to some popular air-perhaps "The Boyne water" might do.] 'Twas on the day when kings did fight That morn an aged chieftain stood His hand upon his sword-hilt leant, "Frederick Schonberg, or Schomberg, first developed his warlike talents under the command of Henry and William II. of Orange; afterwards obtained several victories over the Spaniards; reinstated on the throne the House of Braganza; defeated in England the last hopes of the Stuarts, and finally died at the advanced age of eighty-two, at the battle of the Boyne, in 1690." * Schonberg, or the "the mount of beauty," is one of the most magnificent of the many now ruinous castles that overhang the Rhine. It had been the residence of the chiefs of a noble family of that name, which existed as far back as the time of Charlemagne, and of which the Duke of Schomberg was a member. He said fate granted half his prayer- Of James's host he rode. He sleeps in a cathedral's gloom* The other half, though fate deny, We'll strive for, one and all, And, William's-Schomberg's spirits nigh, We'll gain-or fighting fall! ADVENA. * St. Patrick's, in Dublin.-A black marble slab, with the following inscription, is inserted in the wall above the tomb : "Hic infra situm est corpus Frederici Ducis de Schonberg ad Bubindam occisi, A. D. 1690. Decanus et capitulum maximopere etiam atque etiam petierunt, ut hæredes Ducis monumentum in memoriam parentis erigendum curarent. Sed postquam per epis tolas, per amicos, diu ac sæpe orando nil profecere; hunc demum lapidem statuerunt saltem ut scias hospes ubinam terrarum SCHONBERGENSES cineres delitescunt. Plus potuit fama virtutis apud alienos quam sanguinis proximitas apud suos.A.D. 1731. TO THE GUMCISTUS. "Sweet Cista, rival of the rosy dawn, Put forth her buds and grac'd the dewy lawn;" Gives to the winds her sweets, and sinks in death. AN ORIGINAL LETTER OF EDMUND BURKE. It is addressed to John Stewart Esq. Secretary to Warren Hastings, and afterwards Judge Advocate of Bengal. We are indebted to the kindness of C. Skinner, Esq. of Belfast, in whose possession it is, for permission to publish this interesting relic of one of the greatest Statesmen this kingdom has produced. Dear Sir,-"I am heartily thankful to you for your very kind remembrance of me in every stage of your progress -the wines of the Cape, the canes of Bengal, every thing good in every place, revives your obliging disposition towards your friends. The wine is not yet arrived. Indeed that kind of wine, and in that quantity, is beyond the mark of patriotism, not endowed with a good fortune. You know that his worship, Alderman Wilkes, only gives Port in his Shreivalty Feasts; Constantia is therefore a lady, much too highly bred to appear at my private table, though neither she nor any one elsé is too good for those who honour it with their company. I will, therefore, send your Constantia to a place where it will be rather better assorted. A good friend of yours, Lord Rockingham, shall have my portion; and there I will drink your health in my own wine, and would continue to renew the toast, if it could be any way pleasing or useful to you, until your cane should be necessary to support me in my way home. Perhaps this was the typical meaning of the "wine and cane?"whatever it was, I am extremely obliged to you for both, and for the very sensible, friendly, and polite letters that accompanied them. Your countrymen may now fill their newspapers with as much abuse of me as they think proper; I have abundant consolation in the friendship of one Scotchman, who has more wit than their whole set, and the whole body of their English allies along with them; and who has so much good humour and good nature, as would make him agreeable and amiable, if he had no more genius than the rest of the corps. "I am sorry that the affairs of your masters are in such a strange state of derangement, Discord has chosen the India House for her temple, and I assure you her devotees are as zealous and enthusiastic as any bigots whatsoever. The company is shaken to its foundations; the unfortunate contest about superiors-the heavy debt, a little too lately divulged-the probable deficiency of dividend, both to the proprietors and the Exchequer the fall of Stock, and the strange unmeaning hostility of the Court-all join to throw one of our most important concerns into the most perilous situation. These events have given a rude shock to our friend Sir G. Colebrook's interest-that power is shaken, but it is not destroyed; and no other party that I can find is yet able to profit by the blow our friends have received. The list of chairs you see have been rejected by the Court of Directorswhat list will be finally ratified by the general Court, I cannot guess. "In the first scheme, no more than three superiors were proposed. General Monkton and Mr. Stuart were intended by the chairs; to them they did me the honour to add me, with every circumstance of rank in the commission and in the office that could make it desirable. I was extremely sensible of the kindness of their intentions; but things were so situated, both with regard to the Company's affairs, and the government at home, as not to permit me to think of obeying their commands. wish him success; his duty is difficult, but his exertion seems necessary-at least we think so here, where we entertain, perhaps erroneously, an opinion, that there have been great mistakes and mis-management. City politics Whoever goes, I you are abundantly supplied with in the newspapers. The Aldermen in that interest fought with some resolution; but their retreat, if it does not cover some extraordinary design, was neither able nor reputable. Wilkes even losing the Mayoralty, is in some sort triumphant; he lost his point but by one, even in the strongest hold of the enemy. It is odd to see how he drags some of your old friends after him. Townshend is now Mayor, made by Wilkes with the exception of the one, and against the will of the other. It is an odd sort of creation. By this means your old friend Lord Shelburne becomes master of the city one year at least. The partition of Poland is a subject worthy of your pen. To make a partition of Poland, formerly put all Europe in a ferment; now it has four kings, and all Europe is quiet. Sweden has taken an absolute monarch as a cure for scarcity of provisions, and an army surrounds the Diet to persuade the States to agree to their unanimous resolution. These are odd paradoxes, but two great and pacific monarchs at present keep these matters from being any thing worse than ridiculous to the rest of mankind. What effect their action, and our repose will produce, is not for me to divine. use to a man of spirit and principle; and I am sure you will oblige me extremely. The next is one to whom you are no stranger, Emin, the Armenian. He is not with me, nor I dare say with you, the less a hero for being unfortunate. He has attempted great things, gone through infinite labours and infinite perils, and is at last where he set out, poor and friendless in Bengal. This should not be. It would be a disgrace to his nation, that a man once countenanced by the first people in this kingdom as well as in Germany, should without any cause of his own, pass his decline of life in misery and contempt in an English settlement. I know many think him an impostor, but I can bear witness to the truth of what he asserted, long before he attracted any part of the public notice; and to the patience, integrity, and fortitude with which he struggled to improve himself in all knowledge within his reach. His having served in Germany, and in all the expeditions to the coast of France, gives him a title to the little favour he asks-some respectable post in the Company's India troops. Be so good as to give him my humble service, and the enclosed. Mrs. Burke, my brother, and Mr. W. Burke present their best compliments ; and believe me, with great truth and affection, Dear Sir, Permit me, before I bid you goodbye, to recommend to your protection two of my friends in Bengal, the first "Your most obdt. humble servt. is my relation and namesake, Walter "EDMUND Burke. Burke, a captain of Seapoys, I be- Beconsfield, Oct. 30, 1772.” lieve that in seeing him, you will be of |
