A Metrical History of England :: :: University of Virginia Library

A Metrical History of England

Or, Recollections, in Rhyme, Of some of the most prominent Features in our National Chronology, from the Landing of Julius Caesar to the Commencement of the Regency, in 1812. In Two Volumes ... By Thomas Dibdin

Dibdin, Thomas (1771-1841)

II.

10.

11.

12.

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

The treacherous chief of Gaul, whose soul delights
In violating hospitable rights,
Seiz'd on those British, who, in luckless hour,
Had deem'd that honor in his breast had power:
And, when the prison'd guests their right demand,
Ironic insult, and degrading jeer,
Our sons deride, and mock our daughters' ear.
When Autun's Bishop came to Albion's strand,
What courtesy but greeted Talleyrand?
A name on which for ever now must rest
This hated stigma, “the Ungrateful Guest,”
Who Briton's noblest favors could requite
With ev'ry act of mean official spite.

277

Despard, and his associate crew,
Receive from injured law their due.
A sudden burst, in which a Magistrate
Of worth and virtue meets a cruel fate,
Upon Hibernian ground appals the good;
His very murderers mourn Kilwarden's blood!
Kilwarden, whose last palpitating breath,
Forgave th' infuriate authors of his death!
Grinfield and Hood, and Saumarez, at sea,
Their true blue warriors lead to victory;
While Dieppe and Dutchmen found some cause to rue
What Owen and associate chiefs cou'd do.
In India, Wellesley triumphs o'er the foe,
(Such names make shocking poetry I trow,
As Rajah Berar, Scindia Dowlat Bow).

278

Less fortunate at home the current ran,
Which in its vortex sunk the Hindostan.
Now Addington and friends uneasy sit,

1804.

And yield the ministerial throne to Pitt.
Behold Linois against our lads advance,
Sets, turns his partners, and declines the Dance.
La liberté no more the Frenchman sings,
For mark! th' Imperial Eagle claps his wings!
Wou'd you, my reader kind, survey
Such ensigns of despotic sway,
A moment to Whitehall repair,
You'll see a splendid sample there,
Which with our brethren brave were forc'd to stay
While their unpinion'd owners fled away.

This, at that time, confidential minister of the French court, and to whom the English nobility had been prodigally hospitable, in their own country, is accused in many instances of personal and degrading ill-treatment of the detenus, particularly to a venerable Scotch Countess, to whom, when she pleaded for indulgence on her knees, he laughingly said, he could neither understand her French nor her English.

General Grinfield and Commodore Hood took St. Lucia, Tobago, Demarara, Issequibo, &c.—Berbice was also captured. Sir James Sanmarez attacked the port of Granville, demolished the pier, and destroyed many vessels designed for the invasion of England; Dieppe was bombarded the same day by Captain Owen; and a number of vessels were taken, or rendered useless, in the Dutch harbours.

Marquis Wellesley obtained a decisive victory over the Berar Rajah and Dowlat Bow Scindia, and their combined forces. The Hindostan East Indiaman was lost in Margate Roads on the 11th of January.

Capt. N. Dance in the Farl Camden East Indiaman, while convoying twenty-six merchantmen, fell in with and beat off the squadron of Admiral Linois, consisting of a line of battle ship, two frigates, a corvette, and a brig.