The press, or literary chit-chat :: :: University of Virginia Library

The press, or literary chit-chat

A Satire [by J. H. Reynolds]

Reynolds, John Hamilton (1794-1852)

II.

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV.

XXVI.

III.

PART III.

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XXI.

The pibroch's spirit-stirring strain
Now sounded o'er the startled plain;

A countless band in tartan dress'd
Unto the royal presence press'd.
First came six thistle-bearers on,
Then six who heaved a granite stone
Of most prodigious size;
The next a sprig of heather bore,
Then came of pipers near a score
With each two kilted thighs;
Next Grant, the venerable dame,
And Baillie, often-lauded name,
And Hamilton and Brunton too
Appear'd to render fealty due
To mighty Gog, who courteous view'd
Their forms as they around him stood—
Grant, who delights the spells t'unfold

Mrs. Grant's “Letters from the Mountains” are deserving of a less affected title. Her Essays on the superstitions of the Highlanders have doubtless been read with pleasure by many of my readers.

Which rugged Nature's children hold;
Baillie, who with a magic wand

Why—oh! why did Miss Baillie publish her “Metrical Legends?” Who can forbear, on reading them, to exclaim—

“Fall'n, fall'n, fall'n from her high estate?”

Hath made the passions round her stand;
The others—ah! forbear my strain,
Nor take such hallow'd names in vain,

For friends still shed the pitying tear,
And nations throng around their bier!