Pills, poetical, political, and philosophical Prescribed for the purpose of purging the publick of fiddling philosophers, of puny poetasters, of paltry politicans, and petty partisans |
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 | Pills, poetical, political, and philosophical |  |
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THE PILOTS WHOM WASHINGTON PLAC'D AT THE HELM.
TUNE—ANACREON IN HEAVEN.
[_]
Addressed to Colonel Pickering and the other members of the minority in the late Congress, to whom, in honour of their brilliant and patriotick exertions in support of the rights and interests of their country, a publick dinner was given in Philadelphia on the tenth of March, 1809.
I.
YE patriots bold, a Leonidas band,Our pilots in freedom's tempestuous ocean,
The chiefs whom our Washington chose to command,
Sheet anchors of hope, 'mid the world's dread commotion!
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May you guide the bark through,
In spite of the storm, and the Jacobin crew,
For the tempest of Faction cannot overwhelm
The pilots whom Washington plac'd at the helm.
II.
Though Europe distracted with war's dire alarms,With more than Cimmerian darkness is shrouded,
Yet, led by our Washington's comrades in arms,
The sun of our glory can never be clouded.
The powers are defied
Of the old world allied,
By men who in danger's dark hour have been tried,
For war's rudest tempest cannot overwhelm
The pilots whom Washington plac'd at the helm.
III.
If Europe should fall by the arms or the artsOf Buonaparte's demons of dire desolation,
The tyrant must first win his way through our hearts
Before he subdues the American nation.
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And Frenchified schemes,
Avaunt! for the falchion of Washington gleams.
And J---n's follies cannot overwhelm
The pilots whom Washington plac'd at the helm.
IV.
Ye “generous sons of illustrious sires,”With their blood who cemented fair freedom's foundations,
Your patriot bosoms inherit their fires,
And yours is the meed of a world's acclamations.
Your names you shall find
In our bosoms enshrined,
With life's dearest ligaments ever entwined:
And you shall unite, lest the storm overwhelm,
With the pilots whom Washington plac'd at the helm.
V.
Your efforts of wisdom your country reveres,Your counsels alone can ensure her salvation,
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The ROCKS TO WHICH CLING THE LAST HOPES OF THE NATION.
Let each honoured name
Swell the trumpet of Fame,
While it peals with its longest and loudest acclaim;
And WE ALL WILL UNITE, lest the storm overwhelm,
With the pilots whom Washington placed at the helm.
| Pills, poetical, political, and philosophical | |