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The PREFACE.
Readers, of whatever rank, or denomination, if ye shou'd receive any pleasure from, and approve the following lines, as to their general design, it is the summit of my ambition. I am no writer by profession, but at my leisure hours, wrote the siege of Louisbourg, in the winter of 1758: to amuse myself, and friends; and had no thoughts of printing it. But in the great and ever memorable year of fifty-nine, so repeated, and rapid, were our conquests, both by sea and land, in Europe, Africa, and America; so often came news of our successes from every part, (like gunpowder when touch'd by the match,) my fancy took fire! the rapt'rous joy grew too great to be contain'd within bounds! and I thought among the rest, I wou'd add my share of applause, and strive to register in the book of fame, the heroic actions perform'd by our troops and tars. I therefore assum'd my pen, and compleated the following poem: and being at length persuaded by some Gentlemen, (to whom I repeated it,) I have ventur'd it in the press, and submit it to the public censure, from which there is no appeal; and I hope they will look favourably on it, and not chill the ardour of my genius, by a severe criticism; this being the first essay I ever dar'd offer to the public inspection. Many faults, doubtless, may be found in the poem; for I, perhaps, (like a tender mother, fond of her own offspring,) view it with partial prejudice, and as she can see fire, in a dull, languid eye, beauty, in a rustic freckled face, and symetry even in distorted limbs: I fondly fancy a poetic fire glides thro' every part of it; think those lines run smooth, and fall with a proper cadence, which perhaps are rough and dissonant; and tho' I should fancy a just proportion even In all its parts; where I think it most compleat, to others it may seem the most deficient. For the best Gallic cooks, tho' they are so universally admir'd, cou'd never yet, send a dish to table, so elegantly compos'd, as to please the palate of every feeder. How then can I, unnotic'd and unknown, without a patron, and unacquainted in this part of England, and without the additional weight of years on my side: I say, (all these circumstances considered,) how can I expect to give a general satisfaction, to the warriors, the wits, the scholars, and the men of sense; and to every other class of readers, whose sentiments, doubtless, will not run concordant with my own. But I have done all I can to give satisfaction, and rouze a spirit of emulation in every reader. And if on the perusal, any gentleman, that shall find I have made any material omissions, will be so good as to leave me a notice of it at Mr. John Cook's, bookseller, behind the Chapter-House, St. Paul's Church-yard and directed for me: if ever I shou'd be favour'd by the public approbation so far, as to print a second impression, he may depend it shall be inserted, shou'd the hint be suitable to the design of my poem. But if it is a hint dictated by a party spirit, he may save himself the trouble, and depend it shall never be inserted. For my intention is not to calumniate any man, nor even to write a true narration of what any particular persons may have done amiss, thro' cowardice, inadvertency, inexperience, incautious confidence in others promises, pride or the like. Neither do I meddle with the interest of the two opposing parties, in Great Britain and Ireland. But my sole design is this; (fir'd by a love of my country! and a generous esteem for all who have fought, bled, or dy'd for my country's cause!) to exert my utmost efforts, to inroll in the list of fame their names; to call them forth in the fairest point of view; and dress their amazing actions! in all the elegance of harmonious numbers, and poetic truth! to warm the heart, of him that fought and lives! to give a just, deserv'd encomium, on the worthy warring dead! and inspire with heroic sentiments the soul of every youth which reads, and hath not yet been reaping the honourable harvest of martial glory!
He who governs his people with Regal Lenity, and Paternal fondness: Those who hazard their Royal Persons in battle for their country's welfare: the Ministers, and Patriots, that nobly plan Her warlike schemes; who firmly stem the tide of opposition which wou'd brake down, and over-run the bounds of her happy constitution; with all those who draw the sword in Britannia's quarrell, whether Englishmen. Caledonians, or Hibernians, and carry their patriot schemes, dreadfully, into a wasting execution! All such as these demand duty, alegiance, and a generous acknowledgment of every heart, sensibly
I have, as well as I can, thro' the whole poem, preserv'd a continu'd narration of the events, as they happen'd; yet I cou'd not avoid interjecting some things, where they scarce seem'd to claim a place: but as I thought they scarce deserv'd discussion by themselves, I did it to avoid a fruitless repetition of sieges, surrenders, attacks and skirmishes, and to keep the poem from swelling to too great a bulk. I mean those places in Africa, the Indies, &c. placing the time of their reduction, mostly at the time when the armaments sailed from hence, destin'd against them; tho' in reality, they fell long after, beneath the heavy battle of those tars, and troops which sailed thither, arm'd with angry Britain's vengeance! For it was in less compass than three years, the plans were form'd, and carried into execution, against Louisbourg, the Continent, and Quebec: against Maloes, Cherburg, and the Gallic fleets; and all the other expeditions against our enemies in Africa, &c. So that I scarce knew how to digest the whole into a regular narration, and not vary in a point, as to the time of the events; and therefore I thought proper to throw in together the attacks and reductions of Guadaloup, Senegal, Granada, St. Martin's, Marigalante, Surat, Chandernagore, Calcutta, and the Nabob twice defeated, under the command of Watson, Pocock, Moore, Clive, Draper, Marsh, Keppel, Mason. Barrington, Sayer, &c. &c. &c. These I therefore reckon'd up in the first of the poem, when I mention'd Great Britain rousing to battle; her armament for war, and pouring. Her vigorious troops round about on every side; since it was near about the same time they sail'd from England; and I hope as I have mention'd such events happen'd, and under such commanders, it will pass without undergoing a severe criticism. Whilst General Wolfe, Admiral Saunders, &c. are beleaguering, and attacking Quebec; I have likewise mention'd by way of episode, what General Amherst, General Johnson, &c. &c. &c. atchiev'd on the Continent; tho' perhaps, some of it was done long before: but I scarce knew a place, in which I cou'd insert it more conveniently; and I hope the learned Chronologer will let me escape, without passing too harsh a censure on that passage. And if I shou'd have transgress'd the rules of narration, in a series of such great events, or deviated from the most exact niceties, which some people may imagine a work of this nature requires. I hope the generality of my readers, of candour, sense, and learning, will put a favourable contraction on it, and consider I am but young, am no more than man; and therefore very liable to great errors; and what a vast undertaking, for a youth's first essay I have now in hand.
I don't pretend to be a first rate poet; perhaps may never deserve the title of a poet. But I am conscious of my writing truth without flattery; unadorn'd with poetic fiction, (which like a nauseous, daubing on a beautiful face, hides the sweet attractive smiles, and native simplicity of the features:) and I design'd the poem for the honour of my King and Country. And if my circumstances wou'd have permitted that waste of time, and paying for paper, and the press, without any thing for it, it wou'd have been printed long since; for I have delay'd it some time, on account of getting subscribers; and have been favour'd with the approbation and subscription of some hundreds. I wish I cou'd keep pace in smooth lines, and a nervous diction with all the heroic actions perform'd by the matchless warriors of the three nations; whose cirumspection in looking out for our enemies, and conduct, and undaunted bravery in the day of battle, no pen can flatter. But this is a thing only to be wish'd, and not to be perform'd by the most arduous application of the great admirer of their deeds.
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