AGREEABLY to the request of the Right Reverend Author, the following Ode is admitted into this collection; and I think it but justice to declare, that I have diligently scanned it on my fingers; and, after repeated trials, to the best of my knowledge, believe the Metre to be of the Iambic kind, containing three, four, five, and fix feet in one line, with the occasional addition of the hypercatalectic syllable at stated periods. I am, therefore, of opinion, that the composition is certainly verse; though I would not wish to pronounce too confidently. For further information I shall print his Grace's letter.

TO SIR JOHN HAWKINS, BART.

SIR JOHN,

As I understand you are publishing an authentic Edition of the Probationary Odes, I call upon you to do me the justice of inserting the enclosed. It was rejected on the

Scrutiny by Signor Delpini, for reasons which must have been suggested by the malevolence of some rival. The reasons were, 1st, That the Ode was nothing but prose, written in an odd manner; and, 2dly, That the Metre, if there be any, as well as many of the thoughts, are stolen from a little Poem, in a Collection called the UNION. To a man, blest with an ear so delicate as your's, Sir John, I think it unnecessary to say any thing on the first charge; and as to the second, (would you believe it?) the Poem from which I am accused of stealing is my own! Surely an Author has a right to make free with his own ideas, especially when, if they were ever known, they have long since been forgotten by his readers. You are not to learn, Sir John, that de non apparentibus & non existentibus eadem est ratio: and nothing but the active spirit of literary jealousy, could have dragged forth my former Ode from the obscurity, in which it has long slept, to the disgrace of all good taste in the present age. However, that you and the public may see, how little I have really taken, and how much I have opened the thoughts, and improved the language of that

that little, I send you my imitations of myself, as well as some few explanatory notes, necessary to elucidate my classical and historical allusions.

Lord Archbishop of York, Primate of England, and Lord High Almoner to his Majesty, formerly Preceptor to the Princes, Head Master of Westminster School, &c. &c. &c.

STROPHE I.

THE priestly mind what virtue so approves,
And testifies the pure prelatic spirit,
As loyal gratitude?

Strophe I.

IMITATIONS OF MYSELF.

This goodly frame what virtue so approves,

And testifies the pure ætherial spirit,

As mild benevolence?

My Ode to Arthur Onslow, Esq.

More to my King, than to my God, I owe;
God and my father made me man,
Yet not without my mother's added aid;

But GEORGE, without, or God, or man, With grace endow'd, and hallow'd me Archbishop,

ANTISTROPE I. '

In Trojan PRIAM's court a laurel grew;
So VIRGIL sings. But I will sing the laurel,
Which at, St. JAMES's blooms...

O may I bend my brows from that blest tree,
Not flourishing in native green,

Refresh'd with dews from AGANIPPE's spring:
But, like the precious plant of DIS,
Glitt'ring with gold, with royal sack irriguous.

EPODE I.

So shall my aukward gratitude,
With fond presumption to the Laureat's duty
Attune my rugged numbers blank.

Little I reck the meed of such a song;
Yet will I stretch aloof,

And tell of Tory principles,
The right Divine of Kings;

And Power Supreme that brooks not bold contention: Till all the zeal monarchial

That fired the Preacher, in the Bard shall blaze,

And what my Sermons were, my Odes once more shall

be.

STROPHE II.

* Good PRICE, to Kings and me a foe no more,
By LANSDOWN Won, shall pay with friendly censure
His past hostility.

Nor shall not He assist, my pupil once,

Of stature small, but doughty tongue,

Bold ABINGDON, whose rhetoric unrestrain'd,
Rushes, more lyrically wild,

+ Than GREENE's mad lays, when he out-pindar'd

PINDAR.

ANTISTROPHE II.

With him too, EFFINGHAM his aid shall join,
Who, erst by GORDON led, with bonfires usher'd
His Sov'reign's natal month.

Secure in such allies, to princely themes,

To HENRY's and to EDWARD's young.

*During the Administration of Lord SHELBURNE, I was told by a friend of mine, that Dr. PRICE took occasion, in his presence, to declare the most lively abhorrence of the damnable heresies, which he had formerly advanced against the fare divino doctrines, contained in some of my Sermons.

See a translation of PINDAR, by EDWARD BURNABY GREENE. ‡ This alludes wholly to a private anecdote, and in no degree to certain malicious reports of the noble Earl's conduct during the riots of June, 1780.

Antistrophe II.

IMITATIONS OF MYSELF.

To HENRYS and to EDWARDS old,

Dread names, I'll meditate the faithful song, &c.

Ibid.