LONDON, Printed by and for NICHOLS 3 SON,
at Cicero's Head, Red Lion Passage, Fleet-Street;

where LETTERS are particularly requested to be fent, POST PAID.
And fold by J. HARRIS (Succeffor to Mrs. NEWBERY),
the Corner of St. Paul's Church Yard, Ludgate-Street. 1804.

LONDON, Printed by and for NICHOLS nd SON, at Cicero's Head, Red Lion Paffage, Fleet-Street;

where LETTERS are particularly requested to be fent, PoST PAID. And fold by J. HARRIS (Succeffor to Mrs. NEWBERY), the Corner of St. Paul's Church Yard, Ludgate-Street. 1804.

ON COMPLETING HIS SEVENTY-FOURTH VOLUME.

RBAN, all hail! Again thy reverend brows

Demand the Poet's wreath. Matur'd by Time,
As the tall Oak, which braves the wintery ftorm,
Thy labours flourish. Thy recording fkill,

By judgment mellow'd, by experience wife,
Still pleafes and delights." The deep intrigues
Of wily Courtiers, of contending States,
Thy keennefs has develop'd! Every Muse
And every Grace, combin'd, have lent their aid
Thy pages to embellish. Long be it thine
The mazy paths of Politicks to fcan

With manly freedom; to fupport the Throne,
And watch the Subjects' rights; to guide the paths
Of ftudious Youth to virtuous toil; to guard
The tender Female from th' infidious wiles
Of libertine feduction; to enjoy

The well-earn'd meed of honest industry,
Th' applaufes of the world, and felf-content!

Dec. 31, 1804.

SEXAGENARIUS.

To SYLVANUS URBAN, GENT. ON THE SAME OCCASION.

NE ev'ning, as I mufing fat

On fometimes this,and fometimesthat,
Methought I was, amougft the Great,
With our First Minister of State,
But with him I held no debate.
I only hope he will fuppofe
His Ayes may be o'ercome by Noes;
For then, or right or wrong the matter,
How will the Noes exult and chatter !
Adieu, then, to their Politicks,
Their Ayeifh and their Noeifh tricks.
My thoughts now skipp's to GARRICK
land,

Where is a bloffom that may stand,
And more and more itself expand,
Till, to maturity full-blown,
And by a fragrance all its own,
It blooms-a Flow'ret yet unknown.
Patience then, Criticks; let it no more

fret ye:

Another GARRICK ye may find in BETTY.
Next on my table, gladly feen,
Was SYLVAN URBAN'S Magazine,
A Magazine, the fare companion
Tople fe, engage, and profit any one;
A Magazine the Learned quote
In mat ers of the greatest sore;
A Magazine (fecundùm charter)
Of valuables from every quarter,
From North and South, from Eaft and Weft,
Of each variety the best.

Jey then to thee, SYIV' URB', I give;
And may'it thou long and longer live!

Accept my tributary lay,

Which welcomes thee to New-year's Day;
As others (thoufands) do, who boaft
Thy deep purfuits a mighty hoft
Against the Foes of Truth and Science,
How form'd and great foe'er th' alliance!
Many Contemp'raries (thy neighbours)
Would follow thee in all thy labours:
Most welcome they-thy great defign
Is Friendship pure in every line;
True Merit only (ah! how rare !)
In Excellence has any flare.

Through thee the Artist, Learn'd, and Wife,
May prove their great abilities;
As hitherto, it is thy choice

Still to deferve the Public voice.

Thefe truths eftablish'd, SYLVAN' URB',
What can thy fame at all d turb?
With greatest pleafore I thee greet,
Eager to taste thy Monthly Treat.
No Library can I prefer,

If SYLVAN URBAN be not there:
Matters fo various fill thy columns,
Therofelves a Library thy Volumes.

Again, dear Sy LV', I give thee joy :
To fearch out Truth is thy employ.
That Work, fo Moral, fo Divine,
Opening the human mind, is thine,
In fuch purfuit then dare go on ;
The approbation is, nem` con',
In North and Sou h, in Eaft and West,
Mention'd thy name-probatum eft.
SEPTUAGENARIUS,

Dec. 31.

A

PREFACE.

T the prefent period, when every portion of Europe is compelled to behold the most extraordinary events follow each other in rapid fucceffion, LITERATURE, aftonished and appalled, can in Britain alone find protection and repofe.

In every other country the laurels of Science wither beneath the frown of Defpotifm, nor will her verdure quicken, or her fruits mature, where the hands of foreign tyrants rudely anticipate her harvefts, and tear away her untimely bloffoms.

In Britain, thanks to that Sovereign Power who, 'at the birth of Time, fnatched, as Mafon fays, from the dominion of the Ocean.

"The throne of Freedom, girt with filver cliffs !"

in Britain Genius may ftill, under the fhadow of his vine, cultivate, cherish, and mature his offspring. At the proud and empty menace of an upftart foe, thoufands and tens of thousands of her generous fons rufh to arms, extending the impenetrable fhield of Patriotiẩm.

Here then is the foil which, under the protecting hand of Heaven, aufpiciously receives and cherishes the feeds of Science-the Philofopher may fecurely introduce his fpeculations, the Chemift his experiments, the Politician his ob-. fervations, the Artift difplay the happy efforts of his skill, the Scholar enjoy his retirement, and the Poet his Mufe, uninterrupted by the din of arms, which murmur faintly in the diftance, and unobstructed by any harfh interpofition of violent and defpotic authority.

We, as heretofore, lend our humble but cordial aid to literary enterprize of every denomination and defcription. It is ufelefs and unneceffary to do more than refer our readers to volumes upon volumes of our labours, for proofs of the facility, as well as of the fuccefs, with which the combatants in our Sparta exert their prowefs.

Thus while life and health remain will it ever be; and THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE fhall, as far as our exertions can avail, continue among thofe Annals of our countrymen which they may confult with pride, with honour, and with benefit.

Dec. 31, 1804.