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

URB

Demand the Poet's wreath. Matur'd by Time,
As the tall Ok, which braves the wintery form,
Thy labours flourish. Thy recording skill,

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 leat their aid
Thy pages to embellith. Long be it thine
The mazy paths of Politicks to fean

With manly treedom; to fupport the Throne,
And watch the Subjects' rights; to guide the paths
Of ftudious Youth to virtu uus toil; to guard
The tender Female from th infidious wiles
Of libertine & duction; to enjoy

The well-cara'd meed of honed industry,
Th' applaules of the world, and feit-content!

Dec. 31, 1804.

SEXAGENARIUS.

To SYLVANUS URBAN, GENT. ON THE SAME OCCASION.

NE ev'ning, as I muling fat

On fometimes this, and to reimestha”,

Methou ht I was, amongst the Grea",
With our First Minilter of State,

But with him I held no debate.

I only h pe-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 !
Adu, then, to their Politicks,
Their Ayeth and their Noeth tricks.

My thoughts now is ['p'utoĜARRICK
land,

Where is a bloffom that may ftand,
And more and more itself expand,
Till, to turity full-blown,
And by a fragrance all its own,

It b'o m - Flow 'ret yet unknown.
Patience then, Chucks; let it no more

Accept my trib stary lay,

Which welcomes thee to New-year's Day:
As others (thousands) do, who boatt
Thy deep purfuits a mighty hoft
Against the Foes of Truth an 1 Science,
How form'd and great foe'er th' all-ance!
Many Contemp'raris thy neighbours)
Would follow thee in all thy labours:
Mot welcome they-thy great defign
Is Friendship pure in every line;
True Merit only (ah! how rare!)
In Excellence has any share.

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

Still to deferve the Public voice.—

These truths eltablish'd, SyrVAN' Uaa',
What can thy fame at all d turb?
With greateft picafore I thee greet,
Eager to Latte thy Monthly Treat.
No Library can I prefer,

If SYLVAN CAN be pot there:
Matters for worses fil 'by columes,
Therefolves a Libcary shy Volumes.

Agun, dem Sy LV, I give thee j3y :
To search out Truth is thy employ.
That Work, fo Morel, fo Divine,
Opening the human mind, is thine,
In fuch purfut then dare go on;
The approbation is, nom" com",
In North and Son h, in Fatt and Weft,
Mention'd thy name—pishutum ef

A

PREFACE.

T the prefent period, when every portion of Europe is compelled to behold the moft 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 Defpótifin, 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 Malon 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, thousands and tens of thousands of her generous fons ruth to arms, extending the impenetrable fhield of Patriotifm.

Here then is the foil which, under the protecting hand of Heaven, aufpicioufly 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.

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