Through the vast series of descending years, That lose their currents in th' eternal wave, Till heaven's last trump shall rend th' affrighted And ope each empire's everlasting grave; [spheres, Propitious skies the joyous field shall crown, And robe our vallies in perpetual prime, And ages blest of undisturb'd renown Arise in radiance o'er th' imperial clime. And where is Britain? In the skirt of day, And lonely streams the fated coasts divide, Seest thou yon Isle, whose desert landscape yields The mournful traces of the fame she bore, Where matted thorns oppress th' uncultur'd fields, And piles of ruin load the dreary shore? From those loved seats, the Virtues sad withdrew From fell Corruption's bold and venal hand; Reluctant Freedom waved her last adieu, And devastation swept the vassall'd land. On her white cliffs, the pillars once of fame, Bids dark Oblivion draw th' eternal veil. APPENDIX. ADDITIONAL NOTES ΤΟ VOLUME I. Note 1, to the engraved title page.-The vignette on this page represents Apollo destroying the monstrous serpent, Python, with his arrows.-The story is told by Ovid in the first book of the Metamorphoses. Hunc Deus arcitenens-exhausta pene pharetra, Note 2, to page 66.-As the gentleman who designed and furnished the engravings, has selected Abijah White, as the hero of this plate, it may perhaps gratify the reader to know something more, respecting him, than is stated in the short note on this page. Previous to the session of the Massachusetts Legislature, in February 1774, a general effort was made by the Royalists, in every town in which their numbers were considerable, to pro |