but the props and preffure equally fuftaining me all around. The two latter I frequently diflodged, by fhifting my hold on the bars, and driving my knuckles into their ribs ; but my friend above ftack faft, and as he held by two bars, was immoveable. When I had bore this conflict above an hour, with a train of wretched reflections, and feeing no glimpfe of hope on which to found a profpect of relief, my fprits, refolution, and every fentiment of religion gave way. I found I was unable much longer to fupport this trial, and could not bear the dreadful thoughts of retiring into the inner part of the prifon, where I had before fuffered fo much. Some infernal spirit, taking the advantage of this period, brought to my remembrance my having a fmall clafp-penknife in my pocket, with which I determined inftantly to open my arteries, and finish a system no longer to be born. I had got it out, when Heaven interpofed, and restored me to fresh fpirits and refolution, with an abhorrence of the act of cowardice I was just going to commit. I exerted anew my ftrength and fortitude. But the repeated trials and efforts I made to diflodge the infufferable incumbrances upon me, at last quite exhaufted me; and towards two o'clock, finding I muft quit the window, or fink where I was, I refolved on the former, having bore, truly for the fake of others, infinitely more for life than the best of it is worth. In the rank clofe behind me was an officer of one of the fhips, whofe name was Carey, and who had behaved with much bravery during the fiege; (his wife, a fine woman, though countryborn, would not quit him, but accompanied him into the prifon, and was one who furvived). This poor wretch had been long raving for water and air; I told him I was determined to give up life, and recommended his gaining my ftation. On my quitting, he made a fruitless attempt to get my place; but the Dutch ferjeant who fat on my fhoulder-fupplanted him. Poor Carey expreffed his thankfulnefs, and faid, he would give up life VOL. XX. too; but it was with the utmoft labour we forced our way from the window, (se. veral in the inner ranks appearing to me dead ftanding *). He laid himself down to die; and his death, I believe, was very fudden; for he was a fhort, full, fanguine man. His ftrength was great, and I imagine, had he not retired with me, I fhould never have been able to have forced my way. I was at this time fenfible of no pain, and little uneafinefs; I can give you no better idea of my fituation than by repeating my fimile of the bowl of fpirit of hartfhorn. I found a ftupor coming on apace, and laid myself down by that gallant old man, the Rev. Mr Jervas Bellamy, who lay dead, with his fon the lieutenant, hand in hand, near the fouthermoft wall of the prison. When I had lain there fome little time, I ftill had reflection enough to fuffer fome uneafiness in the thought, that I fhould be trampled upon, when dead, as I myself had done to others. With fome difficulty I raised myself, and gained the platform a fecond time; where I prefently loft all fenfation: the last trace of fenfibility that I have been able to recollect after my lying down, was my fash being uneafy about my waist, which I untied, and threw from me. Of what paffed in this interval to the time of my refurrection from this hole of horrors, I can give you no account; and indeed the particulars mentioned by fome of the gentlemen who furvived, (folely by the number of those dead, by which they gained a freer acceffion of air, and approach to the windows), were fo exceffively abfurd and contradictory, as to convince me, very few of them retained their fenfes; or at least, loft them foon after they came into the open air, by the fever they carried out with them. In my own efcape from abfolute deach, the hand of Heaven was manifeftly exerted: the manner take as follows. When the day broke, and the gentlemen found that no intreaties could prevail to get the door opened, it occurred to one of them (I think to Mr Secretary Cook) to make Unable to fall by the throng and equal pref fure round. N a a fearch for me, in hopes I might have influence enough to gain a release from this fcene of mitery. Accordingly Meff. Lufhington and Walcot undertook the fearch, and by my shirt difcovered me under the dead upon the platform. They took me from thence; and imagining I had fome figns of life, brought me to wards the window I had firft poffeffion of. But as life was equally dear to every man, and the stench arifing from the dead bodies was grown intolerable, no one would give up his ftation in or near the window: fo they were obliged to carry me back again. But foon after Capt. Mills (now captain of the company's yacht), who was in poffeffion of a feat in the window, had the humanity to offer to refign it. I was again brought by the fame gentlemen, and placed in the window. At this juncture the Suba, who had received an account of the havock death had made amongst us, fent one of his jemmautdaars to inquire if the chief furvived. They fhewed me to him; told him I had appearance of life remaining, and believed I might recover if the door was opened very foon. This answer being returned to the Suba, an order came immediately for our releafe, it being then near fix in the morning. The fresh air at the window foon brought me to life; and a few minutes after the departure of the jemmautdaar, I was restored to my fight and fenfes. But Oh! Sir, what words fhall I adopt to tell you the whole that my foul fuffer ed at reviewing the dreadful deftruction round me! I will not attempt it; and indeed, tears (a tribute I believe I fhall ever pay to the remembrance of this fcene, and to the memory of thofe brave and valuable men) flop my pen. The little ftrength remaining amongst the most robuft who furvived, made it a difficult task to remove the dead piled up against the door; fo that I believe it was more than twenty minutes before we obtained a paffage out for one at a time. I had foon, &c, [To be continued.] SIR, Standgate, Lambeth, Feb. 17. I Have discovered a fpecies of the willow that will grow to a prodigious fize, even big enough for masts for the largeft fhips, and that in the short space of forty years. These mafts are better, and more durable than fir; because they can never fpring, as fir too often does : and they will endure wet and dry far better, and continue found longer under fuch circumftances than any other kind of timber that I have yet experienced. The method of planting is this. Take fets about the bignefs of a man's thumb; plant thefe in rich marfhy land, at the distance of two feet every way, and when they have flood feven years, thin them, leaving about five feet fquare to each tree. In this space they will grow tall and ftraight, and pay the planter better, than any other method of improvement whatever. An acre of proper foil, thus planted, will, at the end of forty years, be worth, at a moderate computation, 2000l. which is more than the fame quantity will produce in the fame time, by any other method of culture now in practice. Hilo-Nautarius, or any other, may fee feveral willows fit for mafts, now ftanding at the bottom of the garden lately belonging to Angel, Efq; in the Wafh way, near Stockwell lane, by Briftow caufey, in Surry, not three miles from Weltmintter bridge. Thefe trees are feveral yards taller than any maft of a fhip, and perfectly straight, and their circumference much greater than that of bers of fuch trees may be found in Engmaft. I dare fay, that great numany them in the fir fhips now fitting out in land; and might not trial be made of the feveral dock yards? I am, &c. Lond. Chron. W. M. Tranflation of VERSES writ in French by the King of PRUSSIA, and by him presented Mr Profeffor GOTTSCHED, at Leipfic, 67.18. 1757 Gent. Mag. WIth bounteous, yet with frugal hand, Its meatal gifts judicious Heav'n Deals near alike to ev'ry land, Tho' diff'rent kinds to each are giv'n. The French of airy genius prove, Britannia's fons profound are known: Each prizes, cach prefers his own. With Attic fweets, th’Athenian name. Our Germans, fir'd with martial rage, Their harsh neglected language knew. And fweetly-melting founds impart. In Heliconian firains affume, And fwell our German heroes' praise : Immortal fhall their laurels bloom, Entwin'd with thy Parnaffian bays. The Profeffer's anfwer. Heav'n, that diffinguithes but few, Was lavish, matchless prince! to you: It grae'd you with the mingi'd charms Of wisdom, poetry, and arms, And bade you, thus adorn'd, engage The wonder of each future age: It form'd you in that happy mean Thofe blameable extremes between, Of British genius, too profound, And French, for levity renown'd. Hence, nicely pois'd, and well refin'd, True grandeur dignifies your mind; Nor clouds of paffion ever roll, T'obfcure the brightness of your foul. Mars now, where-e'er your fandards fly, Submits to your corrective eye, And forms, as in his noble fchools, His heroes by your better rules; And hence your Germans rife in fame, Superior to the Roman name. Long ex'd from their native home Th' Athenian Mules, forc'd to roam In fearch of fome belov'd retreat, Amidst your cohorts fix their feat, Transported, your behefts obey, And follow where you lead the way. Fame's greeneft laureate wreaths you feize, And plack, fesene in learned eats, PROLOGUE and EPILOGUE to AGIS. PROLOGUE. Written by a FRIEND, Spoken by Mr GARRICK, at London'; and by Mr DIGGES, at Edinburgh. IFA tale from Sparta's rigid state can please; F, in thefe days of luxury and ease, If patriot plans a British breast can warm;' He view'd his fubjects with a parent's love; That country once for virtue was rever'd, Array'd in hafte her husband for the field; While beauty thus with parriot zeal combin'd, May this fad icene improve each Briton's heart! Roufe him with warmth to act a Briton's part! Prompt him with sparta's nobleft fons to vie; To live in glory, and in freedom die! EPILOGUE. Spoken by MIS PRITCH- King in bloom of youth, for freedom dit!- This is no credulous admiring age; But facred, fure, the faith of Plutarch's page. In fimple style that ancient fage relates To the author of DOUGLAS and AGIS. Invents, corrects, confults, examines, weighs, Britain, awake; a finish'd picture fee, Hail, tragic bard! fill while efteem remains As tend to better and improve the age! For nature, painted in the purest strains; What heights of godlike excellence he gains! Not Cæfar, feated in triumphal car, To fire the genius, and to warm the heart, The finest entertainment of the mind, Long have her fons been famous in the field, The trump of Fame spread wide her tow'ring name, And Scotia and Renown were fill the fame. Scarce Searce did her infants leave the dandling knee, On the King of PRUSSIA. ON his own native plains, with laurels crown'd; In grateful cafe, illuftrious FREDRICK fat; While peace and plenty breath'd their sweets around, The people happy, and the monarch great. He trac'd, affiduous, Wisdom's facred page; Explor'd whate'er was worthy to be known; Reviv'd the manners of each former age, And made their fairest virtues all his own. The Mufes warm'd his foul with all their fire; Harmonious was his fpeech, his judgment strong; And well he knew to touch the tuneful lyre, And tafte the sweetness of immortal fong. Izjuftice now her standard broad difplay'd; This mark'd the fov'reign ruler of the skies: Arife, my fon, my fav'rite fon! he faid; Lo! Virtue calls, and Glory pleads; arife! See where, confiding in their lawless power, In impious league the haughty nations join! To blaft their hopes, and justice to restore, Go forth: this talk, this glorious talk be thine! Before thy feet fhall proud Oppreffion bow; Down-looking Avarice fhall lick the dust, And Violence fink beneath th'avenging blow: Mine is the caufe; in me put all thy trust. VOL. XX. He faid: The hero felt a warmth divine, With honeft rage, and fair ambition fir'd; Now feem'd he equal to the great defign, And all the God his mighty foul infpir'd. Devote to justice, and to fair renown, Forth flew his fword, impatient to engage; He fpread the horrid pomp of war around, And nobly-daring bade the battle rage. To numbers does he yield? So have I seen A The mid-day fun withdraw his flaming ray, A while obfcur'd by wat'ry clouds, and then Surprise the world with more refulgent day, Amid th' admiring numbers of the foe, I fee him glorious on the fanguine field! The God of battles guides his every blow, And shades the hero with his facred field. Before his lifted arm the mighty Ay; Confpiring nations urge the war in vain ; Thousands on thousands cold and lifeless lie, And with their blood deep-tinge the fatal plain. He with Victoria's faireft laurels crown'd, In the bright course of glory on shall go, Till war fhall ceafe; and on the world around, The peace and virtue which he loves, beflow. Ah me! how justly is my verfe reprov'd! How much unworthy of th' exalted theme! O great in arms! O Virtue's best belov'd! What ftrains shall equal thy illustrious namë ? Of ages yet unborn, the great and good Shall fpeak thy praife, and lift his fame on Who in defence of Freedom nobly flood, (high, Who ne'er in Virtue's caufe refus'd to die. Why fleeps BRITANNIA? the that wont t'appear The foremost in the glorious lifts of fame! Does Honour's call no more delight her ear? Is the unmov'd by danger, or by shame? Lo, where the fits with looks demure and fad! See with repeated fighs her bofom heave! By her own fons betray'd, can he be glad? While Gallia triumphs, can fhe cease to grieve? Is there no balm to heal BRITANNIA's wound? No charm to footh the lovely mourner's wo? No friendly hand to lift her from the ground, And wipe the tears that without ceafing flow? Of all her fons, once honeft, wife, and brave, Is there not one, that feels the patriot's flame? That nobly dares his bleeding mother fave, And fnatch from fate a never-dying name? Fort-George, Jan 1758. R. S. VERSES to the people of ENGLAND, 1758. Wafte not zeal in idle breath, Wherefore teems the fhameless prefs Wit, |