"Moor, moor the barge, ye gallant crew, Nor tempt the stormy firth to-day. "The black'ning wave is edg'd with white; To Inch* and rock the sea-mews fly; The fishers heard the water sprite, Whose screams forbode that wreck is nigh. Last night the gifted seer did view 'Tis not because Lord Lindesay's heir 'Tis not because the ring they ride O'er Roslin, all that dreary night, A wondrous blaze was seen to gleam; 'Twas broader than the watch-fire light, And redder than the bright moon.beam. It glar'd on Roslin's castled rock, It ruddied all the copse-wood glen; 'Twas seen from Dryden's groves of oak, And seen from cavern'd Hawthornden. Seem'd all on fire that chapel proud Where Roslin's chiefs uncoffin'd lie: Each baron, for a sable shroud, Seem'd all on fire within, around, Shone every pillar foliage-bound, And glimmer'd all the dead men's mail. * Inch isle. Fancy's bright talisman, while millions gaze, Till tombs are bursting, and the world's on fire. JOSEPH WESTON. The author of the above lines is now no more: he ended his days in a house for the reception of insane persons. His malady was caused by the extreme irregularity of his life.-He possessed talents, which, had they been directed into a proper channel, would have reflected honour upon the unfortunate Weston. He is not entirely unknown to the public; his critique on the versifiIcation of Dryden and Pope, with his correspondence with Miss Seward upon the subject, I believe, are well known. NAVAL HISTORY OF THE PRESENT YEAR, 1808. (January-February.) RETROSPECTIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS. THE THE capture of the Danish West India islands, and the particulars of that service, are given in the official letters. This acquisition, as it tends to weaken the resources of our enemies, and to put the islands out of the grasp of the French tyrant, is certainly of considerable importance to the country. Captain W. S. Parkinson, the bearer of the intelligence from Sir A. Cochrane, was one of the earliest followers of Lord Nelson, recommended to his notice by Admiral Sir C. Pole, Bart. and was with Captain Nelson as midshipman in the Boreas, when he so much distinguished himself in the West Indies during the years 1784, 5, 6, and 7. He was third lieutenant of the Vanguard in the battle of Aboukir, and afterwards first, and returned to England strongly recommended for promotion by his Sicilian majesty, when he was made commander. This excellent officer is now raised to post rank. The Danes first took possession of the island of St. Thomas in 1671. An excellent harbour, in which 50 ships may ride with security, early attracted both the English and French buccaneers, who whenever they had taken any prizes in the lower latitudes, from which they could not make the Windward Islands, put into St. Thomas to dispose of them. It also became the port whence vessels richly laden were continually sent to carry on a clandestine trade with the Spanish coasts. Denmark, however, for a long time, had no other communication with this colony, than by a single ship, sent out annually to Africa to purchase slaves, which were sold in America. In 1719, their West India commerce increased by clearing the island of St. John, which is adjacent to St. Thomas. Santa Cruz was not sold by France to Denmark until 1733, when it was purchased by the latter power for 30,7501. The annual productions of the Danish West India islands consisted of a small quantity of coffee, a great deal of cotton, seventeen or eighteen millions weight of raw sugar, and a proportionate quantity of rum. There is no truth whatever in the report of a relaxation having taken place in the commercial restrictions in Holland: on the contrary, Louis Buonaparté declares, that he thinks it his duty to surpass in severity the prohibitory decrees of his brother Napoleon. He has accordingly resorted to measures far more rigid than any hitherto adopted. The ports of Holland are shut against all ships whatever, whether belonging to neutrais or allies, with the following exceptions only, viz. Armed ships of war may enter the ports of Holland with their prizes, and the merchant vessels belonging to neutral or allied powers may take refuge in the ports of Holland from the dangers of the sea; but they are to be placed under the most strict and severe quarantine, and must put to sea as soon as the weather permits. Even fishing boats are forbid to go to sea without a soldier on board each of them, who, upon his return, is bound to make a report of what passed during the fishing. This decree is accompanied by a declamatory address to the Dutch. It invites them to fit out privateers, reminds them of the actions of De Ruyter and Van Tromp, and asks them whether the Danes are to be the only people that dare to attack the English by sea? The King of Prussia has also been compelled to withdraw his ambassador from this country, and strictly to prohibit all intercourse between his subjects and those of Great-Britain. The following article, dated Copenhagen, January 19, will, we conceive, be regarded as a sufficient proof of a secret understanding having prevailed between Denmark and France long before our attack upon the Danish fleet was meditated: "It appears that as early as the month of July last, it was supposed in the Isle of France, that a war must at last be unavoidable between England and Denmark, on which account an embargo was laid on all the Danish ships lying there, a hope is therefore entertained that by this measure of the French Government there, many of the ships of our merchants, and trading companies will escape being captured.” Russia having declared war against Sweden, it is understood that a strong naval force will be despatched from this country to assist the latter power. Intelligence from Constantinople, of the 19th of December, states as follows:-"The Capitan Pasha, with his whole fleet, is in the harbour of Constantinople. The losses he suffered in the late battle with the Russians off Tenedos, are not yet entirely repaired. At the same time the naval preparations are continued with the utmost ardour and activity, and the Porte will soon have a very respectable fleet.” Letters have been received from Poston, in America, to the 14th of January; which mention the arrival of Mr. Rose, the English minister, at Washington, and state, that all differences were expected to be amicably adjusted between Great Britain and the United States. This intelligenec is accompanied by an improbable report, that General Moreau, some time ago stated to have left New York, had gone to the Floridas, for the purpose of taking possession of these territories in the name of the French Emperor. It is added, that the Kochefort squadron was understood to be destined to that part of America, having been fitted out to support Geural Moreau, in the execution of this design. A Imperial Parliament. HOUSE OF LORDS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 28. VOTE of thanks was passed, to the naval and military commanders, officers, seamen, soldiers, &c. employed at the capture of Copenhagen, page 71 of the present volume.) MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, The Duke of Norfolk read a variety of motions for copies of the proclamations of Lord Cathcart and Admiral Gambier; the representations of the latter respecting the state of the Danish fleet, &c. all of which were agreed 4. His grace then adduced various arguments to shew the necessity of farther dog ments to prove that ministers were in possession of the substance of the secret articles of Tilsit, and acted in seizing the Danish fleet upon the conviction that Denmark either had not the means, or was not disposed to resist the efforts of France to possess herself of it. This he conceived to be requisite for the character of the nation, and he therefore noved accordingly. The Marquis of Wellesley thought it was only necessary to look at the state of Europe, to be able to decide whether it was a matter of reproach to our public counsels, or whether the most vigorous and the most successful operations of the war was not as much the result of profound wisdom, as It was the dictate of imperious necessity. The intentions of France to possess herself of all the naval means of the continent for our annoyance had long been avowed. Bonaparte was too able a soldier and statesman not to perceive, that by force or intimidation the navy of Denmark must fall into his hands, had we not interposed. The noble marquis then argued the question upon the ground of imminent danger, and on the principles of the law of nations, as applicable to such an emergency. Lord Hutchinson stated his conviction, that the Crown Prince was determined to persevere in his neutrality. When the French, in December, |