Dicite, (nam scitis) quæ blandimenta per omnes Suadet Amor, magicâque animam dulcedine solvit. "Now Morn with gradual pace advanced on high."—(P. 42. 1.3.) Nunc matutinos oriens AURORA vapores Luce novâ tingit, dubiique crepuscula cœli; The elegant manner in which these lines are rendered into Latin, gives a new and an additional effect to the poetry of THE SHIPWRECK; and will prove, even to the pedant, that the distance between VIRGIL, and FALCONER, is not so great as he may have imagined. The Poem of the SHIPWRECK is of inestimable value to this Country, since it contains within itself the rudiments of Navigation: if not sufficient to form a complete Seaman, it may certainly be considered as the Grammar of his professional Science. I have heard many experienced officers declare, that the rules and maxims delivered in this Poem, for the conduct of a Ship in the most perilous emergency, form the best, indeed the only opinions which a skilful Mariner should adopt. We possess, therefore, a Poem not only eminent for its sublimity, and pathos, but for an harmonious poetic assemblage of technical terms, and maxims, used in Navigation; which a young Sailor may easily commit to memory; and also, with these, such scientific principles, as will enable him to lay a sound foundation for his future professional skill and judgment. We should, therefore, as Britons, respect this Poem as the composition of a Naval Sibyl; and its three Cantos are the more valuable, since our Author did not live to enrich his Country with any similar productions. At the Peace of 1763, the ROYAL GEORGE was paid off; and FALCONER now added another zealous and benevolent character to the number of his friends, in the person of Mr. WILLIAM * HUNTER, brother to his Shipmate, who at the same time was also paid off in the SUTHERLAND. Previous to the Peace, the Duke of YORK had embarked on board the CENTURION, with Commodore HARRISON, for the Mediterranean; on which occasion FALCONER published an Ode, entitled, On the Duke of York's second departure from England as Rear-Admiral. "He composed it," says Governor HUNTER, during an occasional absence from his messmates, when he retired into a small space formed between the cable tiers, and the Ship's side." In this composition, he had DRYDEN'S Ode to SAINT CECILIA * Now one of the Officers in Greenwich Hospital. + The reader will find a severe Critique on this Poem in the Critical Review, written by FALCONER. in view; and like him, with all the enthusiasm of a Poet, has made a demigod of his Hero. The conclusion is not unworthy even of DRYDEN: "Nor thou, illustrious CHIEF! refuse The incense of a Nautic Muse! For ah! to whom shall NEPTUNE's sons complain, Deep on my grateful breast Thy favour is imprest; No happy son of wealth or fame A hapless Youth! whose vital page Was one sad lengthened Tale of woe; Where ruthless Fate, impelling tides of rage, Bad wave on wave in dire succession flow; To glittering stars, and titled names unknown, The Tale your sacred pity moved, You felt, consented, and approved. Then touch my Strings, ye blest PIERIAN CHOIR! My bosom kindle with Promethean fire, For who, untaught in NEPTUNE'S School, Though all the powers of Genius he possess, Though disciplined by classic rule; With daring pencil can display The Fight, that thunders on the watery way, To Him, my Muse, these warlike strains belong, AS FALCONER wanted much of that complementary time of service, which qualifies an officer to attend the customary examination for a Lieutenant's commission, his friends advised him to exchange the military, for the civil line in the royal navy; and accordingly, in the course of the said year, 1763, he was appointed Purser of the GLORY* Frigate, 32 guns. The subsequent death of the gallant Duke of YORK at MONACOA on the 17th of September, 1767, though felt by all the nation, was more particularly a severe loss to FALCONER; whose welfare, owing to this melancholy event, became again precarious. His literary fame, however, was established; some few friends, among whom the HUNTERS took the lead, still remained; and he accordingly endeavoured to dry the tear, which the memory of his royal Patron frequently called forth, by indulging in the vision of Hope that was still prolonged: nor did Providence in this emergency forsake him. Soon after his appointment to the GLORY, FALCONER had married a young lady of the name of HICKS, who I believe is still living; but where, I have hitherto been unable to discover. She probably possesses not only a miniature of her husband, but many manuscripts and letters, which would tend to throw * Commanded in 1770 by the Hon. Captain JOHN RUTHVEN: she was afterwards called the APOLLO. C additional light on his biography. Miss HICKS's father was Surgeon of Sheerness Yard, and enjoyed considerable talents for poetry. Mrs. FALCONER is described to me as displaying keen abilities; and that it was the lustre of her mind, rather than of her person, which attracted and confirmed the affection of her husband: his feelings, at this period, are expressed in a little Ballad, styled the FOND LOVER: "A Nymph of ev'ry charm possessed That native Virtue gives, Within my bosom all confessed In bright idea lives: For her my trembling numbers play Along the pathless Deep; While sadly social with my lay The Winds in concert weep.. If Beauty's sacred influence charms Such cruel pangs create? Since all her thoughts by sense refined Unartful Truth express, Say, wherefore Sense and Truth are joined FALCONER'S principal amusement always consisted in literary occupation; and when the GLORY was laid up in ordinary at CHATHAM, Commissioner * There is also printed by him an Address to MIRANDA. |