The Poems of Philip Freneau Volume II Part 36

"That famous conductor of moon-light retreats, "Sir Harry, came next with his armies and fleets, "But, finding the rebels were dying and dead, "He grounded his arms and retreated to bed.

"Other luck we had once at the battle of Boyne!

"But here they have ruin'd Earl Charles and Burgoyne, "Here brave col'nel Monckton was thrown on his back, "And here lies poor Andre! the best of the pack."

So saying, he flitted away in a trice, Just adding, "he hop'd I would take his advice"-- Which I surely shall do if you push me too hard-- And so I remain, with eternal regard,

JAMES RIVINGTON, printer, of late, to the king, But now a republican--under your wing-- Let him stand where he is--don't push him down hill, And he'll turn a true Blue-Skin, or just what you will.

[251] First published in the _Freeman's Journal_, December 31, 1783. The text follows the 1786 version.

[252] A New York printer, publisher of _The New York Packet_ during the Revolutionary period. From 1776 until 1783 he published the paper at Fishkill.

[253] Shepard Kollock, soldier-editor of the Revolution. Established the _New Jersey Journal_ at Chatham, N. J., in 1779. Removed in 1783 to New York, where he undertook the _New York Gazetteer_. Later, in 1787, he moved to Elizabeth-Town, N. J., and revived his first journal, which he successfully edited for thirty-one years. Kollock died in Philadelphia, July 28, 1839.

[254] John Holt, printer, born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1721, died in New York City, January 30, 1784. Holt founded in 1776 the _New York Journal_, which during the Revolution bore the famous device of a snake cut into parts, with the motto "Unite or Die."

[255] After the war Rivington removed from the head-line of his paper the arms of Great Britain and changed the t.i.tle to _Rivington's New York Gazette and Universal Advertiser_.

[256] "His prudence and caution."--_Ed. 1795._

[257] The edition of 1809 added at this point the following six lines not in the earlier editions:

"The G.o.ds for that hero did trouble prepare, But gave him a mind that could feed upon care, They gave him a spirit, serene but severe, Above all disorder, confusion, and fear; In him it was fortune where others would fail: He was born for the tempest, and weathered the gale."

[258] "A cloud, or a stream."--_Ed. 1795._

[259] "CARLETON."--_Ed. 1795._

[260] In the later editions this stanza was inserted after stanza 1, Part II, and made to refer to the Tories.

[261] "That I acted."--_Ed. 1795._

[262] "Rul'd me."--_Ib._

[263] "My PENSION is lost!"--_Ed. 1795._

[264] See page 120.

[265] See page 190.

[266]

"When all the town knew (and a number confess'd) That papers, like these, were no cause of arrest."--_Ed. 1795._

[267] "My struggles and strife."--_Ib._

[268] "To worry."--_Ib._

[269] In place of these lines, the edition of 1795 has the following:

"Old Argo the s.h.i.+p,--in a peep at her star, I found they were sc.r.a.ping her bottom for TAR."

[270] "A boy with a feather-bed troubled my rest."--_Ed. 1795._

[271] Royal Governor of New York. He arrived in the city March 21, 1780.

He was considered harsh and arbitrary by the patriots.

A NEWS-MAN'S ADDRESS[272]

What tempests gloom'd the by-past year-- What dismal prospects then arose!

Scarce at your doors I dar'd appear, So many were our griefs and woes: But time at length has chang'd the scene, Our prospects, now, are more serene.

Bad news we brought you every day, Your seamen slain, your s.h.i.+ps on sh.o.r.e, The army fretting for their pay-- ('Twas well they had not fretted more!) 'Twas wrong indeed to wear out shoes, To bring you nothing but bad news.

Now let's be joyful for the change-- The folks that guard the English throne Have given us ample room to range, And more, perhaps, than was their own; To western lakes they stretch our bounds, And yield the Indian hunting grounds.

But pray read on another year, Remain the humble newsman's friend; And he'll engage to let you hear What Europe's princes next intend.-- Even now their brains are all at work To rouse the Russian on the Turk.

Well--if they fight, then fight they must, They are a strange contentious breed; One good effect will be, I trust, The more are kill'd, the more you'll read; For past experience clearly shews, That Wrangling is the Life of News.

[272] From the edition of 1795. The poem was first published as a broadside in 1784, with the t.i.tle, "New-Year Verses, For those who carry the Pennsylvania Gazette To the Customers. January 1, 1784," and was reproduced almost verbatim in the 1786 edition.

NEW YEAR'S VERSES[273]

Addressed to the customers of the _Freeman's Journal_, by the Lad who carries it

January 7, 1784

Blest be the man who early prov'd And first contriv'd to make it clear That Time upon a dial mov'd, And trac'd that circle call'd a year;

Ere he arose, the savage, man, No bounds to years or seasons knew, On Nature's book his reckoning ran, And social festivals were few.

In after days, when folks grew wise New wonderments were daily found, Systems they built on pumpkin pies, And prov'd that every thing went round.

Experience shows they reason'd right, (With laurels we their tombs should crown) For half the world is in such plight That one would swear it upside down.

Now I am one, (and pray attend) Who, marching in a smaller sphere, To set you right, my service lend, By bringing Papers through the year,