I CANNOT allow the following Pieces, which are to close the Poetic Contributions, to come under the eye of the Reader, without presenting something in the way of tribute to the amiable Author. I am already under obligations to him for some valuable assistance in prose*; since to his pen I am indebted for services which I am sure have been well received. Being indulged with a discretionary power to suppress or reveal his name, it is not on slight ground I prefer the latter; because, in so doing, I feel confident I shall deserve the thanks of the Public, for introducing to it a Writer, who may afford many an intellectual pleasure of a very elevated kind; and I am proud of being permitted to lead him from the shade of life to the light in which Nature determines him to shine. Availing myself, therefore, of the power vested in me to the utmost extent, if I trace the author of the subsequent Poems to an obscurity where Genius and Industry bend cheerfully to the most lowly offices, it is with no other aim than to increase the respect and reverence which the Reader will feel for them; and to point out an object who, every way worthy of exaltation, dignifies the humblest, and would give lustre to the proudest situation. This Gentleman's name is BULLAR, whose present employments and contented disposition are best described by himself in some of his Communications with the Gleaner. "Since you are pleased, sir, to express a degree of pleasure in having drawn me from concealment, I cannot suffer your imagination to supply any part of the circumstances belonging to me; lest you should think my * Acknowledged in page 9, vol. i., and referred to in subsequent pages. station station higher, or my acquirements greater than they really are. Then, sir, you must understand that I am of very delicate health, about twenty-six. Seven years of apprenticeship, and four of superintendance, I passed in the printing-office of Mr. Baker *.-Want of health drove me last year from this situation; and the entreaties of friends led me to take charge of the education of their children: so that at present I occupy the humble station of master of a day-school; which has increased much beyond my expectations.-The little knowledge I possess (in addition to what I acquired, when a boy, at school) has been rapidly snatched in the short intervals of a business which regularly confined me from six in the morning till seven in the evening: so that I really wonder at the good opinion many are so kind as to entertain of me; for I consider myself as very superficial in my information.-Judging it better, however, to drink of the brook by the way,' than wholly to neglect the Pierian spring,' I have hastily sipped as I have been running along; yet am happy to find that my shallow draughts' have not 'intoxicated my brain.'-The preservative from self-conceit, and from vain and empty infidelity, which is every day betraying its ignorance, I have found in Zion and the flowery brooks beneath;' which, with Milton and Cowper, and a thousand names of high renown and holy fame, I am not ashamed to visit, that I may draw water out of the wells of salvation.' "I am afraid I have said too much of myself: therefore, as the author of Hermes says, 'here shall be an end.' "Respectfully yours, "JOHN BULLAR, jun." • Of Southampton. THE THE FALL OF THE LEAF*. [I feel that I could hazard nothing in pronouncing this leading poem of this little collection, of the first order. It displays exquisite touches, both of sentiment and poetry.] YE Groves! that late with glistening eyes I saw from Winter's death arise, Put on the livery of Spring, And bid your feather'd tenants sing,- Oh! if some voice of dire portent, On the prophetic errand sent, * The letter which covered this charming production contained the following passage :-" Your opinion of my verses I am ready to attribute to excess of candour.-1 was, indeed, a little addicted to rhyming, when some years younger; but I have since read so much good poetry, as to put me pretty much out of conceit with my own performances.—I have, however, been rash enough to express in metre my feelings on the Fall of the Leaf, as they were excited in a walk last Saturday; and I enclose the result."- -He adds in reference to other favours, "I have robbed my pillow to give you these papers before you leave Southampton.” Nov. 5, 1804. Should Should now proclaim-" These Groves so fair "No more shall feel the genial breath But the eternal promise given, That, while Creation's frame remains, Spring shall arise, and beauty reign: Not so revive Man's* wasting days! A thousand Springs yon Oaks have told; * Part of this idea has been used by Gray. VOL. III. 2 E "Forbid "Forbid it!" struggling Nature cried, And, fill'd with hope, aspires to sing Thus, while I muse on Autumn's gloom, Not there my thoughts shall sorrowing stay, Scenes of delight and wonder roll ΤΟ |