Yet strong beyond the promise of their years, Each in one night would drain two grenadiers.
Ver. 181. The orders of the Board of Controul, relative to the debts of the Nabob of Arcot, certainly _appear_ diametrically opposite to Mr. Dundas's Reports, and to an express clause of Mr. Pitt's bill. Our author, however, like Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas, roundly asserts the consistency of the whole.
Ver. 189. This unfortunate slip of the Honourable Secretary's constitutional logic happened in a debate on the Irish Propositions. Among the many wild chimeras of faction on that memorable occasion, one objection was, that the produce of the French West-Indian Islands might be legally smuggled through Ireland into this country. To which Mr. Rose replied, "That we might repeal all our acts in perfect security, because the French King had lately issued an arrêt which would prevent this smuggling."
Ver. 216. We flattered ourselves that this line might have enabled us to ascertain the precise time when this eclogue was written. We were, however, disappointed, as on examining the file of Morning Posts for 1784, we could not find a single week in which Mr. FOX is absolutely without some attack or other. We suppose therefore our author here speaks with the allowed latitude of poetry.
This Eclogue is principally an Imitation of the third Bucolic of Virgil, which, as is observed by Dr. Joseph Warton, the Brother of our incomparable Laureat, is of that Species called Amoeboea, where the Characters introduced contend in alternate Verse; the second always endeavouring to surpass the first Speaker in an equal number of Lines, As this was in point of Time the first of our Author's Pastoral Attempts, he has taken rather more Latitude than he afterwards allowed himself in the rest, and has interspersed one or two occasional Imitations from other Eclogues of the Roman Poet.
In Downing-street, the breakfast duly set, As BANKS and PRETTYMAN one morn were met, A strife arising who could best supply, In urgent cases, a convenient lie; His skill superior each essay'd to prove 5 In verse alternate--which the Muses love! While BILLY, listening to their tuneful plea, In silence sipp'd his _Commutation_ Tea, And heard them boast, how loudly both had ly'd: The Priest began, the Layman thus reply'd! 10