And pines and firs their varied verdure blend,
And cedars fpread, and cypreffes afcend.
Pleas'd with the scene, I range from field to field,
Till loftier lands remoter profpects yield;
And there the curious optick tube apply,
Till a new world approaches on the eye;
Till where dark wood the hills flope furface shrouds,
Or the blue fummit mingles with the clouds ;
There fair enclosures lie of varied hue,
And trees and houses rife diftin&t to view.

But this too oft th' inclement clime denies,
Involv'd in mifty or in wat'ry skies;

And yet, e'en then, with books engag'd, I find
A fweet employment for th' exploring mind;
There fair defcription fhews each abfent scene,
The corn-clad mountain, and the daified green;
There over diftant lands my fancy roves,
Through India's cany ifles and palmy groves;
Where clear ftreams wander through luxuriant vales,
Midft cloudlefs fkies, and ever tepid gales,
Whilft fpring fits fmiling in her brightest bloom,
And calls around her ev'ry rich perfume.

THE CONSULTATION.

HREE doctors met in confultation,
Proceed with great deliberation:

The cafe was defperate all agreed;
But what of that? they must be feed.
They write then (as 'twas fit they should)
But for their own, not patient's good:
Confulting wifely-don't miftake, Sir
Not what to give, but what to take, Sir,

AN OD E TO PIT Y.

WRITTEN BY A LADY.

COWE, the scene of deep diftres;

OME, gentle power! and range the meads with me,

Where tears fpontaneous chryftalife the eye;
Where rigid fate denies the power to bless.

Not all the fweets Arabian gales convey

O'er flow'ry meads, can with that figh compare; Nor dew-drops, fparkling in the morning ray, Seem half fo beauteous as that falling tear.

Devoid of fear, the lamb before thee plays;
Emblem of peace, the dove before thee flies ;
No blood-ftained traces mark thy guiltless ways,
Beneath thy feet no helplefs infect dies.

Come, gentle power! and range the meads with me,
To fave the partridge from the guileful foe;
From hampering fnares the ftruggling bird to free,
To ftop the cruel hand prepar'd to give the blow.

Then turn to nobler, greater tasks, thy care;
To me, a fympathetic tafte impart;
Teach me, in friendship's woes, to bear a share,
And justly boast a tender, feeling heart.

Teach me to foothe the hapless orphan's grief;
With timely aid the widow's woes t'afluage;
To mifery's heart-felt figh to give relief,

And be the fure refource of drooping age.

So, when life's profpects, like a dream shall fade,
And tottering nature owns the just decay;
Some foul congenial then fhall lend thee aid,
To lead to realms of light and everlasting day.

H

ARRY fwears in his rage, at least ten times a day,
That he wishes his wife was at h-11;

And the in return can her talents difplay,

In packing him thither as well.

They are both to be prais'd for a conduct fo wife,
(A conduct obferv'd but by few)

For no one who knows 'em, dear Tom, e'er denies,
But that each gives the devil his due.

THE

WEEKLY ENTERTAINER.

For MONDAY, January 27, 1783.

MEMOIRS of SIR ROGER CURTIS, Naval Commander during the Siege of GIBRALTAR.

IR Roger Curtis's father, poffeffing confiderable property, refides at Downton, in Wiltshire, and is very much refpected in that county. Sir Roger, very early in life, conceived an inclination for the fea; to the gratifying of which, his parents were very much averse, he being an only fon but finding his defires in that refpect were not to be reftrained, he was introduced into the navy under the patronage of the late lord Feverfham; and the fea fervice, which he afpired to be employed in, received the man who will, in future times, be viewed with wonder, with respect, we may add with reverence.

He is about thirty-fix years of age, and poffeffes great profeffional talents. His education, which was a very liberal one, has been much improved by study. His difpofition and manners are particularly engaging, and he is highly esteemed by all his acquaintance.

Having fome time ferved under admiral Barrington, that dif tinguishing and diftinguished officer, he was, in January 1771, appointed a lieutenant by lord Sandwich, at the defire of his royal highness the duke of Cumberland, who, greatly to his honour, patronized Sir Roger Curtis, and ftill continues to fhew him particular marks of regard.

Soon after his promotion, he was fent as lieutenant in the Otter floop, on the Newfoundland ftation; where, being naturally VOL. I.

K

of

1

of an active, inquifitive turn of mind, he devoted his attention to the fishery, and, in a fhort time, made himfelf acquainted with the nature and principle of that great national concern. At that juncture lord Shuldham was governor there; and difcerning the talents of Sir Roger, he contracted a friendship for him, and, on the command of the fleet in America devolving on that nobleman in 1775, he chofe his friend for one of his lieutenants, and he repofed in him unlimited confidence.

In June, 1776, he was appointed captain of the Senegal frigate. Lord Howe thortly after took the command of the fleet in America; and Sir Roger having opportunities of displaying his gallantry and conduct, his lordship very foon diftinguished him. In June, 1777, his lordship making an arrangement in his fleet, by which means his own fhip, the Eagle, became vacant, he promoted Sir Roger to be his captain, although, prevìous to his meeting him in America, he was totally unknown to his lordship, and at that time one of the youngest masters and commanders in his fleet. He returned with lord Howe from America in the Eagle, of which fhip he was continued captain; but the Eagle being foon afterwards ordered for the East-Indies, and Sir Roger being then in a bad state of health, he was permitted to refign his command.

In November, 1780, he was nominated captain of the Bril. liant, and failed for Gibraltar under fealed orders, accompanied by a cutter; but being attacked by a great force of the enemy near that place, he was driven into the Mediterranean, and went to Minorca. Having there a few frigates under his command, he conducted from thence to Gibraltar a very important convoy of provisions. He now took upon himself the management of the naval affairs at Gibraltar; where his zeal, gallantry, and indefatigable labours, were very foon and fenfibly felt. The: gun boats, fitted out by him, gave fecurity to the troops in camp, and were productive of the most effential advantages.

In Auguft, 1779, the Helena floop, going to Gibraltar with difpatches, was becalmed in the Bay, and attacked by fourteen. Spanish gun-boats, befides mortar-boats and other fmall craft, and fupported by captain Curtis, with only three gun-boats from the garrifon. He conducted this bufincfs with fuch skill and gallantry, and the Helena was fo bravely defended by captain Roberts and his crew, that the enemy were beat off, and retired in confufion, though a frigate and a xebeck were approaching very fast to their affiftance,

This action was highly extolled by general Eliott in his letter to the fecretary of ftate. He had alfo a great fhare in planning, with the governor, the fuccefsful fally made from the garrison

in the following November. One hundred feamen from the
fhips were employed with the troops on this enterprize, who were
put under the immediate command of two naval lieutenants;
but captain Curtis could not be prevailed on to refrain from ac-
companying them in the attack. There were different opinions
about the fuccefs of this measure, and he felt him felf bound to
go upon a fervice, which it was generally fuppofed had at least
net with his hearty concurrence. General Eliott was also pre-
fent at the attack, and perhaps for fimilar reafons. The gene-
ral, in his public letter, fpeaking of captain Curtis's conduct on
that occafion, fays, "He greatly diftingaifhed himself by his
difcernment, affiftance, and perfonal efforts,"

This fally was a daring undertaking, and greatly beneficial
in its effects. What the enemy had been eighteen months in
conftructing, was entirely in flames in two hours, and finally re-
duced to alhes. This eminent fervice was performed before fif-
teen thousand Spanish troops, and in the front of at least seventy
pieces of cannon and thirty mortars.

His whole conduct, during the fiege of Gibraltar, has been very highly and jufly extolled. Partaking of every labour, and fharing in every danger, his men were animated by his example, and the fervices performed on fhore by the failors were of the most important nature. When, previous to the grand attack, it was found neceffary to fecure the shipping, and encamp the feamen, his brigade amounted to near one thoufand; and fo exact was the difcipline and order which he established and maintined, that the failors performed the duty of foldiers with a regularity and obedience equal to the troops of the garrifon. A more general or more confpicuous harmony never appeared in any garrifon. The Hanoverian troops, the failors, and the British foldiers, lived together upon the most affectionate terms, and the feverest labours were performed without a murmur.

His behaviour on the day of attack, need not here be enlarged on; the event is too recent. The reward of his fovereign, the thanks of parliament, the approbation of his country, and the admiration of the world, fufficiently demonstrate in what estimation he is held.

An ACCOUNT of the GANGES, and BURRAMPOOTER
RIVER.

[By James Rennell, Efq; F. R. S. communicated to the Royal
Society by Sir Jofeph Banks.]

TH

HE Ganges and Burrampooter rivers, together with their
numerous branches and adjuncts, interfect the country of