And lo! the sailors homeward take their way;
Man must endure-let us submit and pray.

Such are our winter-views; but night comes on— Now business sleeps, and daily cares are gone; Now parties form, and some their friends assist To waste the idle hours at sober whist; The tavern's pleasure or the concert's charm Unnumber'd moments of their sting disarm; Play-bills and open doors a crowd invite, To pass off one dread portion of the night; And show and song and luxury combined, Lift off from man this burthen of mankind.

Others advent'rous walk abroad and meet
Returning parties pacing through the street;
When various voices, in the dying day,

Hum in our walks, and greet us in our way;
When tavern-lights flit on from room to room,
And guide the tippling sailor staggering home:
There as we pass, the jingling bells betray
How business rises with the closing day:
Now walking silent, by the river's side,
The ear perceives the rippling of the tide ;
Or measured cadence of the lads who tow
Some enter'd hoy, to fix her in her row;
Or hollow sound, which from the parish-bell
To some departed spirit bids farewell!

Thus shall you something of our BOROUGH know, Far as a verse, with Fancy's aid, can show; Of sea or river, of a quay or street, The best description must be incomplete; But when a happier theme suceeds, and when Men are our subjects and the deeds of men; Then may we find the Muse in happier style, And we may sometimes sigh and sometimes smile.

NOTES TO LETTER I.

Note 1, page 4, line 18.

Sits the large lily as the water's queen. The white water-lily. Nymphæa alba.

Note 2, page 5, line 1.
Sampire-banks.

The jointed glasswort. Salicornia is here meant, not the true sampire, the crithmum maritimum.

Note 3, page 5, line 1.
Salt-wort.

The salsola of botanists.

Note 4, page 6, line 18.

And planks which curve and crackle in the smoke. The curvature of planks for the sides of a ship, &c. is, I am informed, now generally made by the power of steam. Fire is nevertheless still used for boats and vessels of the smaller kind.

Note 5, page 10, lines 5 and 6.

And oft the foggy banks on ocean lie,

Lift the fair sail, and cheat th' experienced eye.

Of the effect of these mists, known by the name of fogbanks, wonderful and indeed incredible relations are given ; but their property of appearing to elevate ships at sea, and to bring them in view, is, I believe, generally acknowledged.

VOL. II.

C