was written by the ingenious author of LEONIDAS, on the taking of Porto Bello from the Spaniards by Admiral Vernon, Nov. 22. 1739.-The cafe of Hofter, which is here fo pathetically reprefented, was briefly this. In April, 1726, that commander was fent with a farong fleet into the Spanish Weft-Indies, to block up the galleons in the ports of that country, or should they prefume to come out, to feize and carry them into England: be accordingly arrived at the Bastimentos near Porto Bello, but being restricted by his orders from obeying the dictates of his courage, lay inactive on that ftation until he became the jeft of the Spaniards: he afterwards removed to Carthagena, and continued cruizing in thefe feas, till far the greater part of his men perished deplorably by the difeafes of that unhealthy climate. This brave man, feeing bis beft officers and men thus daily fwept away, his fhips expofed to inevitable destruction, and himself made the sport of the enemy, is faid to have died of a broken heart. See Smol

let's hift.

The following fong is commonly accompanied with a Second Part, or Anfwer, which being of inferior merit, and apparently written by another hand, hath been rejected.

AS

S near Porto-Bello lying

On the gently fwelling flood,

At midnight with streamers flying
Our triumphant navy rode;

3

There

There while Vernon fate all-glorious

From the Spaniards' late defeat ; And his crews with fhouts victorious, Drank fuccefs to England's fleet:

On a fudden fhrilly founding,

Hideous yells, and fhrieks were heard;
Then each heart with fear confounding,
A fad troop of ghosts appear'd,
All in dreary hammocks fhrouded,
Which for winding-fheets they wore,
And with looks by forrow clouded
Frowning on that hoftile fhore.

On them gleam'd the moon's wan luftre,
When the fhade of Hofier brave
His pale bands was feen to mufter
Rifing from their watry grave:

O'er the glimmering wave he hy'd him,
Where the Burford* rear'd her fail,
With three thousand ghosts befide him,
And in groans did Vernon hail.

Heed, oh heed our fatal story,

I am Hofier's injur'd ghoft,

You, who now have purchas'd glory,

5

10

15

20

25

At this

pce

where I was loft!

The Admiral's foip.

Tho'

Those were once my failors bold,

Lo, each hangs his drooping forehead,
While his difmal tale is told.

I, by twenty fail attended,

Did this Spanish town affright; Nothing then its wealth defended

But my orders not to fight:

Oh! that in this rolling ocean

I had caft them with disdain,

40

45

And obey'd my heart's warm motion

To have quell'd the pride of Spain!

For refiftance I could fear none,

But with twenty fhips had done What thou, brave and happy Vernon, Haft atchiev'd with fix alone.

VOL. II.

50

Then the baftimentos never

Had our foul difhonour feen,

Nor the fea the fad receiver

Of this gallant train had been.

Thus, like thee, proud Spain difmaying,
And her galleons leading home,
Though condemn'd for disobeying

I had met a traitor's doom,
To have fallen, my country crying

He has play'd an English part,
Had been better far than dying
Of a griev'd and broken heart.

Unrepining at thy glory,

Thy fuccessful arms we hail ; But remember our fad ftory,

And let Hofier's wrongs prevail. Sent in this foul clime to languifh

Think what thousands fell in vain,

Wafted with disease and anguish,
Not in glorious battle flain.

Hence with all my train attending
From their oozy tombs below,
Thro' the hoary foam afcending,

Here I feed my constant woe:

55

60

65

70

75

Here

Here the baftimentos viewing,

We recal our fhameful doom,

And our plaintive cries renewing,
Wander thro' the midnight gloom.

O'er these waves for ever mourning
Shall we roam depriv'd of rest,
If to Britain's fhores returning
You neglect my just request ;
After this proud foe fubduing,

When your patriot friends you fee,

Think on vengeance for my ruin,
And for England sham'd in me.

THE END OF BOOK THE THIRD.

A az