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It is surprising that no one has yet speculated on the erection of a few Lodging Houses here for the accommo dation of occasional visitors, who may wish to enjoy its delightful and invigorating sea-breezes in quiet and retirement.

KNOW'ST thou the spot, on the verge of the ocean, Which Flora hath blest, and hath mark'd for her

own,

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Where her votaries might fancy with fondest emotion, The power whom they worshipp'd presided alone?

Know'st thou the beach, where the foam-crested billow Bears no chilling blight to the shore which it laves; Where the hue of the turf, fit for fairies' soft pillow, Is as fresh as the foliage which over it waves?

Know'st thou the spot, where each breeze that flies over,

Like the bee o'er the flow'ret, must linger awhile, For the woodbine and wild-briar woo the fond rover To sip the rich perfume with frolicsome smile?

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On that shore, where the waters of Orwell and Deben Join the dark heaving ocean, that spot may be

found:

A scene, which recals the lost beauties of Eden, And which fancy might hail as her own fairy ground.

And if it be true that when mortals are sleeping,

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To leave their retreats the shy sea nymphs delight,

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And while silvery moonlight their green locks is

steeping

To sport on the confines of ocean through night:

O ne'er could the daughters of Neptune discover
A lovelier place for their revels than this,
'Tis a spot that might brighten the smile of a lover,
And which angels themselves might contemplate

with bliss!

Enchanting Elysium! long, long may'st thou flourish, To gladden the eye with thy verdure and flowers; And may each future year which rolls, over thee nourish

Thine exquisite beauties with sunshine and showers.

And O may the taste, which hath plann'd and

fected

per

This fairy abode, its full recompense reap; And, surrounded by sweets which itself hath collected, Long enjoy the bright Eden that blooms by the deep.

TO

THE REV. MR. MURDOCH,

RECTOR OF STRADISHALL IN SUFFOLK.

1738.

By James Thomson, Author of "The Seasons."

The Rev. Patrick Murdoch, D. D. to whom this poem is addressed, was a native of Scotland, and was in 1729 engaged as tutor to Mr. John Forbes, the son of the Rt. Hon. Duncan Forbes, many years Lord President of the Court of Session in Scotland. With this gentleman he was sent abroad; and after some residence at Orleans and Montauban, went to Rome, and completed what is usually termed the grand tour.

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The friendship of the tutor and pupil remained unimpaired through life; and the former, having obtained the living of Stradishall, through the friendship of James Vernon of Great Thurlow, esq. whose son he accompanied on his travels, had the satisfaction of receiving for many years the long and frequent visits of his first pupil, and of superintending the early education of his eldest son Duncan Forbes, in his own vicinity. In one of his letters to Mr. John Forbes, dated Jan. 14th, 1737, he says ; "As to my own affairs, I have "given up with travelling for good and all. Mr Vernon "has offered me a snug little benefice down in Suffolk, "which I am to be put in possession of in a few weeks, "and where I propose to pass the remainder of my days in study and retirement." In another letter to the same person, dated Aug. 15th 1738, he thus describes his situation at Stradishall; "As to my own "affairs which you so kindly enquire after, you know "I am fixed here in a 100£. living, with which, thank God! I am very well content, when I see the misery that people born to no fortunes are reduced to, "when they take it in their heads to through themselves "into the grand monde. The duties of my office are by no means disagreeable, and the solitude I live in, though sometimes a little irksome, has its conve"niences. If I had books, I want not time; and "I am pleased to find that so long rambling has not "abated my love of study. When I came hither, my "house was in exceeding bad order. I have now fitted "up a parlour, bed-chamber, and closet, to my mind; "and hope to be snug and decent enough next winter.” He was a polite scholar, an ingenious mathematician and philosopher; was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1745, and communicated several papers. He was admitted at Cambridge to the degree of M. A. per Literas Regias in 1748. In 1749 he was presented to the rectory of Kettlebaston, by William Leman, gent. which he resigned in 1760, when he was presented by Edward Vernon, esq. to the vicarage of Great Thurlow. He died in 1774.

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He was the intimate friend of James Thomson, who

gives him the following character in his Castle of

Indolence.

"Of all the gentle tenants of the place,
There was a man of special grave remark;
A certain tender gloom o'erspread his face,
Pensive, not sad, in thought involv'd not dark,
As soot this man could sing as morning-lark,
And teach the noblest morals of the heart:
But these his talents were y buried stark;
Of the fine stores he nothing would impart,
Which or boon nature gave, or nature-painting art."

His publications are, "Genesis Curvarum Newtoni "per Umbras," and a "Life of James Thomson," the poet, which is usually prefixed to his works. In the "Culloden Papers" 4to. 1815, are the following letters by this Gentleman, viz: No. 147. 182. 184. 189. 223. 224. 320. 353. 355. 357. 358. 359.

THUS safely low, my friend, thou can'st not fall: Here reigns a deep tranquillity o'er all;

No noise, no care, no vanity, no strife;

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Men, woods, and fields, all breathe untroubled life.
Then keep each passion down, however dear;
Trust me, the tender are the most severe.
Guard, while 'tis thine, thy philosophic ease,
And ask no joy but that of virtuous peace;
That bids defiance to the storms of fate:
High bliss is only for a higher state.

Description of the Coast at

ALDEBURGH.

BY THE REV. GEORGE CRABBE, L L. B.

The following description of the Aldeburgh coast is from the pen of that truly original poet, the Rev. George Crabbe. In the early part of his life he was a resident here; and consequently was enabled to give a finished picture of the characteristic features of its scenery; and a just delincation of the manners and customs of its inhabitants. Till within the last fifteen or twenty years, Aldeburgh, depopulated and impo-verished by the incroachments of the sea, was hastening to complete decay; but several families of late, who wished for a greater degree of privacy and retirement than can be enjoyed in a more fashionable wateringplace, having made this town their summer residence, its appearance has been totally changed. To the deep sands, which formerly led to it, have succeeded excellent turnpike roads; and instead of the dirty clay-built cottages, which gave the place a mean and squalid appearance, are now seen many neat and comfortable mansions, the property and occasional retreat of persons of rank and fortune. The manners and morals of the lower classes likewise are very much meliorated; and it may fairly be presumed, from their general good conduct, civility and decorum, that the improvement of these has been commensurate with that which has of late years taken place in the general appearance of the town. A portrait of Mr. Crabbe was published in the New Monthly Magazine for February, 1816.

-CAST by Fortune on a frowning coast,

Which neither groves nor happy vallies boast;
Where other cares than those the muse relates,
And other shepherds dwell with other mates;
By such examples taught, I paint the cot,
As truth will paint it, and as bards will not.

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