ΙΟ fluid matter, without thinking on the hand that first poured it out, and made a proper channel for its reception. Such an object naturally raises in my thoughts the idea of an almighty Being, and convinces me of his existence as much as a meta5 physical demonstration. The imagination prompts the understanding, and by the greatness of the sensible object, produces in it the idea of a Being who is neither circumscribed by time nor space. As I have made several voyages upon the sea, I have often been tossed in storms, and on that occasion have frequently reflected on the descriptions of them in antient Poets. I remember Longinus highly recommends one in Homer, because the Poet has not amused himself with little fancies upon the occasion, as Authors of an inferior genius, whom he mentions, 15 had done, but because he has gathered together those circumstances which are the most apt to terrify the imagination, and which really happen in the raging of a tempest. It is for the same reason, that I prefer the following description of a ship in a storm, which the Psalmist has made, before any other I 20 have ever met with. They that go down to the sea in ships, 25 that do business in great waters: these men see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waters thereof. They mount up to Heaven, they go down again to the depths, their Soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits-end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then they are glad because 30 they be quiet, so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. By the way, how much more comfortable, as well as rational, is this system of the Psalmist, than the pagan scheme in Virgil, and other Poets, where one Deity is represented as raising a storm, and another as laying it? Were we only to consider the Sublime in this piece of poetry, what can be nobler than the idea it gives us of the supreme Being thus raising a tumult among the elements, and recovering them out of their confusion, thus troubling and becalming nature? Great Painters do not only give us Landskips of gardens, groves, and meadows, but very often employ their pencils upon sea-pieces I could wish you would follow their example. If this small sketch may deserve a place among your works, I shall accompany it with a divine Ode, made by a Gentleman upon the conclusion of his travels. 5 ΙΟ 5 1Ο 15 20 V. Confusion dwelt in ev'ry face, And fear in ev'ry heart; When waves on waves, and gulphs in gulphs, VI. Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord, Whilst in the confidence of pray'r My soul took hold on thee. VII. For tho' in dreadful whirles we hung I knew thou wert not slow to hear, VIII. The storm was laid, the winds retir'd, The sea that roar'd at thy command, At thy command was still. IX. In midst of dangers, fears and death, And praise thee for thy mercies past; X. My life, if thou preserv'st my life, Thy sacrifice shall be; And death, if death must be my doom, Shall join my soul to thee. N° 517. Thursday, October 23. [1712.] We last night received a piece of ill news at our Club, which very sensibly afflicted every one of us. I question not but my Readers themselves will be troubled at the hearing of it. To keep them no longer in suspence, Sir ROGER DE COVERLY is dead. He departed this life at his house in the country, after a few weeks sickness. Sir ANDREW FREEPORT has a Letter from one of his correspondents in those parts, that informs him the old man caught a cold at the county-sessions, as he was very warmly promoting an Address of his own penning, in which he succeeded according to his wishes. But this particular comes from a Whig Justice of Peace, who was always Sir ROGER's enemy and antagonist. I have Letters both from the Chaplain and Captain SENTRY which mention nothing of it, but are filled with many particulars to the honour of the good old man. I have likewise a Letter from the Butler, who took so much care of me last summer when I was at the Knight's house. As my friend the Butler mentions, in the simplicity of his heart, several circumstances the others have passed over in silence, I shall give my Reader a copy of his Letter, without any alteration or diminution. Honoured Sir, 66 Knowing that you was my old Master's good friend, I "could not forbear sending you the melancholy news of his "death, which has afflicted the whole country, as well as his poor servants, who loved him, I may say, better than we did our lives. I am afraid he caught his death the last countysessions, where he would go to see justice done to a poor "widow woman, and her fatherless children, that had been "wronged by a neighbouring Gentleman; for you know, my 66 66 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 5 15 66 "good master was always the poor man's friend. Upon his "coming home, the first complaint he made was, that he had "lost his roast-beef stomach, not being able to touch a sirloin, “which was served up according to custom; and you know he "used to take great delight in it. From that time forward he "grew worse and worse, but still kept a good heart to the last. "Indeed we were once in great hopes of his recovery, upon a "kind message that was sent him from the widow Lady whom “he had made love to the forty last years of his life; but this ΙΟ "only proved a lightning before his death. He has bequeathed "to this Lady, as a token of his love, a great pearl necklace, "and a couple of silver bracelets set with jewels, which belonged "to my good old Lady his mother: he has bequeathed the fine "white gelding, that he used to ride a hunting upon, to his Chaplain, because he thought he would be kind to him, and "has left you all his books. He has, moreover, bequeathed to "the Chaplain a very pretty tenement with good lands about it. “It being a very cold day when he made his will, he left for "mourning, to every man in the parish, a great frize-coat, and "to every woman a black riding-hood. It was a most moving "sight to see him take leave of his poor servants, commending "us all for our fidelity, whilst we were not able to speak a word "for weeping. As we most of us are grown grey-headed in our "dear master's service, he has left us pensions and legacies, "which we may live very comfortably upon the remaining part "of our days. He has bequeathed a great deal more in charity, "which is not yet come my knowledge, and it is peremptorily "said in the parish, that he has left money to build a steeple "to the Church; for he was heard to say some time ago, that "if he lived two years longer, Coverly Church should have a "steeple to it. The Chaplain tells every body that he made a “very good end, and never speaks of him without tears. He was buried, according to his own directions, among the family "of the COVERLIES, on the left hand of his father Sir Arthur. 20 25 30 66 |