Yes—­he is gone, whose energetic mind
    Upheld the pillars of a mighty state;
  Whose wisdom, worth, and eloquence, combin’d,
    Earn’d the just tribute of the good and great,
  Ensur’d a deathless wreath for coming days—­
  The poor man’s blessing, and the rich one’s praise!

  Relentless Death!—­could no one else suffice? 
    No less invaluable prize be found? 
  But must he fall a noble sacrifice
    And early victim to thy fatal wound! 
  Thou stern and merciless destroyer, say,
  Why didst thou blight his brief but glorious day?

  It is not Albion only who deplores.—­
    All sympathising Europe wails his doom;
  And bright-eyed Freedom hastes from Western shores
    To drop a grateful tear upon his tomb;
  And fondly hovering round his slumbering shade
  Guards the lorn spot where her best friend is laid.

  Now, stay my muse—­for worthier hands than thine
    Will twine the laurel round his hallow’d bust;
  And raise in happier and more polish’d line
    A splendid trophy to his sacred dust;
  When thy untaught and unpretending lay
  Shall be forgotten and have pass’d away.

  Yet, ere thy chords are mute, oh, once again
    My trembling lyre let me touch thy string! 
  And in a humble, but a heartfelt strain
    Of him, the much-lov’d child of Genius sing;
  And place this simple, unaffected verse,
  With moisten’d eye upon his plumed hearse:—­

  “If all that virtue, all that fame holds dear,
  Deserve a tribute—­stop and pay it here!”

J.E.S.

* * * * *

THE SKETCH BOOK.

No.  XLV.

* * * * *

Behind the scenes; or, A breakfast in Newgate.

Returning from the country, I found myself in the Old Bailey, shortly after seven in the morning.  I had some difficulty in making my way through the crowd there assembled, which I instantly perceived, from the platform erected in front of Newgate, had been brought together to witness one of those mournful exhibitions which the administration of criminal justice so frequently furnishes in this immense metropolis.

My first impulse was to retreat with all possible expedition, but the impediments opposed to my doing so compelled a pause; and it then struck me, that however reluctant to witness suffering, there was much in the scene before me on which a reflecting mind might dwell with interest, if not with advantage.