Some remarkable passages in the life of the Hon. Col. James Gardiner, who was slain at the battle of Preston Pans, September 21, 1745

Excerpt: Numb. II. POETICAL PIECES On the Death of Colonel Gardiner. SO animating a fubjecl: as the death of fuch a man, in fuch circumftances, has occafioned a great deal of Poetry. Some of this has already been publifhed; efpe- cially one large compofition, faid to be done by a worthy Clergyman in Lincola- fhire, in which there are many excellent lines and noble fenriments: But I rather choofe to refer to the piece itfelf, than to infert any extracts from it here. It may be more expedient to oblige my reader with the following Copy of Verfes, and an Elegiac Poem, compofed by two of my valuable friends whofe names are annexed. I could not prefume to attempt any thing of this kind myfelf; becaufe 1 knew, that nothing I was capable of writing could properly exprefs my fenfe of his worth, or de- fcribe the tendernefs ot my friendfhip; the fentiments of which will (as I afTuredly believe, ) mingle themfelves with the laft ideas which which pafs through my mind in this world, and perhaps with fome of the firft which may open upon it in that which is to come. VERSES On the Death of Colonel Gardiner.. By the Rev. Mr. Benjamin So-wden. Qciis dcfiderio fit pudor, aut modcif, Tarn charc capitic ? Hor. COULD Piety perpetuate human breath, Or fhield one mortal from the fhafts of death, Thou ne'er, illuftrious man thou ne'er hadft been A palid corpfe on Prefton's fatal plain. Or could her hand, tho impotent to fave Confummate worth, redeem it from the grave, Soon would thy urn refign its facrec' truft, And recent life re-animate thy duft. But vain the wifh. -- The favage hand of war -- Oh how fha...