To the Honourable Mr. Erskine

Lyrics

When British Freedom for an happier land        &nbspSpread her broad wings, that flutter'd with affright,        &nbspErskine! thy voice she heard, and paus'd her flight Sublime of hope, for dreadless thou didst stand        &nbsp(Thy censer glowing with the hallow'd flame)        &nbspA hireless Priest before the insulted shrine,        &nbspAnd at her altar pour the stream divine Of unmatch'd eloquence. Therefore thy name Her sons shall venerate, and cheer thy breast        &nbspWith blessings heaven-ward breath'd. And when the doom        &nbspOf Nature bids thee die, beyond the tomb Thy light shall shine: as sunk beneath the West Though the great Summer Sun eludes our gaze, Still burns wide Heaven with his distended blaze.