Verses on the Virginia Capitol Fire

Mr. Printer,

It may entertain the curious and learned Part of your Subscribers, if you give them the following genuine Speech and Address, which, for the Importance of the Subject, Grandeur of Sentiment, and Elegance of Expression, perhaps exceed Any they have hitherto seen. For the Benefit of more common Readers, I have turn'd them, with some Paraphrase, into plain English Verse. I am told by Friends, that my Performance is excellent: But I claim no other Praise than what regards my Rhyme, and my Perspicuity. All the other Beauties I acknowledge, are owing to the Original, whose true Sense I have every where follow'd with a scrupulous Exactness. If envious Critics should observe, that some of my Lines are too short in their Number of Feet, I own it; but then, to make ample Amends, I have given very good Measure in most of the others.

I am, Sir,
your constant Reader,
NED. TYPE.

The SPEECH Versyfied.

L --- d have Mercy on us! -- the CAPITOL! the CAPITOL!
is burnt down!
O astonishing Fate! -- which occasions this Meeting in
Town.
And this Fate proves a Loss, to be deplored the more,
The said Fate being th'Effect of Malice and Design, to be
sure.

And yet 'tis hard to comprehend how a Crime of so flagitious a Nature,
Should be committed, or even imagined, by any but an irrational Creature.
But when you consider, that the first Emission of Smoke was not from below,
And that Fires kindled by Accident always burn slow,
And not with half the Fury as when they burn on Purpose you know
You'll be forced to ascribe it (with Hearts full of Sadness)
To the horrid Machinations of desperate Villains, instigated by infernal Madness.
God forbid I should accuse or excuse any without just Foundation,
Yet I may venture to assert, -- for our own Reputation,
That such superlative Wickedness never entred the Hearts of Virginians, who are the CREAM of the British Nation.
The Clerks have been examin'd, and clear'd by the May'r,
Yet are willing to be examin'd again by you, and that's fair.
And will prove in the Face of the Country, if requir'd,
That it was not by their Conduct our Capitol was fir'd.
I must add, to do 'em Justice, that the Comfort we have,
In enjoying our authentic Registers, which those Clerks did save,
Is owing to their Activity, Resolution and Diligence,
Together with Divine Providence.
All which would have been in vain, I protest,
If the Wind, at the bursting out of the Flames, had not changed from East to Northwest.
Our Treasury being low, and my Infirmities great,
I would have kept you prorogu'd till the Revisal of the Laws was compleat;
But this Misfortune befalling the Capitol of the Capital of our Nation
Require your immediate Care and Assistance for its Instauration.
To press you in a Point of such Usefulness manifest,
Would shew a Diffidence of your sincere Zeal for the public Interest
For which you and I always make such a laudable Pother,

And for which we've so often applauded one Another.
The same public Spirit which within these Walls us'd to direct you all,
Will determine you (as Fathers of your Country) to apply Means effectual
For restoring the ROYAL FABRIC to its former Beauty
And Magnificence, according to your Duty;
With the like Apartments, elegant and spacious
For all the weighty purposes of Government, so capacious.
Mean time the College and Court of Hustings our Weight may sustain,
But pray let us speedily have our CAPITOL, our important CAPITOL again.

The COUNCIL's Answer.

We the King's best Subjects, the Council of this Dominion,
Are deeply affected (as is every true Virginian)
With the unhappy Occasion of our present Meeting:
------ In Troth we have but a sorry Greeting.
We are also not a little touch'd (in the Head) with the same Weakness as your Honour's,
And therefore think this raging Fire which consum'd our Capitol, should incite us to reform our Manners:
The best Expedient at present to avert the Indignation divine,
And nobly to express our Gratitude for the Justice, which (temper'd with Mercy) doth shine,
In preserving our Records, tho' Red hot,
And like Brands pluck'd out of the Flames, in which they were going to pot,
Without this Expedient we shall be ruin'd quite. --
Besides, This FIRE puts us in Mind of NEW-LIGHT;
And we think it Heav'n's Judgment on us for tolerating the Presbyterians,
Whose Forefathers drubb'd ours, about a hundred Year-hence.
We therefore resolve to abate a little of our Drinking,
Gaming, Cursing and Swearing,

And make up for the rest, by persecuting some itinerant Presbyterian.
An active Discharge of our important Trusts, according to your Honour's Desire,
Is the wisest Project of Insurance that can be, of the Public Safety, from the Attempts of such as would set it on fire.
'Tis a Project also for advancing the Honour and Interest of our King and Nation,
And a Project for engaging Heaven's Protection from Generation to Generation.
We take this Opportunity, that we may not be suspected of Malignity,
To congratulate you, Sir, on your Promotion to the Baronet's Dignity;
A fresh Instance of just Regard to your long and faithful Services we say,
Because from Carthagena your Honour came safe away,
And you lent and sent such great Assistance for reducing CANADA.

The BARONET's Reply.

The just Sense you express for the Loss of our CAPITOL,
which to be sure was a fatal Mishap,
Your affectionate Concern for the Infirmities of my Honour,
And Joy at my new Title, of which our good K -- g is the Donor,
Claim sincere Acknowledgments of Thankfulness,
And Gratitude, for this obliging Address.
And, (lest here and hereafter we're left in the Lurch)
To promote true Religion, (I mean our own Church)
I'll heartily concur with you, and lend a few Knocks
To suppress these confounding New Light Heterodox.
Then if from our Sins, we also refrain,
Perhaps we may have our CAPITOL! our dear CAPITOL! our glorious ROYAL CAPITOL again.

The New-York Gazette, June 1, 1747, supplement