Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

From the "Boston Gazette;"

MACDONOUGH,

That was no ordinary day
When foe with foe in dread array,
And less was that a common sight
When "Greek met Greek": in fearful fight.

Nor soon shall memory cease to dwell
On what she hates, yet loves so well--
Loathes--'twas a sanguinary fray;
Lives; for salvation crowned the day!

The tale shall fall from sire to son,
Of wonders wrought, of victory won:
The veteran, when he toils no more,
Shall love to tell the story o'er:
The Sailor, as he skims the Lake,
The legend of that day shall wake,
Or, as he plies its banks along.
That Victory still shall furnish song;
While at each close the hearty strain
Shall be, MacDonough of Champlain.

All mood the valiant squadron swung,
Their canvas heedlessly was flung;
In drooping folds, each freeman's sail
From to woo the passing gale:
Still less, while slumbering on the mast,
Seem'd it to meet such hostile blast!
But Britons learnt that sleeping sail
Told to a foe aiming to lie;
For they that canopy beneath,
Would watch, or sleep the sleep of death!

Dire was the night, the clangor dire,
Macdonough's rear, and cannon's fire,
Till Britain's crimson banner's brave.
Humbled, the deeper crimson wave;
While o'er them floats triumphantly,
Columbia's flag in victory!

Yet many a heart shall rue the gale
That wafted on the hostile sail:
And many an eye the hour shall weep,
When fleet met fleet along the deep;
For many a son and lover slain,
With cypress shade thy bays, Champlain!

Yet 'twas a noble death they sought,
For in a noble cause they fought:
It seem'd as there to wield the brand,
The very Genius of our Land;
Rise on Champlain a Bethlehem star,
Refulgent from the Northern wave,
At once to guide, and cheer, and save?

Do we too, may mourn thy end,
For overcome seems half a friend.
We weep that on that day they died.
And many a gallant by thy side:
Yet 'twas an honor'd end they met,
That leaves but little for regret:
For 'twas MacDonough's arm they fell:
Heaven nerv'd that arm, and nerv'd it well.

Macdonough! one short lay, of thee,
To valor, fight and victory:
Though brief the strain, and impotent,
Methinks 'twould grace thy monument;
For ages shall the theme renew,
And ages shall record it true.
Macdonough, Chief of godlike worth,
Through Heaven the Saviour of the North!

BENJAMIN.