The Virginia Gazette

An
O D E,
Occasioned by the Repeal of the S T A M P - A C T, and
the present FREEDOM of the PRESS.
From the E A S T.

WHENCE rise these sudden Gleams
Of Gladness? That like Paeon's orient Ray,
When balmy Zephyrs sport with laughing May,
Gild Nature round? Whence seems
Young smiling Joy from gloomy Brows to chase
Pale Grief, and brighten every Face?

Lo! Art-crown'd Freedom comes to guard our Land:
Freedom escap'd from Grenville's ruffian Hand!

Muse, shall not Grenville's Name
Mentioned with Tyrants in historic Page,
Descend with Infamy thro' every Age,
Our Nature's Scorn and Shame?
His Acts like Satan's Bridge from Hell to Earth,
To Death and Woe had given Birth:
But Heav'n, propitious, bade her George oppose,
Restore his People's Rights, and heal a Nation's Woes.

Hail to thy chearing Light
Celestial Freedom! Hail thy Visit here!
That bids Confusion cease, that drives Despair
To black Cocytus' Night:
That bids each Grace in new-born Lustre rise,
That calls Astraea from the Skies:
Calls Science, injur'd Maid! from long Disgrace,
And gives the starry Zone, and sculptur'd Vase.

On thee thy Handmaid tends,
Dear Liberty! -The Genius of the Press:
Who scorns the Frowns of Power, the false Cares
That bribing Flatt'ry lends:
Vice, at her Voice appall'd, forgoes its Aim,
And Folly's Cheek is flush'd with Shame,
While frontless, pure-proud Ignorance repines,
That Fortune cannot save from Satire's Lines.

O! Let Oblivion seize
The dastard Era, when the venal Hand
Of vilest Miscreants did our Press command,
Power intent to please!
Broad Folly started on the Face of Day,
Virtue was Vice's helpless Prey,
Scarce glow'd a Bosom for an honest Fame,
And Taste, and Reason, hardly had a Name.

But see white Days arise!
Science on spreading Wings begins to soar,
Her thousand Blessings Liberty to pour,
And Justice power awakes:
O smile, Virginia, smile! Now cloud-crown'd Fame
Shall with her swelling Trump proclaim,
That Learning, Liberty, nor Peace shall dread
Or Faction's Iron Whip, or Folly's Wand of Lead.