Daily National Intelligencer

The following lines are from the pen of a young gentleman of this city. Their insertion requires no apology; but we hazard the remark that the length of the ode will be found not too great for its merits.

FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.

ODE TO LIBERTY

For the Anniversary of American Independence. (4th July, 1818.)

O liberty! whose parent sway
These happy states obey:
Thou who didst rule in ancient times,
The Greek and Roman climes,
And, from the realms of Europe hurl'd,
Hast fixed thy empire in the western world.

With joy we hail th' auspicious day again,
Which adds another year unto thy brilliant reign
Propitious now, my lay inspire.
And every bosom fill with patriotic fire.

When Albion first our country to enchain,
Sent her stern mandates o'er the western main:
And to enforce her proud commands,
Pour'd forth her mercenary bands;
'Twas then our glorious sires, with joyful eyes,
Beheld thee hov'ring in the western skies.

With patriot heart, and dauntless breast,
They rush'd to war at thy behest:
Expell'd those proud invaders from the land,
And snatch'd their country's helm from a despot's hand.

And as the young Alcides slew
Those hissing foes by envious Juno sent,
Thus did our infant state subdue
Britain's proud hosts, on her destruction bent.

Peace spread her blessings o'er the land,
And bade the rage of discord cease:
While foster'd by thy guardian hand,
Our youthful empire did in strength increase.

Neglected Ceres now resum'd her reign,
And commerce spread her sail again;
And like another age of gold,
The happy years in bright succession roll'd.

But Britain with a jealous eye
Beheld our glorious destiny:
Again she sought to manifest
The hate which rankled in her breast;
And on aggressive acts resolv'd;
Again the bands of amity dissolv'd.

Alone the tyrant of the waves she reign'd.
No treaties bound her and no faith restrain'd;
By lawless force our gallant tars impress'd,
Our flag insulted, and our trade distress'd.

The reign of discord now began,
Indignant murmurs through the nation ran,
While comets, blazing from afar,
A fatal prelude to approaching war:
When our illustrious chief arose!
Regardless of the malice of his foes.

To unsheathe the sword he boldly dar'd,
And, 'gainst unrighteous foes, a righteous war declar'd,

Now, on our coast, the doubtful contest burns,
With fury rages, and subsides by turns—
Again our guardian-goddess cleav'd the air.
On rapid pinions, and survey'd the war;
Nerv'd every arm, and every bosom fir'd,—
While hostile legions from the field retired:
Britain compelled to terms of peace, once more
Withdrew her fleets and armies from our shore

Thus met the foes of liberty their doom,
When ancient Carthage was subdued by Rome.
Batavia thus, her freedom to maintain,
Opposed th' armies of despotic Spain.

When now the glooms of war were past,
And banish'd peace returned at last,
The illustrious Madison withdrew
From his exalted seat:
To public scenes he bade adieu,
To enjoy his calm retreat.

Call'd by his country to the chair of state,
To guard her freedom, and direct her fate,
Behold Monroe his glorious course pursue,
At once a statesman and a soldier too—
Before his face mad Faction takes her flight,
And jarring parties in his cause unite;
Beneath his sway see useful arts expand,
While peace and plenty crown our happy land,

From these blest scenes, the goddess turns her eyes
To southern climes, where new republics rise—
Where her bold sons, a patriot train,
Have burst an unrelenting tyrant's chain.

With souls as ardent as their clime,
With genius as their mounts sublime,
And with invention fertile as their soil,
And courage adequate to every toil;
They rush impetuous to the field,—
To their victorious arms, Iberia's legions yield

O! time roll on the auspicious day
That wrests their country from despotic sway
And, Liberty, extend thy happy states,
From Darien's isthmus, to Magellan's straits.

Advance bright seraph in thy glorious course!
Let haughty despots from their thrones be hurl'd;
Subdue the nations with resistless force,
And sway thy peaceful sceptre o'er the world,

N. B.