Gazette Of The United States

Lines taken from a BOSTON GAZETTE of 1783
Written by Mr. Dawes.
On the Death of the Honorable JAMES OTIS,
killed by lightning.

WHEN, flush'd with conquest, and elate with pride,
A British despot Heaven's high will defied;
And, bent on blood, by lust of rule inclin'd,
With odious shackles vex'd the free-born mind,
On these young shores set up unjust command,
And spread the slaves of office round the land:
Then OTIS rose, and great in patriot fame,
To list'ning crowds resistance dar'd proclaim.
From soul to soul the bright idea ran;
The fire of Freedom flew from man to man.
His pen, like Sidney's, made the doctrine known,
His tongue, like Tully's, shook a tyrant's throne.
Then men grew bold, and in the public's eye,
The right-divine of Monarchs dar'd to try:
Light shone on all—despotic darkness fled—
And for a sentiment* a nation bled.
From men like OTIS independence grew;
From such beginnings empire rose to view.
Born for the world—his comprehensive mind
Plann'd the wide politics of human kind.
Bless'd with a native strength and fire of thought,
With Greek and Roman learning richly fraught,
Up to the fountain's head he push'd his view,
And from first principles his maxims drew.
Spite of the times, this truth he blaz'd abroad—
"The people's safety is the law of GOD."
For this he suffer'd! hireling slaves combin'd
To dress in shades the brightest of mankind.
And see—they come—a dark designing band—
With murder's heart and execution's hand,
Hold villains!—Those polluted arms restrain—
Nor that exalted head with blows profane!
A nobler end awaits the patriot head:
In other sort he'll join the illustrious dead.
Yes! When the glorious work which he begun,
Shall stand—the most complete beneath the sun:
When Peace shall come to crown the great design,
His eyes shall live to see the hand divine.
The Heavens shall then his generous spirit claim
"In storms as loud as his immortal fame."

Hark! the deep thunders echo round the skies!
On wings of flame th'eternal errand flies;
One, chosen, charitable bolt is sped,
And OTIS mingles with the godlike dead.

* Upon the right of taxing the Colonies.
+ Salus populi suprema lex was the motto of one of his pamphlets.