The Virginia Gazette

To the PRINTER.

A Description of the town Norfolk, extracted from the second canto of a manuscript poem entitled "The CONTEST, in three cantos," which you have leave to publish in your next paper. The description begins with an invocation of the Muse, as follows:

MUSE! raise thy voice, attune thy song afresh,
To Norfolk's praises, in ambitious verse!
Norfolk! where wealth lifts up its golden head,
Unbarr'd I found thy hospitable gates;
Thy boards I found with frugal plenty crown'd:
Generous, sincere, plain-hearted all thy Chiefs.
With curious inquest, ranging o'er thy streets,
In every art and every trade I saw,
Elaborate, bending beneath their toil,
(Sure fund of wealth) thy active sons employ'd:
Saw sturdy oaks, by sweating labour fell'd,
Swell into ships, and sweep the trading tides;
Saw stubborn pelts by skilful artists drest
Flexile and soft, for various uses form'd;
Saw spacious walks where wheels incessant whirl,
And hempen fibres into cables twist;
Saw ships unnumber'd riding in thy port,
And groves of masts in mazy prospect stand;
Saw commerce spreading sail for distant climes.
And well earn'd profits brought in full return;
Saw buildings on buildings magnifick rise,
Improving daily thy extensive bounds.
Norfolk! may thou to perfect beauty grow!
May rigid laws no more thy trade oppress!
May every realm around the sea-wash'd globe
Thy ships full laden in their ports receive,
And ample profit give in quick return!
May every virtue, every worth combine
To dignify thy town! may thy brave sons
Firm to the cause of liberty remain,
In all their native pomp of freedom fierce!
Norfolk! accept this pledge of just respect;
And ye of liberty consociate sons!
Noble assertors of your country's rights,
When Grenville, hated name! full bent on ill,
Strong shackles forg'd, affecting to enthrall
In servitude abhorr'd our loyal state,
Accept the Muse's thanks for gift high priz'd
By bounteous hand, without desert bestow'd!