The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

The following Lines were spoken at Oxford
at the Installation of Lord GRENVILLE.

In ancient Greece, the candidate for fame,
First tried his prowess in th' Olympick Game,
And as he proudly claim'd the well-earn'd prize,
His bosom heav'd a sigh for nobler praise:
Then soon, at Freedom's call he rais'd his hand,
And shone the champion of his native land.

Oxford, 'tis thine, like Elis to impart
The spark of glory to the Patriot heart.
O'er cloud-capt rocks the eaglet learns to soar,
While her fond mother proudly sails before;
So led by thee, and taught to feel their weight,
Thy sons become the guardians of the State.

Thus memory tells, that he thou honourest most,
England's best hope, and Learning's proudest boast,
Here first acquir'd the sacred thirst of fame.
While every voice re-echoed GRENVILLE's name.

Fair was the presage of the auspicious hour,
When laurel'd Genius sang the Electric power;
And while these walls with loud applauses rung,
Rank, virtue, talent, on each accent hung.
Then Hope exulting said (or seemed to say)
'Tis but the dawning of a brighter day;
And now that promised day which rose so bright,
Bursts with meridian glory on the sight:
Exulting Science, as she pleas'd beholds
The scene of high desert thy life unfolds,
And smiling views the lustre thou hast shed
O'er parent Oxford's venerable head,
To crown the honours, and increase her own,
Invites thee, GRENVILLE, to her classic throne.

When Rome was menaced by unnumbered foes,
Some great undaunted citizen arose,
Who broke the shafts barbarian fury hurl'd,
And saved unhurt the mistress of the world
Thus thy sons guardian aid implore
For philosophick truth and ancient lore,
If sophistry usurp the throne of thought,
And dare to ridicule what wisdom taught:
If cities, worthy of a Vandal age,
Deny the magick of the classic page;
With wonted ardour to the combat haste,
And vindicate the injured cause of Taste!
Tell them these studies made thee what thou art,
These rais'd thy intellect and form'd thy heart.
Then when thy bright example they commend,
And both Britannias hail thee as their friend.
Let Oxford share the splendour of thy name,
And with her Grenville live in deathless fame.

Alluding to a prize gained by Lord Gren-
ville when an Under-graduate, and recited in the
same Theatre.
The subject of which was "Vis
Electrica."