'My dad and mammy's fast asleep, My brother's up, and with the sheep; And will you still your promise keep, Which I have heard you swear? And will you ever constant prove?' 'I will, by all the Powers above, And ne'er deceive my charming dove. Dispel those doubts, and haste, my love, With Jockey to the fair.' Dispel, &c. 4. 'Behold the ring,' the shepherd cry'd; 'Will Jenny be my charming bride? Let Cupid be our happy guide, And Hymen meet us there.' Then Jockey did his vows renew; He would be constant, would be true. His word was pledg'd; away she flew, With cowslips tipt with balmy dew, With Jockey to the fair. With cowslips, &c. 5. In raptures meet the joyful train; Their gay companions, blithe and young, Each join the dance, each join the throng, To hail the happy pair. In turns there's none so fond as they, They bless the kind, propitious day, The smiling morn of blooming May, When lovely Jenny ran away With Jockey to the fair. When lovely, &c. H. G. D. * * * * * ALLEGED REDUCTION OF ENGLISH SUBJECTS TO SLAVERY. (Vol. v., p. 510.) The crime imputed to the Dutch authorities (that of reducing English subjects to slavery) is of so atrocious a character, that any explanation that should place the matter in a less offensive light, would be but an act of justice to the parties implicated. With this view I venture to submit to URSULA and W. W. the following conclusions which I have arrived at, after a careful consideration of all the circumstances. I am of opinion that the writer of the letter in question (charging the Dutch Governor with the above mentioned offence) was the officer commanding the troops in the English division of St. Christopher; and, in that capacity, invested with the civil government. At that period, the {50} administration of our West Indian possessions was generally confided to the military commandants: our policy, in that respect, being different from that of the French, who have contrived at all times to maintain, in each of their colonies, an uninterrupted succession of Governors appointed from home. The name of the Dutch Governor of St. Martin, to whom the letter was addressed, has not been ascertained. He was probably some buccaneering chief, who cared as little for the States-General as he did for the Governor of St. Christopher. If not actually engaged in the piratical enterprises of his countrymen, he certainly had no objection to receive, according to usage, the lion's share of the booty as a reward for his connivance.