There, warm to plead the orphan's cause From misery's eye to dry the tear, He stood where justice guards the laws At once humane, at once severe. 'Twas not his firm enlighten'd mind, So ardent in affairs of state; 'Twas not that he in armies shined That made him so completely great: Persuasion dwelt upon his tongue, He spoke--all hush'd, and all were awed;-- From all he said conviction sprung, And crowds were eager to applaud. Thus long esteem'd, thus early loved, The tender husband, friend sincere; The parent, patriot, sage, approved, Had now survived his fiftieth year-- Had now the highest honors met That Carolina could bestow; Presiding o'er that potent state Where streams of wealth and plenty flow. Where labor spreads her rural reign To western regions bold and free; And commerce on the Atlantic main Wafts her rich stores of industry: Then left this stage of human things To shine in a sublimer sphere Where time to one assemblage brings All virtuous minds, all hearts sincere. [172] From the 1815 edition. Edward Rutledge was a member of the Continental Congress from South Carolina and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was a conspicuous figure during the whole war. He was elected governor of South Carolina in 1798, but died January 23, 1800, before completing his term. ON THE DEPARTURE OF PETER PORCUPINE[173] For England A bird of night attends the sail That now towards us turns her tail With Porcupine, escaped from jail. O may the sharks enjoy their bait: He came such mischief to create We wish him not a better fate. This hero of the pension'd pen Has left our shores, and left his den To write at home for English men. Five thousand dollars,[174] we may guess, Have made his pension something less-- So, Peter left us,--in distress. He writ, and writ, and writ so long[A] That sheriff came, with writ more strong, And he went off, and all went wrong. [A] For several years he published newspapers and other periodical works in Philadelphia which had a vast circulation; the whole scope and tendency of which was, as is well remembered, to render the republican institutions of this country contemptible, as well as odious to the people; and by discontenting them with their government, to open the way for the introduction of a monarchial system. He was thought to be a pensioner of the English government; but whether such or not is uncertain.--_Freneau's note._ May southern gales that vex the main, Or Boreas, with his whistling train Make Peter howl and howl again. I hear him screech, I hear him shout!-- The storm has put his Rush light[B] out-- I see him famish'd with sour crout.