"In Wrafton Lane, as the villager strays,
When the clear cold eve's declining,
Fancy often a saucer-eyed ghost will raise
From the moon on a gate-post shining:
Thus, many of Barum (when fancy is prime *)
While sagaciously reading us over,

May apply their own keys, to our prose and our rhyme,
Though there's nothing at all to discover!"

I believe I have now adverted to every particular that can interest the readers of The Cave, and the contributors who are to amuse them :-it only remains for me to whisper a word or two at parting to its future Editor, which, by the by, there is no harm in the public's over-hearing.

You will observe then, MY DEAR ANONYMOUS, the true-blue and loft banner which I have set as a token your future proceedings, in the character of Editor to The CAVE Now, I do not suspect you will desert your colors, but if you ever should swerve from following that honorable example I have set you, if you should be induced, either by ignorance or malevolence, to hoist the black flag of piratical attack upon private character, and family history, which may subject you to a sound raking fore and aft, nail your colors to the mast, and do not reverse the order of the bold Buccaneer +, by a" down with the black flag, and up with the blue!" for, deeply interested as I am in the success of your Periodical, I would rather see you buried under the rocky ruins of The CAVE, than sculking, with a sham repentance, and an altered flag, into the obscurity of its sheltering and obscure recesses; but I have no fear of you, en avant-proceed and prosper! for that is the sincerest hope of your, and your Readers very obliged, and obedient servant, Dry-den BEAUCLERC.

Beau Sejour, Bunny Ravine, Saunton,
Dec. 28th, 1823.

* That is, when it FIRES the feelings, or the brain.
+ See The Pirate vol. iii. page 121.

P. S. EXTENSIVE PUBLIC,

1 AM under the distressing necessity of dismissing my diffi dence, and addressing you in my own shadow. When I returned to the Marino last night from a tea-party at Braunton (which always gives me a greater relish for poor dear Beauclerc's broiled bone, and brown stout) I found a dry-den with a vengeance. Like Cataline in the conspiracy, abiit, evasit, erupit, which means in English, that he had jumped into his new patent pocket Skiff, and gone to Lundy to fetch the Review; and the kind hearted old Seal was crying her eyes out on the hearth rug lately occupied by the poetical Spaniel. I therefore, obliged to speak for myself, and to state what my dear friend forgot in the agitation of leave taking. 1. An eminent amateur has engaged to set the songs, &c., and we promise the ladies (if possibly it can be done) a new air to add to their graces.

am,

2. We purpose engaging the arts of etching and of lithographic engraving, to elucidate local allusions, and scenery. 1 remain, your "veiled prophet,"

Or in some brief and sudden storm
Alone on us imprest:

Such as with crash our dreams between,
Gave token of the morrow's scene;
Its broken tile, and shatter'd slate,
And roofless barn, and fallen gate.
To-day on garden, stream, and lawn
Descends the ray so long withdrawn;
To chase afar the autumnal gloom,
So long companion of our room:
Since, but our liberty in sleep,

The parlour was our dungeon keep, +
And we in captive mood might peep
Through sashes wide upon the brook,
Or at the Chapel-hill,

But vainly for a sunbeam look-
"Twas shower and shadow still.

III.

Close then thou volume so much conn'd,
Soft pencil! art's creative wand,
To-day no tints lay on :
Guitar-piano forte-flute

O'er music's death awhile be mute,
She will revive anon.

Ye balls, in white or scarlet vest,

Of mace or cue the flying jest,

Within your nettled hammocks rest!

And ye of old renown!

Peers, knights and pawns of Tourney Chess, No longer now the combat press,

Encircling either crown!

Soft sofa's lounge, and hearthstone chair
Deserted be, while we repair

To breathe of ocean's bracing air,

By Saunton beach and down.
To-day fair FLORENCE rides with me
Across "the Sandhills to the sea."

IV.

Our stall it boasts no lofty steed,
But Exmoor poney good at need,
And palfrey of the Burrows breed,
Will rein at our commands;

And Thou, the muse's gallant grey,
With pinion soaring to the day,
Attend us to the Sands.

The Muse may sport Fitz-James's feat-
Her hand wreathed in the mane;
But we must climb into our seat,
By stirrups prose and plain;
And curbing in our ponies fleet,
Exchange the splash of Braunton street
For that of Saunton lane :

The dashing horseman gallops through,
WE ride in honor of the view.

V.

For see how fairly on our right
The Terrace green expands,
And Fairlinch, from her windows bright
Looks o'er her sloping lands.
"Twere long to tell since we have seen.
On window-pane that golden sheen-
Tis long since last so bright a green
To leftward marked the Marshland turf,
And sunbeams glanced from dykes between,
Or silvered yonder cloud of surf,
Where Taw and Torridge, blending, roar,
Of tides released and free,

Roll past the pool of Appledore,
Beyond the lamps of Braunton shore,
To mingle with the sea.

VI.

Now, but our course we may not bend,
Might we the Terrace green ascend,
And thence o'erlook the cloud of sprays,
That intercepts our lowlier gaze

From RENTON-BY-THE-FORD:
Yet, glancing faintly thro' the screen
May Instow's pleasant quay be seen,
And Appledore's dark point, I ween,
So proud of old record:

For there was drawn the sword of right,
And there re-won the sceptre bright
For England's PATRIOT LORD: