The Irish Poet and the Natural World: An Anthology of Verse in English from the Tudors to the Romantics

John Searson (fl.1795)

325 JOHN SEARSON (fl.1795) There is a certain innocent charm in John Searson’s doggerel descriptions of the north of Ireland in the 1790s. Searson seems to have been at various times a schoolmaster in Coleraine and a merchant in New York and Philadelphia – he was at all times an indefatigable versifier. Among his many self-published verses are ‘several entertaining pieces of poetry’descriptive of America, (including a ‘rural, romantic and descriptive’poem on Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate, and elegiac verses on Washington’s death in 1799) and many poems set in Ireland. He had his verse printed in Coleraine and Strabane as well as in Philadelphia and Baltimore. His Irish verse shows him seeking patronage from the Earl of Bristol and the Marquis of Abercorn. from: A Poem, or Rural Entertainment; Particularly Descriptive of the Most Noble the Marquis of Abercorn’s Cottage, near Strabane; of Barons Court, the seat of his Lordship: the canal and town of Strabane ... Romantick scenes, here strike my wond’ring eye, And still as I walk on, with wonder spy, How beaut’ous is this calm retirement, From anxious care, and brooding discontent, The pond’rous rocks, which here surround the place And rural verdure still before my face, The ivy turning round about each tree, And rural shades, that most delightful be. The COTTAGE so recluse and wond’rous fine, My Lord no doubt with friends sometime here dine, 10 In this most pleasing, sweet retired spot, The birds harmonious, too, delight this grot; I’ve dined with friends in this sweet rural scene, The Heav’ns our house, our table was the green,1 Whilst mirth and joy diffus’d around that day, Dancing and music help’d to make us gay. ... 326 See yon stupendous rocks, and water-fall, Pour down the mountain, sloping hill and all, Cascades in winter here must much surprize, When dreary winter darkens all the skies; 20 The tuneful birds with all their chearful notes, Have now no song, the hills are clothed with goats. ... O, may this COTTAGE, and the GLEN also, E’er find me innocent, where e’er I go; Then will I range the flow’ry walks and groves, And taste the sweets that virtue only knows— My Lord in this retreat, must pleasure take, From courts and cities seek this dear retreat; Here spend with friends, the social hour Passing the friendly glass, in this sweet bow’r, 30 For life itself is but a shadow here, Therefore with joy, we’ll pass this present year; To-morrow may bring forth some wond’rous tale, For who can future things to us reveal. ... Walking thro’ the GLEN, at distance view, The improving work, of late, to you I shew, ’Tis the CANAL, of use to trade, so bright, That every viewer must in it delight, See sloops, and boats e’er long come up this way, And bring much merchandize to our new quay, 40 Bid merchants flourish in th’town of STRABANE, Which is surrounded by a pleasant lawn. ... Such CANALS may yet spread thro’ the nation As greatly will encrease our navigation, And much enrich our land, in food and wealth, Give comfort also in our days—and health. I turn mine eyes, and peep at STRABANE Town, A place of trade, and now of much renown; The people happy and the town compleat, Their market-house, is here so very neat, 50 The people too is very fine and clean, To strangers, they are striking to be seen, 327 John Searson Kind providence, dwells here with honest men, Gives happy days, and peace in latter end. Their Bridge and Town, is so compleat and neat, So is their Square, which here is so compleat; How solemn is their Church, and place of pray’r, Induces the devout there to repair, The River here is pleasing to behold, It’s rapid stream delightful is and bold; 60 The Angler here diverts himself with trout, And to his pleasure adds, good food thereout. ... ...