Or rosy children, sportive, trip along,
To see rare Fire-works—or to hear a Song:
For oft, in Summer, Music's secret pow'rs,
Woos thousands to Vauxhall, to paſs their hours.
Next Ashted[1] view—the Chapel's plainly seen,
The Barracks for the troops, lie just between.
Bartholomew's[2] you'll see about due east,
Small Heath extends beyond, two miles at least.
Where curling eddies of black smoke ascends,
Steam-Engines[3] wond'rous force and pow'r portends,
A Watt and Boulton's Fame they sure must raise,
Far, far beyond, my Muse's feeble praise;
Tho' on a theme so grand she'd wish to shew,
Respect to Talents and to Genius due.
These Locks, and Boats, and Bridges, now you 'll view,
Point out a fresh Canal,[4] and Junction new;
Thence boats to Warwick and to Stratford go,
And thence—where silver Thames and Avon flow.
Now, more beneath your eye, see, to the right,
St. Martin's[5] beauteous spire attracts your sight.
- ↑ Ashted is a new built Hamlet adjoining the town; having a very neat Chapel; and the Barracks are situated there—about a mile from the centre of Birmingham.
- ↑ Chapel of St. Bartholomew.
- ↑ Watt and Boulton's ingenious and celebrated Steam Engine, secured to them not only by a common Patent, but by Act of Parliament, plate Q.
- ↑ The Warwick and Stratford Canal.
- ↑ A very ancient Church, with one of the most beautiful Spires in the kingdom. This Church has an excellent peal of twelve bells, and a very musical set of chimes. For a distant view of the steeple, see Magnificent Directory, plate D.
