everely lashed in the true spirit of poetry. It was
voted a libel: a motion was made to take the author into custody; but
he having withdrawn himself, the resentment of the house fell upon E.
Dodsley, the publisher of the work, who was committed to the usher of
the black rod, though lord Carteret, the earl of Abingdon, and lord
Talbot, spoke in his behalf.]

[Footnote 283: Note 2 N, p.283. In May, a dreadful plague broke out
at Messina in Sicily. It was imported in cotton and other commodities
brought from the Morea; and swept off such a multitude of people, that
the city was almost depopulated: all the galley slaves who were employed
in burying the dead, perished by the contagion; and this was the fate of
many priests and monks who administered to those who were infected. The
dead bodies lay in heaps in the streets, corrupting the air, and adding
fresh fuel to the rage of the pestilence. Numbers died miserably,
for want of proper attendance and necessaries; and all was horror and
desolation. At the beginning of winter it ceased, after having destroyed
near fifty thousand inhabitants of Messina, and of the garrisons in
the citadel and castle. It was prevented from spreading in Sicily by a
strong barricado drawn from Melazzo to Taormina; but it was conveyed to
Reggio in Calabria by the avarice of a broker of that place, who bought
some goods at Messina. The king of Naples immediately ordered lines
to be formed, together with a chain of troops, which cut off all
communication between that place and the rest of the continent.]

[Footnote 301: Note 2 O, p. 301. This nobleman, so remarkable for his
courage and thirst of glory, exhibited a very extraordinary instance of
presence of mind on the morning that preceded this battle. He and some
volunteers, accompanied by his aidecamp, and attended by two orderly
dragoons, the rode out before day to reconnoitre the situation of the
enemy; and fell in with one of their advanced guards. The sergeant
who commanded it immediately turned out his men, and their pieces were
presented when the earl first perceived them. Without betraying the
least mark of disorder, he rode up to the sergeant, and assuming the
character of a French general, told him, in that language, that there
was no occasion for such ceremony. Then he asked, if they had perceived
any of the enemy's parties; and being answered in the negative, "Very
well," said he, "be upon your guard; and if you should be attacked,