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On [[Chapter 43: 436-439|page 438]] Dixon references "a Page, enclos'd with the letter, clipp'd from the ''Gentlemen's Magazine'' of the December previous." Dixon is holding the following poem, which was published on pages 594-595 of the 1764 volume (December section) of ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' (i.e., "man" not "men") was "the first general-interest magazine, and the most influential periodical of its time" ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentleman%27s_Magazine Wikipedia]).
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Pall Mall, Dec. 24 1764.<br>
Mr. Urban,<br>
''Having met with a very imperfect copy of the following verses in a News paper, I send you the original, in hopes of doing it justice in your Magazine''.<br>
Yours, &c.<br>
C.P.

<Center><big>'''GREENWICH HOY!'''<br>
'''''Or, the''''' '''ASTRONOMIC RACERS.'''</big></Center>

<big>L</big>ET gents on fam’d ''Newsmarket’s'' sod<br>
Exhaust their wealth, blaspheme their God,<br>
While the swift courser strains each nerve,<br>
His wanton master’s sport to serve.

Give me the heroes who aspire,<br>
Push’d on by astronomic fire,<br>
To course it through the starry host<br>
And make the fun their starting-post:<br>
Who sport with planets, moons and suns,<br>
With as much ease as ''Childers'' runs.<br>

Two lunar months are past, and more,<br>
Since of these heroes half a score<br>
Set out to try their strength and skill,<br>
And fairly start for ''Flamsteed-Hill''.<br>
But lo, from doubts, or tears, or surfeit,<br>
Six have drawn stakes, or else paid forfeit;<br>
And thus, there now remains no more<br>
To run the match, than doughty four.<br>

The first, who vaunts the race he gets,<br>
Is affluent professor B—ts;<br>
Whose first of ''April’s'' lunar map<br>
Has giv’n his judgement such a rap,<br>
As to induce his warmest friend<br>
To wish no longer he’d contend;<br>
Who owns the ''place'' his only view;<br>
The business ''journeymen'' may do,<br>

The N—b s brother next advances,<br>
Who, with some mettle, skips and prances:<br>
But take care, Rev. ''M—sk—l—n'',<br>
Thou scientific harlequin,<br>
Nor think, by jockeying, to win:<br>
Why, when the foremost in the course,<br>
Would’st thou thy hopeful chance reverse,<br>
Avouching with ungen’rous mind,<br>
The two most worth had declin’d?<br>
Believe me, this fallacious boast<br>
Has run thee the wrong side o’ the post;<br>
Eor the ''great donor'' of the prize<br>
I just, as ''Jove'' who rules the skies.<br>

The next, who promises some sport,<br>
Is the renown’d optician, ''Short'';<br>
Makes all the interest he can,<br>
And candid hopes, if should fail,<br>
Experienced ''Nestor'' may prevail.


''Nestor'', aloud, the standers-by,<br>
Looking around, with pleasure cry—<br>
And wilt thou, ''Bevis'', wilt thou venture<br>
Against such hardy wights to enter?<br>

Yes, clear the course, and call the grooms,<br>
For, lo! how he attended comes:<br>
Immortal ''Newton'', ''England’''s boast,<br>
Conducts him to the starting-post;<br>
And pointing with the other hand,<br>
Shows him, who to assist him stand.<br>
See thy friend ''Halley'' by thy side.<br>
And ''Bradley'', whom thou oft didst guide;<br>
By ''Phœbus'' sent with ''Pegasus'',<br>
To aid thee in this arduous course.<br>

Tho’ no professorship you hold,<br>
No fellowship, endow’d with gold,<br>
No pension on the worldly stage,<br>
To comfort thy advancing age,<br>
Yet has the ''Prussian'' hero deign’d<br>
To fix the ‘midst his learned band.<br>
Courage! then, Sir, nor drop thy merit;<br>
And that the world with outstretcht eyes,<br>
Looks on, and points thee for the prize.<br>
Nay, singly ask the other three,<br>
On whom (himself excepted) he<br>
Thinks that the dubious lost should fall,<br>
''Bevis'', they’ll answer—one and all.<br>
Keep then this adage old in view,<br>
That ''what all say must sure be true'':<br>
And, ‘gainst the field, I think we my<br>
Venture some odds—you get the day.

:::::::::C.P.
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