The poem St. Thomas’s Mount, written around 1769, offers a unique glimpse into colonial Madras. It was penned by Eyles Irwin, who arrived in Madras in 1768 and worked briefly as a Land Surveyor. The poem was published anonymously in England in 1774 and praised by H.D. Love in his book Vestiges of Old Madras. Irwin was fascinated by the natural beauty and history of the Mount. His poem praises the warm climate, mango orchards, elephants, camels, and even a trained cheetah hunting antelopes. The work also reflects the peaceful coexistence of Hindus, Muslims, and Christians after Saint Thomas’s martyrdom at the Mount. The poem has three parts. The first celebrates Madras’s spring-like weather and landscape. The second tells the legend of Saint Thomas and notes religious harmony. The third, more complex section, mentions various women known to Irwin in Madras. An engraving of the Mount by Joseph Collyer the Younger, likely based on sketches from Madras, illustrates the poem. It shows the hill, steps, a shrine, cantonment houses, and local animals. Though not hailed as great poetry, Irwin’s work enriches Madras’s historical collection. The poem is free to read on archive.org. Writer and historian Sriram V. highlights its lasting value for understanding Madras's colonial past.