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 THE 
 
 EMPIRE 
 
 O F 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 WITH 
 
 A PORTRAITURE OF BRITISH EXCELLENCE, 
 
 AS A NATIONAL EXAMPLE. 
 
 WITH NOTES. . 
 
 BY WILLIAM SEWARD HALL. 
 
 SOeatcatea^ mm ^er/mt-mon^ io me z/itTiq. 
 
 HHILANTHROPY IS THE HEALTH OF THE HEART." MISS SEWARD. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR; 
 
 AND SOLD BY 
 
 WATCHARD AND SON, PICCADILLY; LONGMAN & CO., PATERNdXTER- 
 
 ROW; AND JOHN BOOTH, DUKE-STREET, PORTLAND-PLACE. 
 
 Vrlce Six SliilUnfrs in Boards.
 
 FERGUSSON, PRINTER, NEWMAN STREET, OXFORD STREET.
 
 H 3 <^ 4 -^ 
 
 TO THE KING. 
 
 SIRE, 
 
 JYO PRINCE who has sat 
 
 on the Throne of the British Nation 
 lias been moi'c solicitoits to maintain and 
 illustrate the Dignity and Imiiortance 
 which it has long held among the Na- 
 tions of the Earth, than yonr Majesty ; — 
 and as the Acme of that Dignity and 
 Importance consists in the warm and dif- 
 usive Philanthropy which animates both 
 Prince and People, I derive a 'pecnliar 
 satisfaction, and very heartfelt 'pleasure. 
 
 •■'■ \ 61.
 
 IV 
 
 in having the high honour of Your most 
 gracious Permission to dedicate this Poem, 
 The Empire of Philanthropy, to Your 
 Majesty. 
 
 That Your Majesty may long reign 
 in health, prosperity, and peace, over a 
 highly enlightened, harmonious, and phi- 
 lanthropic People, is the fervent prayer 
 of him who, with the iftiost profound ho- 
 mage, has the honour to be, 
 
 SIRE, 
 
 Your Majesty's most faithful Subject, 
 WILLIAM SEWARD HALL.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 To impress on the philanthropic heart, 
 and more especially on that of a generous 
 Briton, the sweet satisfaction of having 
 been the mean of promoting the happiness 
 of Mankind — to oenerate therein an unre- 
 mittino- effort to increase their felicity — and 
 to raise the soul of the Philanthropist in 
 admiration, adoration, and love of HIM 
 who is tlie Divine Fountain of benignity 
 and mercy — are the objects of the Author 
 in this Poem. And, at the same time, he 
 rejoices in having the pleasurable opportu- 
 nity of holding up therein his benevolent 
 and beloved Country as the oreat national 
 example of Philauthropy to the world : 
 while his patriotic aim is, yet higher to 
 improve its elevated character — to cement 
 its population in harmony and love — and to 
 awaken the attention of the generous Briton 
 to those further benevolent pursuits that 
 will advance the happiness of the human 
 race.
 
 ^ 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 While Fancy, deck'd with varied flowers, ^ 
 
 Allures the throng to seek her bowers, ^ 
 
 At Fiction's shrine to spend their hours, 
 
 And, with her fascinating smiles, 
 
 To evanescent bliss beguiles ; 
 
 While others, in romantic lays. 
 
 Make her the burden of their praise ; 
 
 Be mine my powers in verse t' employ. 
 
 To win the soul to fadeless joy ; 
 
 Observance with Reflection blend, 
 
 And thus achieve a nobler end ; 
 
 Philanthropy I '11 make my theme, 
 
 Uphold to view her radiant beam, 
 
 And call th' attention of the Earth 
 
 To records of Britannia's worth; 
 
 To lead her Sons still more to bless, 
 
 And cause increase of happiness. 
 
 And, while I sing Britannia's fame, 
 
 Her Deeds of Love around proclaim, 
 
 Let Britons glory in their name ; 
 
 And, for the bliss they've shed abroad, 
 
 Let Britons raise their thanks to God ; 
 
 Then hymn His praise who gave the gen'rous mind, 
 
 VVIjo sent Phila^thropyXo bless Mankind.
 
 P E R 8 O N M. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 ANTICIPATOR. 
 
 LEARNING. 
 
 SCIENCE. 
 
 ART. 
 
 LIBERTY. 
 
 BENEVOLENCE. 
 
 VIRTUE. 
 
 PIETY. 
 
 EUROPE. 
 
 ASIA. 
 
 AFRICA. 
 
 AMERICA. 
 
 NEGROES.
 
 THE 
 
 EMPIRE 
 
 OF 
 
 FHII.ANTMMOFY, 
 
 A C T I. 
 
 Scene I. — A Landscape, with a luminous appear 
 
 ance in the Sky. 
 
 OBSERVER AND MENTOR. 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 HARK ! hear ! from yonder brilliant skies. 
 
 The heavenly herald! — thus he cries : — 
 
 " Divine Philakthropy, arise ! 
 Ascend a high imperial throne. 
 And make th' extensive world thine own ; 
 Wear on thy brow, a rich, and radiant crown — 
 From pole to pole, be carol'd thy renown ; 
 
 '' Reign thou from land to land, from shore to shore. 
 And richly thy diffusive blessings pour ; 
 Throughout the Earth's extensive range. 
 Let thy soft genial beams, with lustre glow. 
 To dissipate the shades of human woe, 
 
 " And cause a swelling tide of joy to flow ; 
 
 *' Thy sceptre's sway ne'er know a change." 
 
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 2 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 " For her — a sumptuous banquet Heaven ordains, 
 " And those her j^uests — within whose hearts she 
 reig-ns ; 
 Learning", with Science, Art and Liberty, 
 Benevolence and Virtue, now agree ; 
 And last, (not least) resplendent Piety ; 
 Be all alert — your viands rich prepare. 
 And spread her board with most delicious fare ; 
 'Tis you can glad her with her fondest food. 
 For you — on Man bestow the choicest good : 
 
 '' 'Tis Man — she loves, 
 
 '' And Heaven approves!" 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 His voice in melody, how sweet! 
 
 His words with richness, how replete ! 
 
 The ear's enchanted with the rapturous sounds — 
 
 The animated heart with joy rebounds ; 
 Nor can unmov'd remain the tongue. 
 But silence breaks, in grateful song-. 
 
 Let praise attune my soul till life shall end ! 
 The growing number of my days I'll spend 
 In gratitude unto Tre Great Supreme; 
 Whose uncontroled, wide majestic sway 
 Rules all events — and all in boundless love : 
 While opening scenes his wisdom rich display ; 
 And all the thought of Man soars far above : 
 That wisdom — power — and goodness, be my theme. 
 I'll laud his name to highest Heaven, 
 For He — Philanthropy has given.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 or. 
 
 Scene II. — The interior of a Palace with a ma 
 nificent Throne ; Obserfer and Mentor, icith 
 Philanthropy, who, drest in imperial Re- 
 galia, appears seated thereon. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 On her imperial seat^ 
 Philanthropy appears ! 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Her countenance, how sweet! 
 Her smile, my spirit cheers. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Behold ! her crown in beauty shines! 
 
 With choicest cems from richest mines ! 
 
 The nabob ne'er was so attir'd ; 
 
 No monarch so superbly drest. 
 
 Nor sumptuous robes were so admir'd. 
 
 From north to south, from east to west. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Philanthropy ! how dear to me ! 
 O ! may thy reign most prosperous be ! ! 
 And wide throughout the world extend; 
 In Thee — the millions find their friend! ! ! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 1 hear Philanthropy's alluring voice. 
 
 b2
 
 4 THE EMPIRE OF PIIILANTIlllOPY. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Sweet melody ! It makes my soul rejoice. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Now she begins her glorious reign. 
 And blessings rich succeed in train ; 
 
 Unto the skies 
 
 She lifts her eyes. 
 
 And Heaven adores ; 
 
 Unto the skies 
 
 She lifts her eyes. 
 
 And Heaven implores, 
 
 PHILANTHROPY (HER PRAYER.) 
 
 When, Solomon, thy favored son 
 
 Ascended to his throne. 
 
 To Thee he look'd, with fervent prayer. 
 
 That Thou would'st make his reign thy care 
 
 Thus all his subjects' hearts he won. 
 
 His crown in glory shone. 
 
 Irradiating ray, from Thee I beam. 
 
 Unsullied, pure, without alloy. 
 
 Thou boundless source of solid joy. 
 
 From whence unnumber'd blessings teem. 
 
 Cherish thine offspring. Power Divine! 
 
 My glory is — I'm truly Thine ; 
 
 To me extensive influence impart! 
 
 And may I ever reign amongst mankind. 
 
 The rich, supreme enjoyment of the mind. 
 
 The captivating mistress of the heart !
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY 5 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 The soul that's warm'd with generous heavenly fire. 
 And ardent love towards all his fellow men, 
 Inspir'd by hope to gain this high desire. 
 In fervent lively joy — aspires — Amen! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Listen all — 'tis I invite: 
 Hearts of men, in love unite, 
 het me see the happy sight. 
 And enjoy my true delight ! 
 
 Let every heart with friendship glow. 
 
 And social Union richly flow ! 
 
 Flow, richly flow, mild placid social stream ! 
 Fed with salubrious rills, exuding from 
 Delectant mounts, whose verdant tops are ever 
 Moist with heavenly dew — unfold thy soft. 
 Thy genial bosom to the glowing rays 
 Which constant on thee beam, and reflect with 
 Sparkling brilliance on the admiring eye; 
 That each in love may cordially embrace 
 The other as his friend — see Paradise 
 Again celestialise the earth, and antedate 
 The blissful harmony of future heaven. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Boon descending from above! 
 Kind and gentle as the dove. 
 Sweet the ties of social love ! !
 
 6 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Throug-hout the world, my fellow men, arise! 
 And hail this high, auspicious day : Ye bards ! 
 Aspire to pen the animating- hymn — 
 T' indite the theme sublime of heaven's kind boon 
 To Man. 
 
 Ye sons of harmony combine — 
 Compose the g-rand Handelian sacred strains ; 
 Let organs peel, and thrilling- trumpets sound; 
 Inspiring- horns be heard : the mellow bass 
 Be felt, and drums fill up ; while the whole field 
 Of softer music joins, to melodise 
 The soul in praise ! 
 
 Let hoary heads^, and those 
 Of virile age, with lively youth unite! 
 And smiling infants, too, (while with uplifted 
 Little hands they're held in mother's arms) 
 The jubilating- cong-regation join. 
 To welcome in the Philanthropic Reign ! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 '' Welcome, Philanthropy !" the millions cry, 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 And welcome, too ! my grateful lips reply ; 
 
 Influence divine ! 
 
 In radiance shine ; 
 With lustre beam on ev'ry heart. 
 And all thine excellence impart.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 7 
 
 Scene III. — A spacious Hall, with an extensive 
 range of Tables, prepared for the reception of 
 a Banquet. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY, MENTOR, AND OBSERVER. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Assembled groups are here, at Heavens command. 
 And eager at thy porch, united, press ; 
 Each hath a plenteous store of bliss in hand. 
 Philanthropy ! thy favorite, Man, to bless. 
 
 The richest banquet they bestow. 
 
 That He can e'er enjoy below. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Give them a hearty welcome through my gate ; 
 Here are my tables — ^large, and ready set. 
 
 Enter Learning, Science, Art, Liberty, 
 Benevolence, Virtue, and Piety. 
 
 the group. 
 
 We come ! we come! and each possessing, 
 To man, an high spring tide of blessing : 
 In us, his mine of treasure lies ; 
 
 For we can raise 
 
 The human race. 
 And bear them upwards to the skies;
 
 8 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Welcome, my friends ! rich shower of gifts benign;^ 
 
 Luxuriant Cornucopia Divine ! ! 
 
 Man to felicitate your powers combine : 
 
 And thus shall I my dearest wish obtain ; 
 
 While you my warmest gratitude will gain. 
 
 LEARNING. 
 
 Creation speaks! — Humanity is born — 
 Idea shoots — see radiant Reason's dawn ! 
 The parent bids his prattling child, 
 (With yearning heart, and accent mild,) 
 To kind, and fost'ring Learning look. 
 As shepherdess, with friendly crook. 
 To guide him to the verdant mead. 
 On choicest herbage, there to feed. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 To Knowledge, and to History, 
 Learning holds out the opening key ; 
 Therein a source of richest treasure lies ; 
 To all possessing her, the choicest prize. 
 
 With high delight. 
 
 Divines invite. 
 In Love, their fellow men ! 
 
 Bid them behold. 
 
 Her hands unfold 
 The draught of sacred pen :
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 9 
 
 And thus, through hei% the truest bhss is given ; 
 She hands the ladder — bids man mount to Heaven. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 This favor'd age improving grows — 
 Instruction now abundant flows ; 
 Millions receive of Learning's store. 
 And hand it out to millions more. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 See her radiance richly beaming! 
 Let her precious treasures, teeming. 
 
 Shed their benefits around! 
 Every clime the boon possessing. 
 Highly prizing Learning's blessing. 
 
 While her choicest fruits abound! 
 
 SCIENCE. 
 
 As rising sun proclaims the day. 
 Learning to Science paves the way. 
 You'll find in me profusive hoard. 
 To embellish and enrich the board. 
 
 ART. 
 
 I, too, Philanlhropi/ , can much impart ; 
 My viands are profuse, they'll cheer your heart — ^ 
 Mankind esteem the various works of Art ; 
 
 c
 
 10 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 1 lessen labour, numerous comforts hand. 
 And elegance attends on Art's command : 
 My parent Science is_, 1 frankly own ; 
 Yet without 7ne, would she be much unknown. 
 
 SCIENCE. 
 
 Sifience ennobles man! — exalts his rank^ 
 
 And to him proves an inexhausted bank — 
 
 The soul enlarges, makes the mind expand ; 
 
 Man is her child — she takes him by the hand. 
 
 Leads him through Nature's circuit, great and small. 
 
 And shews him Deity pourtray'd in all ! ! ! 
 
 The flowers, that with such beauties beam. 
 
 The insects, which in myriads teem. 
 
 The beasts, the birds, and reptiles of each sort, 
 
 Tlie finny tribe, who in the waters sport, 
 
 (To whom instinctive ray is given. 
 
 Reason's struck dumb ! it came from Heaven ! !) 
 
 The fire, the air, the sea, the hills. 
 
 Volcanoes, mountains, rivers, rills. 
 
 The clouds which genial showers diffuse. 
 
 The magnet, too ! (how great its use ! !) 
 
 The sun, the moon, and stars, that shine. 
 
 All teach a powerful hand Divine ! ! ! 
 
 While man, with contemplative soar. 
 
 Is form'd to wonder, and adore !
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 11 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 How doth the active^ penetrating mind^ 
 With all its soaring meditative thought. 
 Collapse into diminitude ! when, through 
 The skirts of the immense celestial field. 
 It takes its ran^e — and thinks on Deity ! ! 
 
 While the grand copious page He there unfolds. 
 Is but the Title, of the wonderous Book ! ! ! 
 
 SCIENCE. 
 
 The thirsty panting mind looks up to me ; 
 I'm inspiration in the minor key. 
 What congregated blessings Science showers! 
 New and increasing, as the growing hours; 
 How rich in benefit ! What large extent ! 
 What service Arts and Sciences have lent ! 
 So copious round, to such perfection brought. 
 To which our ancestry had little thought ! 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 The great eternal mind. 
 
 Hath shone upon mankind. 
 With fervent and diffusive glow; 
 
 Its beams create the sage. 
 
 Give this enlightcn'd age. 
 And Art — Invention — Science flow; 
 
 Rcplenish'd from the skies. 
 
 Their germs with vigour rise ; 
 With large increase, and beauty grow.
 
 n THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 The soul enlarg'd, that views the Almighty's plan^ 
 To bless, adorn^, and to ennoble Man^ 
 With high delight, will see him rise,. 
 To claim his kindred with the skies ; 
 Will glory in Newtonian days. 
 When Science her bright beam displays. 
 * Behold the beam 
 
 With blessings teem; . 
 With heartfelt joy admiring stand. 
 And see its lustre richly grand. 
 Which rose on Britain's favoured land. 
 
 LIBERTY. 
 
 To gratify the Philanthropic heart, 
 
 S"ee Liberty — I come to act my part; 
 
 The precious blessings which I bring, 
 
 Give to the soul an animated spring. 
 
 Which makes mankind with joy and rapture sing. 
 
 Art — Learning — Science, have abundant use. 
 
 Felicity to Man they wide diffuse. 
 
 And as embellishments they are beheld. 
 
 Yet relish want — if Liberty's witheld: 
 
 Where that's unknown, they scarcely can survive ; 
 
 But where she flourishes — they grow and thrive. 
 
 In Albion, Liberty hath taken root. 
 
 Hath grown with vigorous and luxuriant shoot. 
 
 And richly laden with delicious fruit :
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 1$ 
 
 Nurtured by — highly valued Brunswick's hand ; 
 A stately tree— Nations ! behold her stand ! 
 The admired ornament of Britain's land ! ! 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 On all Mankind did God bestow the Earth, 
 Created his whole offspring free by birth ; 
 What, then, can make Man truly feel his worth? 
 'Tis cheering, smiling liberty ! 
 
 Britain is free — ohl animating sound! 
 The high born Briton loves his native ground ; 
 To nations she her influence sheds around. 
 To gire their birthright — Liberty. 
 
 Let Tyranny go hide its head in shame. 
 And Earth no longer know the odious name; 
 For Britain's torch hath lighted up the flame 
 Of sacred — Heaven born Liberty. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Heartfeltjoys and lively pleasure* 
 
 In the generous soul abound. 
 When Liberty, from her rich treasures. 
 
 Sends her gifts extensive round. 
 
 BENEVOLENCE. 
 
 Behold ! Benevolence appears ! 
 
 With healing in her wings. 
 To bless Mankind — with joy she steers — 
 Abundant treat she brings.
 
 14 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Exult and jubilate in me. 
 
 With grateful heart rejoice and see. 
 
 The welcome Panacea ! — free ! ! 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 O ! sweet, benign. Benevolence ! in Thee, 
 With high delight, do we, on Earth, behold 
 The precious counterpart, in vigorous growth. 
 Of that celestial, salutiferous tree. 
 In sublime, wonderous vision once beheld. 
 Which richly yields its new and varied fruits^ 
 And by whose leaves the Nation's healing gain. 
 
 BENEVOLENCE. 
 
 Benevolence will ease impart. 
 
 Light up the eye, and cheer the heart ; 
 
 Unto the piteous sons of grief. 
 
 Will yield the sweet and wish'd relief; 
 
 Will take the^ unprotected 'neath her wing. 
 
 And make the widow smile — the orphan sing. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 In private walk, we gladly trace 
 The friends of Man, a generous race. 
 
 Whose souls with Pity move; 
 Princes and Kings in mercy shine. 
 Her softest cords their hearts entwine ; 
 
 They radiate in love.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 13 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 But Men combined — their blessings to extend. 
 Thereby accomplish most exuberant end, 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 The kind and tender heart, alert with joy. 
 
 Enlists in this benevolent employ ; 
 
 The plenteous purse, the sympathetic tear. 
 
 Unite — and Humane Institutions rear. 
 
 See, Heaven-born Pity flow in swelling tides I 
 
 In triumph. Philanthropic Union rides ! I 
 
 The Statue of Britannia rises, adorned with 
 the Trophies of her numerous Charities and 
 generous acts. 
 
 BENEVOLENCE. 
 
 Let every eye be turned to Britain's isle ! 
 View Mercy's trophies with approving smile. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 For Learning, Sciences, and Arts, 
 
 For Liberty — she stands renowned : 
 Blessings her Commerce wide imparts 
 
 Throughout the extensive Earth around. 
 Mankind for these will hail her birth ; 
 But here I speak not half her wortli —
 
 1« THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 For sweet Benevolence her heart entwines — 
 Radiant example to the world she shines. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Those beauteous plants, Humanitij and Love, 
 Those choice exotics^ borne from climes above. 
 In Albion thrive — in rich luxuriance bloom ; 
 Their fragrance wide diffuse in sweet perfume. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Hail, Britain ! help of those in need. 
 
 Alive to every noble deed; 
 
 Suppliant to Thee looks up Distress ;— 
 
 Though long' its train. 
 
 Looks not in vain ; 
 
 Thy mercy beams. 
 
 Thy pity teems ; 
 
 With bosom warm 
 
 And outstretched arm. 
 Benign Britanni.i — runs to bless ! ! ! 
 
 Her bounteous sons, in varied concord join. 
 In numerous genial constellations shine. 
 
 mentor. 
 
 The world's ennobled by possessing 
 A Nation so replete with blessing.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 17 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 What dismal moans were heard from Afric's coast \ 
 What dire heart-rending scenes appall'd the sight ! 
 There Deity beheld his noblest work^ 
 W^ith tyrant's grasp enchain ; with tyrant's tread. 
 Oppress and crush his fellow Man. — The lust 
 Of wealth bade native Princes rise in arms. 
 And desolation spread throughout the towns 
 And all the calm retir'd abodes of peace. 
 
 The human wolves seiz'd on their hapless prey. 
 Blasting for ever sweet domestic bliss ; 
 And e'en the softer sex were not exempt. 
 But all were sold as merchandise, to men. 
 With hearts of flint — then iron'd up, and pack'd 
 In Floating Hells, across wide ocean borne 
 To distant coasts — re-sold, to linger out 
 A harrass'd life of toil, beneath the lash 
 That practis'd hands and callous, hearts inflict. 
 In bitter unremitted slavery. 
 Their children, too, without a feeling friend. 
 Born to be slaves, 'till iiksome life shall end. 
 
 Britannia's soul it keenly felt. 
 
 In pity all her heart did melt ; 
 
 Her gen'rous sympathy awoke. 
 
 And thus, imperative, she spoke: — 
 
 '' The horrid traffic I disown ; 
 
 '' With Me, let no such trade be known."
 
 18 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 With Philanthropic ardor fir'd^ 
 V Her King and Senators conspir'd. 
 Fulfilling- that her soul desir'd. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Renown'd do Fitt and Fox, as Statesmen, stand; 
 
 Historic page transmits their fame, as Men ; 
 But Fox and Pitt, as friends to Afric's land. 
 
 Record their names — with adamantine pen: 
 Vet WilbeiJ'orc£j (to sympathy most dear ! 
 Whose name is music to the humane ear) 
 With soul controU'd by Philanthropic Willj 
 More nobly stands, and rises higher still. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 She rests not here — but Advocate she stands. 
 And pleads the godlike cause with other lands ; 
 To nations round she cries — '' Come, be like me I 
 " Let Afric's sons remain in Peace — and Free." 
 To gain this end, her Frince and Senate plan — 
 The zealous friends of Freedom — and of Man. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Let Ethiopia's sons, in shouts of praise. 
 For British mercy their thanksgiving raise. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Throughout her shores do her compassions teem. 
 For balmy kindness she's a swelling stream. 
 Which, like her Thames, bears blessings as it flows
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. IS 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Her generous acts diverge in varied ways, 
 Profusive as meridian solar rays ; 
 
 In wide — in rich expansion she bestows. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 See how her Charities her land adorn ! 
 
 And hail the boon — to be a Briton born 1 
 
 Behold her num'rous Institutions rise. 
 
 In shining turrets, 'neath propitious skies: 
 
 For Foundlings, Orphans, Wounded, Sick, Insane — 
 
 To ease, to succour, and to save ; 
 And (truly named) Society Humane — 
 
 To rescue from untimely grave. 
 Th' affecting scene of lives thussnatch'd from death. 
 Whom friends wept o'er, as given up their breath ; 
 Which British Love — so feeling doth display — 
 Nor language can express, nor pen pourtray ! ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Let Hawes and Cogan ne'er be out of mind ; 
 Let Lettsom' s ndime be ever with themjoin'd. 
 Whose labours have so greatly blest mankind. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 In Nature's painful dang'rous hour. 
 Poor Females have attendance — given; 
 
 D 2
 
 •20 THE EMPIRE OF PHILaNTHHOPY. 
 
 Their Children's health is British care; 
 (What blessing's thus doth Britain show'r!) 
 The Mother renders thanks to Heaven — 
 And Britain hath the Mother's pra^'er. 
 
 By gen'rous gift^ as kind as free. 
 Poor Debtors gain their liberty. 
 
 Distrest old age — the Deaf — the Dumb — the Blind- 
 Implore her aidj and consolation find. 
 
 The son of want, who pines at home. 
 Borne down with sickness and with keen distress — 
 Whose case escapes the public eye^ 
 Receives a visitant to ease his moan,, 
 With pious soulj to comfort and to bless. 
 And hand a welcome, kind supply. 
 
 Nor is the Criminal by her forgot. 
 
 Or left behind without her tender thought! 
 
 Towards him compassion warm she bears. 
 
 In pity sheds o'er him her tears. 
 
 His Offspring, too, are snatch'd from vicious ways. 
 
 And train'd in virtue's paths ; 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 And thus They raise 
 A splendid column unto Britain's praise. 
 
 4>BSERVER. 
 
 Man's fatal malady — which misery spread. 
 Which eye-sight dimm'd — which beauty spoil'd — 
 Which fiH'd the tender parents breast with dread.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 21 
 
 And millions yearly swept away^, 
 Receives a check! — they save their child ! 
 In comely form their offspring- rear. 
 
 And see almig-hty Love*s display ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 While Jenner's skill — 
 For ever will 
 To all the world be truly dear ! ! 1 
 
 OBSERVER.. 
 
 Her heroes — Military men^ and Tars, 
 
 Advanc'd in age, or wounded in her wars. 
 
 Feel their beloved country kind — 
 
 Asylums and provision find. 
 So free her benefits — enlarg'd her soul — 
 Shelter and food are ready for her whole*. 
 
 To learning's goal Britannia paves the way; 
 (How blest the young in this improving day!) 
 See liow her kindness richly Hows ! 
 '' To hedges and highways she goes," 
 Placards her invitations broad in sight, 
 " Her house to fill, doth free invite;" 
 Around with emphasis she cries — 
 " My sons, come gratis, and be wise!" 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 So Wisdom's plants in verdure grow. 
 And V^irtue's flowers with beauty blow. 
 
 * This relates to Enjfland.
 
 22 THE EMPIRE OF PIULANTHEIOPY. 
 
 Great Nation ! ! — thus to cultivate the mind — 
 Thy King, thy Princes, and thy Peo/>Ze, join'd! 
 
 Curtains rise and discover Views of St. Paul's 
 Cathedral, and some of the most superb Italian 
 edifices. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 To build aneWj in lofty stile august^ 
 
 A grand Cathedral^ that should rear its head 
 
 Above most tow'ring spires — a monument 
 
 Of architect'ral skill — Britannia will'd, — 
 
 And call'd her well-taug-ht scientific son, 
 
 Th' immortal Wren, and gave it in command 
 
 To plan — and then in majesty erect 
 
 The splendid pile; and to her sons well skill'd 
 
 In sculptural art, to place within its walls 
 
 The chissel'd marble and the trophied urn. 
 
 In grateful memory of departed worth : 
 
 He willingly his master-piece achiev'd — 
 They skill and genius in their works display'd. 
 
 Britannia took survey, and thus exclaim'd : — 
 '' Obey'd are my commands — stupendous pile ! 
 " What large extent ! — what peerless height ! — its 
 
 dome 
 " Attracts admiring gaze for miles around ; 
 " And while the eye admires, its mellow bell, 
 " In undulating tones, salutes the ear, 
 '' And hourly flight of time aloud proclaims.
 
 cc 
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY 23 
 
 Between its massive pillars then her steps 
 She pac'd; and, entering- in, she g*az'd around: — 
 The monuments her fix'd attention caught ; 
 " Here stands (said she) the statues of those men 
 " Who fell in Britain's cause. Here lies entomb'd 
 *' The man, whose very name struck panic fear, 
 " Yet knew not fear himself ! — My JS^elson, brave ! 
 '* Who was the guardian of my happy shores — 
 " The Champion of the Seas ! — there meets my eye 
 " The imag-e of my/o/msow,deeply read ; — and there. 
 My best belov'd — my Howard, I behold ! 
 My pride and glory is, to claim him mine, 
 And call him Britain's child. — (In my esteem. 
 Exploits of war, and deeds of arms, stand high — 
 With Literature, which ornaments my lanu > 
 But the fair deeds Philanthropy hath done. 
 My praise outshine, and captivate my heart.) 
 Within his humane hand, I see the key 
 (The sculptor aptly plac'd) which forc'd the bolts 
 Of gloomy, loathsome cells. — The doors fell back ; 
 The glimm'ring light appalling scenes disclos'd. 
 While round his heart a heavenly lustre shone. 
 He saw — he felt — he bore relief, and sooth'd 
 The Captive's woes. — O'er Etirope's ground he 
 
 trod. 
 To meliorate Imprisonment, and be 
 The Prisoner's friend. In this benign employ. 
 
 (( 
 (<
 
 24 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 " He spent his wealth and time — and in the cause— 
 " A Martyr fell ! !" 
 
 Again Britannia view'd. 
 She nms'd awhile — anon she spoke, '' Observe 
 '' Its perfect dome — -what nice skiil'd symmetry ! 
 " Therein the gentlest whisper hails the ear, 
 " And softest sounds in peeling- thunders roil. 
 " This edifice exalts my pride ; and yet, 
 " In building and in sculpture I'm outdone ! 
 " Fam'd Italy excels ; I yield the palm. 
 '' But, shall Britannia be eclips'd ? shall Italy 
 '' Uphold to an admiring' world achievement 
 '' Pf transcendent, and most noble kind, 
 " '^/Iiat I cannot outdo, by far excel ? 
 '' Admirers of the true sublime, of scenes 
 '' Which elevate the soul, and which adorn 
 " Th' Historian's page, attention lend; I will 
 *' Within this sacred House, a scene display — 
 '' A scene, which boasting Rome did ne'er present ; 
 " For, it shall be the true drawn portraiture 
 " Of Britons in the Georges' Halcyon days. 
 
 " Once in the annual circuit of the sun, 
 '' This beauteous dome the canopy shall form, 
 " To num'rous juvenile Group (of sexes both), 
 " The samples of the gen'rous fost'ring care,
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 •^•> 
 
 " The effluent Charity of London s sons ; 
 " Who here to Deity shall homage give, 
 " In hallow'd chorus his high praises pay." 
 
 Nor did Sritannia only plan— she wrought ; 
 And year by year : This captivating view 
 Unfolds a welcome treat to humane hearts ! ! 
 These foster'd Young do in her temple meet, 
 And raise the choral hymn — Thousands in grand 
 Orchestra — pealing Hallelujahs sing. 
 
 Here did Britmmids King, (of mem'ry dear). 
 With his illustrious Queen, and Royal House, 
 Repair — and, rend'ring thanks, at Mercy's seat. 
 With grateful heart for long-lost health restor'd ; 
 This Host of Britain's rising strength, with joy, 
 The Father of his People then beheld. 
 
 And here, too, did the Russian Autocrat, 
 With Prussia's King, their ready visit pay : 
 Delighted view'd — their hearty plaudits gave ; 
 For splendid Courts, or richest diadems, 
 With this Grand Spectacle cannot compare. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Ponder, Philanthropists, o'er this display ! 
 
 Think of its pow'rful voice to waken up 
 
 The soft vibrations of the human breast, 
 
 And of its tendency to bless the World. 
 
 *' Go, likewise do," to Nations through the Globe, 
 
 With strong impressive emphasis, it speaks.
 
 26 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Britons, rejoice ! your care felicitates 
 The Young — their Angels speak your deeds of love 
 Before their heav'nly Father's throne — for they 
 His face continually behold — ^and your 
 Recording Angel writes ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Britons, adore ! 
 Your God beholds ! ! — Your God approves ! ! ! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Excelling still, the parent Britain shines ; 
 For Piety w^ith Love her soul combines : 
 See with what sacred zeal she glows ! 
 The Bible, freely, she bestows. 
 Which to her Sons, in bright display, 
 To future bliss directs their way. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Which England's Queen*, in public sight, 
 Enclasp'd, embrac'd, with high delight. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 This was the treasure, this the bosom Jrieud 
 Of Britain's pious Monarch, George the Third ; 
 Above his diadem his holy soul 
 The precious Volume priz'd ; therein he found 
 The path to pure and ceaseless joys (when joys 
 On earth cessate) — to an immortal crown. 
 
 * Elizabeth.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 27 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 O^ condescending God! transcendent kind! 
 
 Thus^ in thy rich and overflowing love. 
 
 To pity Man ! — to send thy heav'nly truth 
 
 To be his Polar Star, whereby to steer 
 
 To Heaven itself, and endless joys partake — 
 
 T'endue him with the typographic art. 
 
 To multiply, in numbers yet untold. 
 
 The transcript of thy Testaments of Love, 
 
 The grand, the glorious news, thy lips pronounced. 
 
 Divinely, then, to touch his heart with torch 
 Of gen'rous fire ; and in his soul a flame 
 Of zealous Piety to lighten up — 
 Wide to diff'use the choice celestial gift. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 See British valour crush the Corsair band — 
 Sweet Liberty to wretched captives hand ! 
 Bold Exmouth's name, from coast to coast it flies ! 
 His Nation's mercy upborne to the skies! 
 Thousands of grateful hearts rebound with joys. 
 While Britain's merit every tongue employs ! 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Such noble deeds will still enrich the page 
 Of worth — and glory — of the Georgian age 
 
 e2
 
 28 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Attentive mark her elevated mind ! 
 
 (High ton'd Philanthropy can't be confm'dj 
 
 Her national ally — her friend — her foe I 
 
 Awake her soul to love^ if sunk in woe ; 
 
 See France — see Russian — German lands. 
 
 Partake the bounty of her hands ! ! 
 
 Their cause she cherish'd^ and their moans she heard ; 
 
 Benevolence in fairest robes appear'd. — 
 
 A noble .Donor — great as free — 
 
 In France^ she blest her enemy ; 
 
 Prisoners of war, within her land distress'd. 
 
 Received extended kindness, and were bless'd ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Learning and Science, Britannia, are thine. 
 In thee Newtonian souls resplendent shine ; 
 With brighter beams — we hail those Howardine.] 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Wide doth the Philanthropic soul expand. 
 
 And feels immur'd, confin'd in Britain's land; 
 
 From distant shores it hears the mournful cries 
 
 Of heathen millions supplicate the skies. 
 
 For Heav'n-taught lips to make them truly wise ; 
 
 Then leaps its bound — and, rapid, wings its flight. 
 
 To greet the rising dawn on realms of night I
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 2 
 
 Tunes its sweet note, in melody of youth. 
 
 And sings the strains of Wisdom, Love, and Truth. 
 
 Awakes the nations to attend. 
 And see a Boon from Heav'n descend — 
 The gift of their Almighty friend! — 
 The Bible drops ! ! ! — millions behold. 
 In lines more precious far than gold! 
 And Tongues their omn — the Will of God above ; 
 Their great — their kind Creator's boundless love. 
 
 The happy, animated throng. 
 
 With high acclaim. 
 Unite to bless, in sacred song, 
 Th' Almighty's name; 
 And hail the dawning of Celestial day. 
 While Philanthropic Britain nobly leads the way. 
 
 O, glorious day ! before unborn ! 
 
 O, happy age! 
 That ne'er before did so adorn 
 Recording page ; 
 When Christ shall o'er the world his sceptre sway; 
 And Philanthropic Britain — nobly leads the way. 
 
 Glory to God ! repeat the sound 
 
 In highest strains ; 
 Proclaim his praise the world around — 
 
 The Saviour reigns! ! !
 
 30 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 And Peace and Harmony their charms display. 
 For Philanthropic Britain nobly leads the way. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Illustrious country — born to bless ! 
 Tongue cannot thy worth express ! ! 
 
 OBSERVER, 
 
 But stop not here — She stands so greats 
 
 We have not reach'd her climax yet ! 
 
 As trees well water'd at the root. 
 
 In goodly soil, make gradual shoot. 
 
 And as they grow, increase in fruit — 
 
 So she majestic grown, — no noble end will miss. 
 
 Her summurn bonum ever to diffuse new bliss ! ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Sons of Earth, her fame recite, 
 
 Laureats the Ode indite ; 
 
 Sons of Earth, her honors tell. 
 
 To her praise the chorus swell. 
 Th' inspiring Ballad 'cross wide Ocean roll. 
 Reverberate the Theme from Pole to Pole. 
 
 Enter Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, who 
 unite in song. — Philanthropy, Observer, 
 and Mentor joining in the Chorus.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 31 
 
 EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, AMERICA. 
 
 Britannia rose at Heaven's command, 
 With ardent flow of gen'rous fire — 
 
 Warm is her heart, and kind her hand. 
 To bless mankind her high desire. 
 
 Blessings she sends, with sails unfurl'd, 
 
 Her Philanthropic range — the World. 
 
 See her, array'd in Wisdom's Light, 
 Triumphant ride, on Mercy's wing ; 
 
 To every clime, (rejoicing sight!) 
 Instruction and Improvement bring. 
 
 With wind and current, sails unfurl'd, 
 
 Her gifts diffuse throughout — the World. 
 
 With high commission from the skies, 
 Behold her more transcendent shine ! 
 
 Blest with the Sacred Page, she flies, 
 And wide bestows the Gift Divine ; 
 
 Transmits the boon, with sails unftirl'd — 
 
 Sublimes, and jubilates — the World. 
 
 Her Children all partake her care, 
 
 They grateful speak her well-earn'd fame ; 
 
 Her love the Nations largely share. 
 And num'rous millions hail her name ; 
 
 Then waft her praise, with sails unfurl'd, 
 
 The bright Exemplar of — the World. 
 
 [^They retire.
 
 32 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 For thee, fair x4lbion, Man his God adores, 
 The seas are honored which surround thy shores ; 
 Thy kind exploits from land to land they tell— 
 Thine excellence — without its parallel. 
 Thy portraiture adorns th' historian's page, 
 While Poets Thee renown from age to age. 
 
 BENEVOLENCE. 
 
 This my supply is, choice and ample : 
 This my Heroine — the World's example ! ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. ^ 
 
 Benevolence abundant bliss imparts ; 
 The Harvest-home of Philanthropic hearts. 
 Of joys she sings — and purest pleasure, 
 Delight she brings — and without measure ; 
 A feast for Kings — is her rich treasure. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 I 
 
 Enamour'd see her genial Arms extend ! 
 Man's sure — his kind — and never-failing friend ; 
 What tuneful voice ! what animating smile ! 
 Which all the noblest pow'rs of man beguile ; 
 Her breath is ever fragrancy divine, \ 
 
 Such beauties in her lovely form combine, !- 
 
 All language fails her model to define ! j
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 33 
 
 VIRTUE. 
 
 Virtue in turn appears ; — Behold ! 
 Her worth's beyond the purest gold ; 
 In richest robes of honour drest. 
 Worthy to be by all carest ; 
 She comes, with her alluring suit. 
 To court the happy, glad salute ; 
 To man unfolds her every charm. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 May every Charm each bosom warm ! — 
 Ye Sons of Men her presence greet ; 
 In Her true Dignity you'll meet : 
 See Beauty beaming on her Face ! 
 And run to take a blest Embrace : 
 Hail the celestial Maid — d'lrinely fair — 
 Her Heritage of Bliss, come, largely share. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Virtue doth Mankind adorn. 
 As the rays the welcome morn ; 
 Beauteous, glorious doth she rise. 
 Greeted by propitious skies; 
 Free fro u Malice, Envy, too. 
 Just and temperate, chaste and true ; 
 (Taught by Love and Truth divine,) 
 See Her— all Forgiveness, shine ! I —
 
 34 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Virtue ! diffuse thine influence rounds 
 And may thy fruits through earth abound ; 
 Let virtuous pairs train up a race 
 To tread their steps,, assume their place; 
 In Wisdom's paths an oftspring rear — 
 Through life their yearning hearts to cheer. 
 And when inurn'd, their portraitures appear ! 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Great thought of Him, from whom our being sprang 1 
 
 Whose care divine decreed connubial life; 
 
 And in Benignity inspir'd the chaste. 
 
 The tender sympathies of virtuous Love, 
 
 Which draws affections soft uniting bands. 
 
 And binds accordant iniliiij — how dear the tie 
 
 Of Self to Second Self ! ! Each meets in each 
 
 The sacred friend, and soothes the others care : 
 
 They ever mutual kindest council give ; 
 
 Each kindred bosom glows withjoy. 
 
 When beams of pleasure o'er its partner shine — 
 
 Reciprocal they bless — and form one soul ! ! ! 
 
 Nor is parental tenderness a gift 
 Of lower birth — Magnetic Infant Smile ! 
 Alluring sovereign o'er the heart — Ruler, 
 Whom parents willing own— and joyous crown;
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY 35 
 
 And with their ready Suite of Providence, 
 Defence, and Care, stand waiting in thy Court, 
 As Ministers to execute thy Will. 
 
 Mikl shower of Manna, bounteous from the skies. 
 Maternal Love ! (Ador'd be Heaven for this. 
 It's Catholic gift) which cherishes and trains 
 The tender growth of helpless infancy. 
 And lends a fost'ring arm through childhood's days; 
 (See what perennial Sympathy is here! 
 Description fails ! ! A language yet unwrote. 
 And Mother's Pen the glowing Theme demands : 
 How truly, then, should Man the Woman prize ! ! !) 
 Then shoot the blooms of youth, while parents' care 
 Protect and domicile their welcome guest ; 
 To rear in health and form to ripen'd days : 
 And intellect, their offspring's nobler part^ 
 They cultivate, with more abundant zeal. 
 To raise it's nobler fruit — a lovely sight ! 
 Is Dulce Domum — man's best earthly joy ! ! 
 
 PIIILANTHROPHY. 
 
 Oh ! Heaven-born Wedlock ! Dictate celestial ! 
 Given to man, through this life's wavy sea. 
 His track to pilot on, and to beguile 
 His hours in sweet Society and Love ! ! 
 Unblest arc (hey who slight thy silken cords; 
 But happy those enyok'd by Thee ! 
 
 F 2
 
 36 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Butj sec, who comes the feast to crown ! 
 Man's lasting, true, his best renown, 
 'Tis Piety. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 O, welcome. Friend ! 
 The bliss thou bring' st will never end ! ! 
 
 PIETY. 
 
 The man with piety possest. 
 Becomes on earth supremely blest ! 
 He can a trifling world exclude. 
 And find repast in Solitude. 
 
 'Tis there his thoughts find sweet employ; 
 He has no time to kill. 
 
 The Deity, his source of joy, 
 ^ His meditations fill : 
 
 While all corroding care he soars above; 
 His Magna Charta — his Creator's Love. 
 These sublime thoughts, aberrant thoughts controul. 
 And prove the stedfast anchors of the soul. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Retiring from the world, in solitude 
 
 I muse, and call to mind my God is near — 
 
 My constant, kind. Almighty friend — my all!
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 37 
 
 Transporting thought! With peerless blessing 
 
 fraught ! 
 For with delight unspeakable it teems^ 
 And the sweet solace of his company 
 My soul reposes on_, and rests at ease : 
 His sacred name, by all be hig*li rever'd. 
 By none prophan'd — and be my Will absorbed 
 In His — and Him, through life to glorify, — 
 My choice repast. — 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Assembling crowds their Piety display. 
 To Deity their adorations pay. 
 Commemorating that auspicious day 
 On which the Christian's Lord arose. 
 
 With sweet harmonious tongues. 
 
 They hymn triumphant songs — 
 While every heart with rapture glows. 
 
 " Jesus is risen from the dead! 
 
 " The Christian's hope — the Christian's head; 
 
 '' He came. Mankind to seek and save; 
 
 '' Of life — the precious earnest gave — 
 
 '^ Immortal life — beyond the grave." 
 
 MENTOK. 
 
 Hail, weekly jubilee ! remembrancer 
 Of Christian Hope, and index to a life
 
 38 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 To come ! ! With joy the Just await the day. 
 
 When base Corruption's form its head shall hide^ 
 
 And man — an incorruptible shall rise; 
 
 When Deity's last, noblest Work, in low 
 
 Dishonour sown, shall bright in Glory bloom ; 
 
 Mortal give place to immortaliti/ — 
 
 The tomb no more incarcerate; the grave 
 
 No more inurn — Death make his final gasp ! 
 
 His Terrors cease ! ! and Christ the victory gain ! ! ! 
 
 PIETY, 
 
 What sacred pleasure ! what delectant joy ! 
 The hours of public ivorship give ! ! 
 The soul's sublimest powers here find employ — 
 In this great duty, let man live ! ! ! 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 To offer up my humble prayer. 
 To join the choral hymns of praise. 
 And grateful Hallelujahs raise. 
 With heartfelt pleasure I'll repair. 
 And meet my great Creator there : 
 Behold his character, in beauty shine. 
 Wisdom and Power and Love then call Him mme. 
 Enjoy his heavenly rays, and view Him all Divine ! !
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 39 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Thrice happy Men, who such true pleasures know; 
 They sip the stream of Heavenly joy below. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Nor hath it to the eye appear'd ; 
 
 Nor hath the ear of man e'er heard — 
 
 Or utmost stretch of human thought. 
 
 Unto the mind idea brought ! 
 
 Of that full draught of Bliss, from sorrow free. 
 
 Of Bliss complete — through vast eternity ! ! ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Let Man, Piety admiring. 
 
 Seat it deep within his breast ; 
 And his heart, his God desiring. 
 
 Find a sweet — a solid rest. 
 
 Learning is a Mine of pleasure — 
 Men owe grateful thanks to Art ; 
 
 Science is a noble treasure — 
 Liberty exalts the heart. 
 
 Charity in blessings streams ; 
 
 Virtue ornaments the soul — 
 Piety — divinely beams. 
 
 And her Worth — outweighs the whole.
 
 40 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 These are the blessings Heaven gives — 
 These are the blessings Man receives. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Who can Almighty goodness scan ? 
 Admire his Love — to raise the Man I / .' 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 To Deity let Gratitude ascend ; 
 Let Man his life in contemplation spend 
 On his Omnipotent^ unchanging friend; 
 And through each precious fleeting hour^ 
 Devote to Him his every Power ! 
 
 END OP act I.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 41 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Scene — An Arbor in a Garden, abounding with 
 Aromatic Flowers. 
 
 Philanthropy, Observer, and Mentor, seated 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 How delightful the bowers. 
 How fragrant the flowers ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 More fragrant, more delectant still. 
 Where Charity directs the Will; 
 Where humane feeling- rules the soul, 
 (Whose powers unite to soften grief. 
 To Sorrow's children yield relief;) 
 Extending tender pity far. 
 Humanity — its polar star — 
 And wish to bless pervades the whole. 
 
 Amidst a world, oft full of strife. 
 Amidst the chequer'd scenes of life.
 
 42 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 The sympathetic breast. 
 
 Of love towards all possest, 
 
 AVill find a happy rest — 
 
 A secret joy^ that canuot be exprest. 
 
 Rich are its unfading treasures, 
 Unalloy'd its sublime pleasures ; 
 There calm repose will e'er abide. 
 And Peace, celestial Peace, reside. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Happy the Man ! who self thus soars above. 
 Whose soul is all absorb'd in love ! ! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Then when his earthly race is run. 
 He sinks serene, a beauteous sun ; 
 
 His hopes with firmness fix'd on high. 
 Death can to Him no terrors bring : 
 
 The Monster lets his arrow fly. 
 It strikes — without a venom'd sting ! 
 Go see the Philanthropic Honoard die ! ! ! 
 
 On Death He smil'd, he knew the worth. 
 Of fleeting Time, spent well on Earth. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 So did one dear to me his life thus spend, 
 A pious, kind, and much lamented friend. 
 
 k
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 43 
 
 (No more our g-uest !) he's number'd with the dead ! ! 
 His great exemplar was — the Christian's Head : 
 
 And Deity, his constant trust. 
 
 Who safe preserves the sacred dust. 
 
 Until it rises from the tomb. 
 
 To live in ever youthful bloom. 
 
 Attended by a mourning train. 
 
 His corpse mov'd slow aloni^ the plain ; 
 
 And o'er the precious bier. 
 
 They shed the flowing tear ; 
 
 In silence did their loss deplore. 
 
 And when the solemn Rites were o'c;*. 
 
 Then did one silence break 
 
 And thus expressive spake : — 
 
 " 1 knew the man — his soul was love, 
 '^ Distress would make his bowels move — 
 " To kind Compassion all alive ; 
 " How would his heart with Joy revive, 
 '' If he could check the flowing Tear; 
 " The wounded, broken spirit cheer ! 
 *' He Avould himself of good deny, 
 '' That he might other's wants supply ! 
 " He was the wretched culprit's friend 
 " And did the prison-house attend, 
 '' The Malefactor's heart console ; 
 " His ardent wish, to save the soul. 
 
 g2
 
 44 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 " And when on Magistracy's seat^ 
 " Then Justice did with Mercij meet. 
 
 '' I can but speak his well earn't praise^ 
 
 '' Towards those who'd seen more prosp'rous days \ 
 
 '' In secrecy his bounty flow'd^ 
 
 '' Largely on them he gifts bestow'd ; 
 
 " With cvvi.al'ence his tongue would plead 
 
 " The cause of those reduc'd to need. 
 
 " Great was his soul ! he scattered bliss abroad ; 
 
 '' Beheld Mankind the offspring of his God. 
 
 " He tiu'n'd his views to Afric's shore, 
 
 " Where clouds of mental darkness low 'r, 
 
 " And join'd a chosen liberal band, 
 
 " Who brought the Megro to this land, 
 
 '' (Britannia's land, humane as brave,) 
 
 " And British education gave. 
 
 '' They colony to Leone sent ; 
 
 " (And Britain's blessing with them went) ; 
 
 '' There mental light with useful art, 
 
 '' And honest Commerce to impart : 
 
 '' Embraced the Ebon race as free, 
 
 " Proclaim'd Man's birth -right — Liberty \" 
 
 No dye of skin impugns this right. 
 
 Or dims the powers of mental sight.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY, 45 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 In triumph ride tyrannic conqu'rors on. 
 While their oppressed, vassal'd millions groan ; 
 Their savage deeds pollute th' Historian's page. 
 Who shudders while he pens their age ; 
 Unblest they die, accurs'd, abhorr'd. 
 The fiends of Earth, the foes of God ; 
 No earnest of a Heaven they have. 
 No hope of bliss, beyond the grave. 
 
 Not so the men of humane heart • 
 They conquer self, to bliss impart, — 
 They live to bless ! they die to live ! ! 
 To them historic page will give 
 A just renown ; 
 Their mem'ries crown 
 With Rhetoric's flow'ry praise. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 These are the Heroes, generous minds admire ; 
 Then let their deeds the Poet's soul inspire ! 
 
 For richer far 
 
 Than fab'lous story ; 
 
 Than feats of war 
 
 And martial g"lory. 
 Their laurel's grace poetic lays.
 
 46 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Philanthropy's a pleasing' themes 
 It gives the heart delight supreme; 
 A theme that welcome hails the ear_, 
 A theme to human nature dear; 
 To it Handelian notes belong — 
 It's excellence demands the song. 
 
 DUET. 
 
 MENTOR AND OBSERVER. 
 
 Wake up the voice to Music's swell. 
 
 In notes of melody excel ; 
 
 The Theme, sublime, in Concert tell — 
 
 Philanthrophy. 
 
 Let Echo back to Echo bound. 
 Throughout the Earth's extens 
 Repeat the animating- sound — 
 
 Philanthropy 
 
 Grand was the thought that gave Thee birth. 
 
 To shower Felicity on Earth : 
 
 Thy Deeds, how kind ! how great thy worth. 
 
 Philanthropy !
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY 47 
 
 What fill'd the Holy Saviour's mind, 
 Jesus_, compassionate and kind^, 
 The great Examplar of mankind ? 
 
 Philanthropy, 
 
 What is Man's noblest^ best employ^ 
 That gives his soul an inward joy. 
 Which nought on Earth can e'er destroy ? 
 
 Philanthropy V 
 
 What is of Gifts a Gift the best. 
 
 Which makes Man bless, while he is bless'd; 
 
 Gives settled Calm around his breast ? 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 What is it hates the Miser's hoard. 
 Diffuses widely bliss abroad. 
 And makes a Man resemble God ? 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 What feeds the hungry — clothes the poor — 
 To Sickness — gratis hands the cure. 
 Is friend in ncHid, and ever sure ? 
 
 Philanthropy, 
 
 What doth relief to Prisoners send. 
 Towards them the hand of Mercy lend. 
 And proves the honest Debtor's friend? 
 
 Philanthropy.
 
 48 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 And what doth Wisdom's Gifts bestow^ 
 Makes Learning like a River flow. 
 And the fair flowers of Virtue grow ? 
 
 Philanthropy; 
 
 What sends the precious Bible wide, 
 AVhich bears to Men on flowing tide, 
 A Pearl that's worth all Gems beside ? 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 And what inspires the pious heart 
 Al3road to range, with ease to part. 
 The Christian Doctrines to impart ? 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 See Britain beam o'er gloomy night;, 
 A glorious and a new-born light. 
 Appear in Radiance richly bright ! 
 
 Philanthropy, 
 
 Behold her most resplendent shine ! ! ! 
 What makes in her such worth combine. 
 And columns bear her name — benign ? 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 See Brunsioick's House, illustrious born ! 
 It radiant glows as Star of Morn ! ! 
 But Avhat doth most that House adorn ? 
 
 Philanthropy.
 
 THE EIVIPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 49 
 
 With Acts benign it is replete : 
 VVhat makes its humane Princes meet 
 In Mercy's Cause ?— (while Britons greet) 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 What is it makes Britannia shew 
 Compassion towards a vanquish'd Foe — 
 O'er him her Shield of Mercy throw ? 
 
 Philanthropy, 
 
 The Sceptre bow'd — Decree was made — 
 Britain abjur'd the Human Trade ! 
 Then King and Senators displayed 
 
 Philanthropy ! 
 
 What made its Prince and People plead. 
 To root from Earth this noxious Weed ? 
 {'' Great Cause!" they cried, " We take the lead.") 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 And what can give to Man his Claim — 
 Consume the odious Slavery's Name ? 
 The ardent, pure, Britannic Flame — 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 See British Sons (a generous Band !) 
 Unite as Friends to Afric's land, 
 T'improve its Lot — thus wide expand 
 
 Philanthropy.
 
 50 THE EMPIRE OF PHlLANriiROPV. 
 
 A British Prince see leads the van. 
 In this benign, this humane Plan — 
 Form'd by Heaven's noblest Boon to Man, 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 What is that Course of Life will shed 
 Comfort around a dying- bed, 
 Endear the Mem'ry of the Dead ? 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 Rais'd from the Grave — on Judgment's Day, 
 
 What Joy to hear the Saviour say, 
 
 " Well done ! on Earth thou did'st display — 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 '' Thou blessed of my Father, come, 
 '" Thou'rt welcome to thy heavenly home ; 
 " Celestial Mansions make thine own, 
 " Share with thy Saviour in his Throne." 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Who then would thirst for wealth ? but to bestow. 
 Or but to bless, for Influence here below? 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 In Love's most beauteous garments let me shine. 
 And be Philanthropy in radiance mine ; 
 Mine, to meliorate the heart — 
 Mine, with whom I ne'er shall part —
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 51 
 
 Mine, to comfort the distrest — 
 Mine, to succour the opprest — 
 Mine, the wretch forlorn to save — 
 Mine, to liberate the slave — 
 Mine, my every day's employ — 
 Mine, my chiefest earthly joy — 
 Mine, to gain me true-born Fame — 
 Mine, to dignify my name — 
 Mine, for great and noble ends — 
 Mine, example to my friends — 
 Mine, my circle e'er to cheer — 
 Mine, to render mem'ry dear — 
 Mine, to shed delight abroad — 
 Mine, to make me like my God — 
 Mine, my days through life to smoolhe — 
 Mine, my dying hour to soothe — 
 Mine, in all its fulness g-iv'n — 
 Mine, to lead me on to Heav'n — 
 Mine, for Heaven to prepare — 
 Mine, to gain my welcome there. 
 
 END OF ACT II. 
 
 (; 2
 
 62 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 Scene — ^n extensive View. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY, MENTOR, OBSERVER, 
 
 ANTICIPATOR, 
 
 EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, ami AMERICA. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 With clear, serene, and cloudless sky. 
 Extensive view delights the eye. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 To shed extensive kindness o'er mankind. 
 Far more delights the Philanthropic mind ; 
 Which makes research throughout the spacious earth. 
 To find out place to give a blessing birth. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 See in remote and populous lands. 
 Millions without instruction live ; 
 Where lacks associate in bands. 
 And unto idols worship give.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PIIILANTHROPT. 63 
 
 How sunk in Nature's rank are those 
 Who worship that their hands have made ; 
 What senseless minds do they disclose. 
 And through what mental mire they wade. 
 
 View self-devoted Indians lie, 
 Crush'd to death by Jaggernaut's wheel ; 
 And infants slain, or left to die. 
 By those who bosom hearts of steel. 
 
 Hear Ganges' flood repeat a tale — 
 (Can Sympathy forbear to weep ? 
 It's telling makes the cheek turn pale,) 
 Of children offer'd to it's deep. 
 
 See Superstition's madden'd height. 
 Plunging poor widows into flames ; 
 Appalling and terrific sight. 
 And deed the tongue with falt'ring names. 
 
 Oh ! Hindostan, thy mental state 
 Throws out a shade of darkest hue ; 
 Eye witnesses, with grief relate 
 The penance of the poor Hindoo. 
 
 Some tribes there are each other kill. 
 That they on human flesh may feast ; 
 Then greedily they take their fill. 
 Resembling thus the savage beast.
 
 54 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 And parents bending towards the grave^ 
 Yet thought to wear out life too slow ; 
 To death consigned ! (none kind to save) 
 Th' unfeeling son, he strikes the blow ! ! 
 
 And subjects on decease of Kings, 
 Are wanton sacrifices slain ; 
 News which topolish'd nations brings 
 A poignant agonizing pain. 
 
 And rarely hath there been a time. 
 But what in one or other clime. 
 Men with their kind became enrag'd. 
 And hostile foes in wars en»;ao;ed. 
 
 Millions of slain 
 
 Have strew'd earth's plain ; 
 
 And e'en the sea 
 
 Hath not gone free. 
 But battle, with a stern command. 
 Hath reign'd at sea as well as land ; 
 And man with systematic plan. 
 Impetuously to arms has ran. 
 With callous soul hath slain his fellow uian. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 War hath its myriads swept away — 
 Hath whelm'd the earth with crimson flood ; 
 What country's page but gives display. 
 Distressing thought ! of scenes of blood.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 55 
 
 Philanthropy then through the earth. 
 
 Hath not to trace^ 
 
 To find out place,, 
 Wherein to give a blessing birth. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Thus sighs the humane heart — 
 
 Thus breathes the pious soul ; 
 
 Fresh influence heaven impart. 
 
 O'er all ; t'improve the whole. 
 That man may no more walk in shame — 
 No more disgrace his noble name ; 
 O, for that welcome, long desired day. 
 When the whole Earth shall DEITY obey. 
 To him the ONLY GOD, their holy homage pay. 
 And true religions general spread — 
 Make superstition hide its head ; 
 When peace shall reign on every shore. 
 And war's alarms be heard no more ; 
 When men shall men no more assail, 
 But love throughout the world prevail. 
 
 ANTICIPATOK. 
 
 Soaring o'er time, the wing of PROMISE flies. 
 And beauteous scenes in bright expectance rise ; 
 Wonder and joy in new-born views unfold, 
 A paradise by Seers divine foretold ; ^.^ , .. y 
 Now hear th' inspir'd and soul-inspiring word, 
 Proclaim'd by Hcavcn-tauglit prophets of the Lord. 
 " The Lord, the Judge, the nations shall rebuke.
 
 56 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 " They shall their murd'rous swords to plough- 
 shares beat ; 
 " To pruning-hooks their barbed spears : No more 
 " Shall nations 'gainst each other rise in arms, 
 " Or learn the warlike art." 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Delightful thought ! 
 
 ANTICIPATOR. 
 
 " Then shall the rav'nous wolf lie down in peace, 
 " And fondle with the lamb ; where kids repose, 
 " The leopard seek his rest ; the cow and bear 
 *' Together feed ; their friendly young shall form 
 '' One mutual herd ; the King of beasts shall range 
 '' The verdant mead, and there he, like the ox, 
 " In luxury shall feed ; in vig'rous strength, 
 " The young and lordly lion shall be led 
 '* By smiling infancy ; around the holes 
 '' Of Asps, shall Children without danger play ; 
 " For none shall hurt, nor aught shall e'er destroy, 
 " Throughout the spacious earth." 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 What happy change ! ! 
 
 ANTICIPATOR. 
 
 " The knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth — 
 *' As waters fill the sea." 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 O, heavenly day ! ! !
 
 i^HE EMPIRE OF PIIILANTlIROPr. if 
 
 ANTICIPATOR. 
 
 Halcyon news to every clime. 
 Theme demanding loftiest rhyme. 
 With bold progressive step, a glorious age 
 Hastes on to grace the world's extensive stage : 
 Celestial era, worthy man's acclaim 
 And high resound of its resplendent name ! 
 Then through the earth will monarchs fathers prove 
 Their sceptre's sway, cement their people's love ; 
 Men shall then realise each other friend. 
 And this blest amity ne'er know an end ; 
 Sincerity, possessing ev'ry soul. 
 Mankind shall form one great fiducial whole ; 
 Friendship, their polar cfar, direct their way. 
 And catholic love be orcfer of the day ; 
 Each morn shall beam with more enliv'ning rays. 
 Be greeted up with matin hymns of praise : 
 The sportive lambs more sportively shall play ; 
 Creation round appear throughout more gay ; 
 The birds attun'd with more harmonic throat. 
 Shall undulate the air with sweeter note. 
 The air shall fan with more salubrious breeze. 
 In more luxuriant growth appear the trees. 
 With livelier verdure their enrobing leaves ; 
 While Plenty weightier fills the bounteous sheaves; 
 The flowers with still more brilliant tints shall blow ; 
 In softer murmur will the riv'lets flow ; 
 
 I
 
 68 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 In prouder stream the noble rivers ^lide ; 
 In grander influx rise the swelling tide. 
 Majestic Ocean all serene shall wave. 
 Disdain by Tempest to be held a slave ! 
 Each eve be spent in cheerful grateful song, 
 And time by none shall e'er be thought too long! 
 
 Angels will then descend to visit Earth, 
 
 To hail this aera of illustrious birth ! 
 
 Angelic eyes will banquet on the sight — 
 
 Seraphic minds will wake to new delight : 
 
 Charm'd they'll re-wing their flight to Heaven — and 
 
 then 
 They'll carol " Paradise on Earth again." 
 Then will each bard more tuneful sweep his lyre. 
 His soul be warm'd with new poetic fire. 
 His brightest thoughts in happiest concert meet. 
 His beatific ode, his lyral treat. 
 Felicity throughout the world complete ! 
 In glowing strains he'll paint that splendid age. 
 Sweet lays of hallelujahs grace his page : 
 Blest to proclaim the golden theme abroad. 
 And be the humble Laureat of his God. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Such bliss foretold : blessings, thus rich in store, 
 Invite the mind attentive to explore 
 The sacred page, and there prospective view 
 A world in joy— a world by GOD made new !
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. S9 
 
 Blest harmony ! embracing every land ! 
 In nobler rank Heaven's noblest work will stand. 
 To things by GOD reveal'd let all attend. 
 And reverend ear unto his prophets lend : 
 Let none impug-n proclaim'd prophetic word; 
 In prescience be the DEITY ador'd ; 
 Of Tyre did HE predict its marv'lous fate — 
 In wonder now behold its present state — 
 That mart of nations' pomp, and pride of sea. 
 Hiszyo7'cZ declared, a barren rock should be. 
 That crowning city, lich and tow'ring high. 
 Should on its scite have nets spread out to dry. 
 Mark how prediction and event have met. 
 For Tyre's no more — there fishers dry the net \ 
 " Great Babylon of proud and peerless sway. 
 By sure destruction shall be swept away." 
 Though matchless once, no man can now be found 
 With truth to ascertain fam'd Babylon's ground. 
 
 Messiah's words attend — the Jezvs behold 
 How true the great events which He foretold ! 
 "My doctrine shall prevail !" the Saviour said ; 
 With triumph see the glorious gospel's spread ! 
 The words of sacred promise waiting stand. 
 Treasures of heavenly store, in time to hand. 
 Firm the decree of HIM the HOLY ONE. 
 JEHOVAH speaks — in his great mind — 'tis done — 
 Heart cheeringthought (blessings though not possest). 
 To antedate mankind shall thus be blest •
 
 £0 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY, 
 
 From every ill thus meet a sweet release^, 
 Enjoy a constant universal peace. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Oj heaven-born peace ! sweet captivating- maid^ 
 With purest innocence adorned; my true. 
 My best beloved friend, whose lovely hand 
 Presents an odoriferous, blooming- rose. 
 Without a wounding thorn ; thy gracious boon 
 I with delighted heart accept, to place 
 Upon my breast, and copiously inhale 
 Its fragrance rich— thy animating voice 
 Is sweetest melody ! Of social life 
 Thou art the sov'reign solacer ! The soul's 
 True consolation. And to parental hearts 
 A soothing calm. — Thy presence stimulates, 
 To industry, to literature and art. 
 To friendship and to love. In thee we hail 
 An ever welcome, smiling guest; a gift 
 Divine ! ! 
 
 Most welcome, too, when ne'er to part. 
 For then shall trumpet sound no more for war. 
 Or men array'd for battle then appear ; 
 The levell'd felling musket no more kill, 
 Nor roaring cannon sweep the field ; nor sword. 
 Nor murd'rous bayonet slay. The neighing steed. 
 With rider arm'd with scymeter or lance, 
 No more shall rush to make the slaughtering charge-
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 01 
 
 The flaming rocket shall ne'er more destroy ; 
 Terrific bomb no longer burst in rage. 
 Tremendous mines no more shall spring ; nor shall 
 The awful flames of burning towns ascend. 
 And chaos reign in shrieks and groans, and death. 
 Nor will the fleeting arrow waft through air 
 To give a deadly Avound. Or savage hand 
 Uplift the tomahawk the scalp to strip : 
 Pirates shall then no more infest the seas. 
 Nor floating castle thund'ring broadside pour. 
 To instantaneously inhume mankind. 
 By hundreds, in untimely watery grave, 
 
 AXTJCIPATOR. 
 
 Evils shall all be done away. 
 
 In that new-born, that happy day 
 
 Which sacred promises pourtray. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Haste then ; O, haste, thou ling'ring Time, 
 Unfold these happy scenes to light. 
 With longing waits earth's every clime. 
 To hail this Eden of delight! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Fair is the prospect (how divine !) 
 Brighter and brighter doth it shine, 
 Britannia, see, of generous mind. 
 Stand forth the blesser of mankind.
 
 ea THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 She's not content with patrimonic field. 
 But thirsts to g-ain a more abundant yield ; 
 To right of common boldly lays her claim. 
 The common of the world to join her aim ; 
 Her love to sow through its extensive roam. 
 In hope of philanthropic harvest home ; 
 Wide as the earth, her wish she longs to crown. 
 And form monopoly of proud renown. 
 
 In grand array. 
 
 And rich display. 
 See great Britannia speed her wny, 
 Attir'd in wisdom's splendid robe. 
 Behold the beauty of the globe ; 
 See Freedom's wreath entwine her brow. 
 With all its gems in ardent glow. 
 Promise from Heaven supports her right. 
 And Hope her left (delightful sight !) 
 The Bible's borne within her hand. 
 Her gift of love to every land ; 
 With dignity her head she rears. 
 While thus to men THE BOOK she bears ; 
 Science, religion, each strew flowers ; 
 Art, too, assists, with num'rous powers ; 
 Her banner see exalted and unfurl'd. 
 The admiration of a gazing world ; 
 Thereon inscrib'd by lovely mercy's pen, 
 " Intelligence and happiness to men." 
 A choral band precedes her steps along. 
 And carol thus in their enliv'ningsong : — -
 
 tHE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 03 
 
 *' Britannia blest by kind propitious skies, 
 *' With science, liberty, and art, 
 " And with religion (precious peerless prize !) 
 *' She longs these blessings to impart. 
 " And to give birth, 
 *' With large increase 
 " Throughout the earth 
 *' To truth and peace." 
 *' From pole to pole doth she her greeting send, 
 " Enclaspseach clime, and cries, behold your friend." 
 Dumb idols from her presence skulk away. 
 And heathen night gives place to christian day. 
 (O, glorious day I day ne'er beheld so fair) 
 While shouts from South Sea Islands rend the air ; 
 What grand acclaim ! What rapture doth it give, 
 Hark! hear devoted children lisp, '' We live." 
 
 MENTOk. 
 
 Britain all glory give to God ! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 'Tis thine to spread his truth abroad, — 
 In concert British Christians meet, 
 (To pious souls an odour sweet !) 
 They form their Philanthropic bands, 
 T' instruct and bless tie heathen lands ; 
 All obstacles they ; oar above, 
 (What rich o'erflow of Christian love !)
 
 64 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 With transport then behold the noble zeal 
 
 Of those who for benighted heathens feel ; 
 
 Who home and comforts leave^ all dangers brave. 
 
 To shed the light divine^ which souls will save ; 
 
 Reclaiming them from prayer to wood and stone. 
 
 To worship DEITY and Him alone ; 
 
 Preaching in those drear regions round 
 
 Messiah's gospel (joyful sound). 
 
 Him GOD'S Anointed they proclaim^ 
 
 Publish salvation in his name ; 
 
 Prov'd by the miracles he wrought. 
 
 And by the doctrines which he taught. 
 
 In Him they glory as their head. 
 
 Affirm him risen from the dead : 
 
 Through Him declare that resurrection morn. 
 
 When man to life immortal shall be born. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Repeat through East and West, from North to 
 
 South, 
 The heavenly truths which issued from his mouth. 
 None like him spake — 'twas wisdom from above. 
 Replete wiih purest virtue, peace, and love ! 
 Then what a lovely sight 
 
 Is his example fair. 
 In rich resplendence bright. 
 And that without compare.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 05 
 
 Example worthy to be spread abroad ! 
 Example of the well-belov'd of God ! ! ! 
 Of pious, patient, and of humble mind. 
 Of will unto the will of God resign'd. 
 Of feeling soul, that yearned o'er human woe ; 
 Of every virtue, in its richest glow : 
 Where heavenly Innocence in beauty streams. 
 And where Forgiveness, in its zenith, beams; 
 Where Excellence appears in golden lines ; 
 And pure Philanthropy in glory shines. 
 
 This portrait, then, through heathen lands display. 
 
 Allure thereby whole nations to obey ; 
 
 Thus gaiu to Virtue friends who ne'er shall part, 
 
 And fill with joy the meek recipient heart. 
 
 So will you shed true bliss, without alloy. 
 
 What blest instruction! what divine employ ! 
 
 The glorious Gospel, ]:)y Messiah taught. 
 Hath excellence beyond a seraph's thought ! 
 Its value's more than angel's tongue can tell ! ! 
 'Tis gift of God — of worth unspeakable * ! ! ! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Britannia, love tow'rds man possessing, 
 Thus richly she diffuses l)lessiug. 
 
 2 Cor. chap. 9. verse 15. 
 K
 
 m THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Friend of the world — mankind caress thee — 
 Blesser of man — may Heaven bless thee — 
 111 wish benign — 'tis love that moves thee — 
 Mercy's bright gem — thy God approves thee ! ! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Nor is the noble soul to place confin'd ; 
 Can spot engross the philanthropic mind ? 
 The Western States of A Union's stock, behold, 
 Are cast in Britain's philanthropic mould ! 
 Like Britons, they to bless mankind desire, 
 And, in their sphere, t' improve the world aspire, 
 With ardour they Instruction shed abroad, 
 And hand to man the precious Word of God. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Long may these sons of generous Britain's race 
 With Britain live in undisturb'd embrace ! ! 
 Large is the sphere of mercy they possess ;• 
 May Heaven their philanthropic efforts bless!! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 To Alexander now attentive look ; 
 See him with joy difldise the Holy Book; 
 Behold, the Bible, foster'd by his hand, 
 Celestial riches spreads through Russian land ;
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. G7 
 
 His people now, with gratitude, explore 
 
 That sacred mine, Rome's bulls obstruct no more ! 
 
 Instruction's lays there emanate to bless 
 
 Those regions, ages past a wilderness ; 
 
 There Truth o'er Superstition wide prevails ; 
 
 What bliss that pious potentate entails ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Inspiring theme ! — 'twill loftiest notes employ. 
 While nations 'neath his sceptre shout for joy : 
 A seed is sown, by Alexander's hands, 
 To bless extensive, vminstructed lands. 
 Servant of God ! rich blessings gem thy crown ; 
 Thy God commends, man echoes thy renown. 
 Wise Autocrat! thy people's tmest friend, 
 O may prosperity thy steps attend ; 
 And Providence thy valued reign prolong. 
 While men thy deeds rehearse in grateful song ! 
 Thy worth will Hist'ry's brilliant page proclaim. 
 And ages yet to come bless Alexander's name! 
 
 ANTICIPATOR. 
 
 Nations, rejoice ! the God who iiiles above, 
 Whose reign is boundless power, and glory love, 
 " As waters fill the spacious sea," halh will'd, 
 *' The earth shall be with his own knowledge 
 fiU'd." 
 
 K 2
 
 68 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 The God of promise claims om- praise! 
 Let earth's united miUions raise 
 
 Their choral gratefid song ! 
 In rapt'rous concert let them join, 
 And peal to heaven taeir hymn divine, 
 
 In one assembled throng ! 
 And let each portion of the globe, 
 Array'd in Hope's resplendent robe, 
 
 The pleasing prospects hail ! 
 Daily th' enlivening theme renew ; 
 The happiness foretold is true, 
 
 By ivord which cannot fail ! ! 
 
 EuRopEy Asia, Africa, and America, 
 (in Chorus.) 
 
 Glory to God who reigns above ! 
 
 Of earth the fiiend ; 
 
 In showers descend 
 The gifts of his o'erflowing love. 
 Arise ! let every soul rejoice ; 
 Let every tongue awake in voice, 
 In grateful tuneful choir proclaim 
 His glorious and inspiring name ! ! 
 
 His promise tells transporting tale, 
 Delight shall through the world prevail,
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 09 
 
 And lasting Peace assume her reign, 
 With richest blessings in her train. 
 
 We chaunt a theme 
 
 Of bliss supreme ; 
 Tranquillity, of heavenly birth, 
 Diffusing joys throughout the earth : 
 Such prospects all our souls inspire ! 
 Such hope will string the poet's lyi-e ! 
 
 EUROPE. 
 
 Enlighten'd JEut^ope, taught by Truth divine, 
 
 Will hail unfading Peace, (O sound benign ! ) 
 
 That age replete with fnendship and delight 5 
 
 Science will then behold still rising Light ; 
 
 Religion pure unveil her lovely face, 
 
 Its nations all receive her blest embrace : 
 
 Nor will the Deity, on men below, 
 
 In paucity these welcome gifts bestow : 
 
 Such bliss (heaven-born) for man, his tend'rest care, 
 
 The pop'lous world will all in affluence share. 
 
 ASIA. 
 
 O fairest scene of bliss, by Heaven foretold. 
 
 No imag'ry thy beauties can unfold ; 
 
 Nor Eastern Mind wake up that luminous trope, 
 
 Expressive of thine excellence, in hope ; 
 
 Nor Ingenuity throw out the tint, 
 
 Nor Chinese skill the splendid die imprint,
 
 70 . THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 To give idea of th' inspiring joy ; 
 
 The rapture that will Orient tongues employ : 
 
 Asia its Great Creator will adore, 
 
 Its Lacks to idols' homage pay no more ; 
 
 Then through vast Southern Sea, on every isle, 
 
 Benign Christianity will sweetly smile ; 
 
 And Austral Asia, blest by heavenly rays, 
 
 In triumph join t' acclaim th' Almighty's praise. 
 
 AFRICA. 
 
 Let Afric's now untutor'd land 
 
 Look up for blessings Heaven will hand ; 
 
 Its Ebon Race take rank like men ; 
 Its Herschels, great in science, rise, 
 Exploring vast antartic skies. 
 
 And new sideral records pen : 
 
 Knowledge shall bear extensive sway, 
 While Arts appear in rich display ; 
 
 Linnaean Sons new fields explore. 
 And Chemistry new worlds unfold 
 Of precious treasures yet untold ; 
 
 And Science large increase its store. 
 
 Then Afric's race will rise in mind, 
 To dignity among mankind, 
 
 And Freedom will its standard rear ;
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 71 
 
 Then Christian Truth will beam aromid, 
 Virtue and friendship will abound, 
 And all its race will God revere. 
 
 AMERICA. 
 
 America, behold ! in rising youth, 
 Aspires to virile Liberty and Truth ; 
 For every art and science puts in claim, 
 Inspir'd by Wisdom's high ennobling name. 
 There shall mankind no longer savage roam, 
 But prize a civilis'd and peaceful home ; 
 And Christianity its arms expand, 
 T' embrace the whole of vast Columbian land ; 
 Grand, like its rivers in their peerless flow. 
 Instruction pour, and all the Great Supreme shall 
 know. 
 
 ■-■ ' . 
 
 CfHORUS. 
 
 Such bliss the sacred Promises express. 
 And thus the world the Deity will bless. 
 How excellent thy name, O Lord ! 
 
 By heavenly prophets taught; 
 How gracious thy prophetic word ! 
 How big with blessings fraught ! 
 Tlie millions of the populous earth, 
 To whom thy powerful hand gave birth," 
 With joy unite in concert sweet,
 
 72 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 In holy harmony, 
 Great God, to sing of Thee ; 
 Thy love supreme, 
 (Delightful theme!) 
 Our anthem fills ; 
 Let rocks and hills. 
 Let Alps, and Andes, loud the sound repeat ! 
 
 Europe, Asia, Africa, ami America, retire. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Expectant of this jubilating day, 
 Britain ! thy bright example full display ! 
 Let thy kind energy be all alert, 
 Thy philanthropic arm itself exert 
 In every generous plan ; 
 Nor tire, nor for a moment pause ; 
 But prosecute the noble cause — 
 The happiness of man. 
 
 •^ OBSERVER. 
 
 See Albion's sister shore, Hihernias isle, 
 Where Hospitality doth ever smile : 
 She boasts her martial heroes true and brave. 
 Her sister island to defend and save ; 
 She towers on high, amid the isles of earth, 
 For she gave valiant Wellington his birth : 
 But long, alas ! there Ignorance hath reign'd. 
 And thousands its despotic arm enchain'd !
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 7a 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 There for rich harvest let Britannia look, 
 Wide shed Instrnction — wide the Heav nly Book ; 
 Thus Erin's land both wise and pious make, 
 And Ignorance's hateful fetters break : 
 So will she bless that hospital)le shore ; 
 True Light shall beam, while Mind's enslav'd no 
 more. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 The sacred Promises such bliss portend ; 
 Philanthropy ! thy reign must wide extend. 
 
 PHILANTRROPV. 
 
 To llie whole cai'th for empire I lay claim, 
 To make the spacious worUl a Heaven, I aim. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Most noble aim, Pliilaiilln-opy ! — 'Tis thine 
 To make the claim ; th' idea is divine ! 
 Mark how Britannia shines the world to cheer, 
 And, sun-like, climbs in merciful career ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Grant, gracious Heaven, that my rejoicing eyes 
 May see my heroine to her zenith rise ! !
 
 74 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 At a distance, are seen a Male and Female Negro, 
 leading their livo Children. 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Negroes, from yonder hill, descend. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY, 
 
 Receive them I'm to all a friend. 
 
 Thei/ arrive, and each in chains. The Male Negra 
 falls on his knees before Philanthropy. 
 
 MALE NEGRO. 
 
 Philanthropy ! of heart benign^ 
 
 Where tend'rest pity reigns, 
 Man is thy charge, compassion thine ; 
 
 Look on these galling chains. 
 
 From distant isle in western sea, 
 
 Opprest with bitt'rest woes, 
 Kind friend of man 1 I come to thee, 
 
 My sorrows to disclose. 
 
 Behold a Man ! I view the ocean grand. 
 
 The num'rous wond'rous works of God on land ; 
 
 Range through the heavens, admire their glory 
 
 bright. 
 And, thoughtful, ponder on the sparkling sight ;
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 75 
 
 A father kind I to mine offspring prove, 
 
 My second self most faithfully I love ; 
 
 Man is my name, and yet I'm doom'd to chains, 
 
 To irksome toil, and oft to bitter pains ; 
 
 At times fed scantily, cnrtaiFd of sleep ; 
 
 And, life thus daily spent, I nought but weep ; 
 
 My birthright, Freedom 's gone, I sigh, I groan ; 
 
 Another long has claim'd me as his own ; 
 
 Nor doth my master ev'n the female save. 
 
 He gives us each th' opprobrious name of slave; 
 
 And yet the heavenly Chiistian name 's his boast ; 
 
 With him 'tis only name, its spirit's lost! 
 
 Its law divine, descending from above, 
 
 Is, " As thyself thy neighbour thou shalt love," 
 
 And, " As thou wouldst should mito thee be done, 
 
 *' Thus shall thy conduct be tow'rds every one/' 
 
 'Twas Lip of Truth these jjrecepts did imj^art. 
 
 These Christian laws — appealing to the hejirt !! 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 But there are masters who are humane born, 
 And mercy doth their characters adorn. 
 
 MALE NEGRO. 
 
 Yet Man enchain d, although his chahis are light. 
 Is Man a Slave, and robb'd of heaven-born right ; 
 Then tliink what heavy chains are those that bind, 
 Where masters are of haidend, cruel mind! 
 
 L 2
 
 
 76 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 FEMALE NEGRO, 
 
 (In agony ^ looking on her Children.) 
 
 Nursd at my Ijreast, my children dear ! 
 What misery 's yours ! what trembhiig fear ! 
 In joy your heads you ne'er can raise ; 
 In slavery you'll spend your days ! ! 
 
 (LooMiig uj) to Philanthropy.) 
 
 O sweet Philanthropy ! come kindly tell 
 Where an emancipating friend doth dwell, 
 That will the negro's on'rous care dispel. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Britannia is a gen'rous friend, 
 
 A friend of known, well-earn'd, renown ; 
 She lives, she acts for noble end. 
 
 And Freedom is her splendid crown. 
 
 To dry th' oppressed captive's tears, 
 Her floating castles cross'd the main ; 
 
 Behold ! she triumph'd at Algiers, 
 
 And there she broke proud Slavery's chain ! 
 
 Haste to her presence, seek her aid, 
 For she 's th' Exemplar of the earth ; 
 
 In Mercy's roll her love 's pourtray'd ; 
 'Tis hers to give a blessing birth ! !
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 77 
 
 MALE NEGRO. 
 
 Yet 'tis ill British land we live in chains. 
 In part of Great Britannia's wide domains ; 
 On British ground our hapless lot we rue ; 
 Alas ! the anti-British tale s too true. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Britannia, rais'd by Heaven, mankind to cheer, 
 Your tale of griefs, unmov'd, she cannot hear ; 
 She will with you in your hard lot condole, 
 Your piteous lot, which chills a Britisli soul. 
 Can she, wjiose worth from })ole to pole is told, 
 From you your precious birthright long withhold ? 
 Can she, who joys to blot out human woe, 
 In this enlighten d, philanthropic day, 
 (Of Mercy's boast) to manumit delay? 
 Religion, her attending angel, answers — No. 
 
 Britannia! then arise and shine! 
 
 Burst into racUance all ])enign !! 
 (You're just, you're kind, as well as brave): 
 
 Let Wisdom, Mercy, both unite, 
 
 ('Tis in their works tliat you delight). 
 To liberate the JBritish slave ! ! ! 
 
 Where'er the British sceptre sways, 
 Let Britain's name resound in praise. 
 And Freedom's glorious ])ainier wave !
 
 78 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 There be dispens'd its equal laws ; 
 Let Liberty meet full applause ! 
 (How harsh the sound— a British slave !!!) 
 
 Shall ExmoiitJis name resound from shore to shore, 
 And Britons boast heroic deed, which burst 
 The Corsair's dungeon doors, where Europe s sons 
 Lay bound in ignominious chains, and led 
 Rejoicing thousands out to Liberty — 
 Shall this proud deed expire, be lost on Man ? 
 Shall Britain stretch its generous, potent arm, 
 To save from foreign conquest, by an hostile foe, 
 Its occidental isles ? shall History's page 
 With Rodneys valiant, valued exploit blaze, 
 And Britons glory in those isles preserv'd — 
 And, in those isles preserv'd, shall Slavery, 
 That stains th' ennobled, tow'ring British name. 
 Be longer kept entail'd ? shall those who raise. 
 With heartfelt tones, the high inspiring song, 
 " Britons never will be slaves," be silent 
 In the oppressed Negro's cause ? shall ware 
 And property continue to be made. 
 And sale take place, of those whose equal right 
 It is to say to every fellow man on earth, 
 " I'm offspring of the all-creating God 
 " With thee?" Shall Christianity/ appeal, 
 And high-taught Britain's sons heart-frozen be ?
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 79 
 
 Avauiit the thought ! Is not the slave a 3Ian, 
 God's noblest work? Does not the Negro bear 
 The stamp of Man? th' nnpress of the Deity? 
 Canst thou boast more, assuming polish'd White ? 
 In ages past, in Rome's Augustian days, 
 Did Britons higher stand, in mental rank, 
 Than Nineteenth-Century Etliiopia's sons ? 
 
 Vile Slavery ! heart-sinking, doleful name, 
 Thou fell destroyer of the dearest right 
 That Nature gave to man — thou art abhorr'd 
 By every JBritish sovd. — Thou odious fiend. 
 Cease thy inferiral sAvay o'er lands that claim 
 Protection 'neath Britauuia's sheltering wing ; 
 Perish from Britons' sight, nor let thy harsh. 
 Ungracious sound grate longer on their ears ! 
 Thou hideous Boa — thou foulest pest, begone ! 
 The deep-researching Johnson did not find 
 A term of sombre, turpitud nous hue. 
 Thy base demerit fully to depict!!! 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Of creatures here, Man stands the mostrenown'd, 
 By Deity viitli dignity is crowifd, 
 And title to his rank may ever claim ; 
 The title 3Ian should ne'er be only name : 
 Time glory 'tis to [)lead the injur'd's cause, 
 To claim for all Ivpiality of T,aws ;
 
 m THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 For him, adorn'd with honor's splendid robe ; 
 For him, \yho ranks the humblest on the globe ; 
 For men of wealth, for those with wealth unfraught ; 
 For Wisdom's soaring sons, for those untaught ; 
 For men of each complexion on the earth ; 
 (In every clime 'twas Heaven that gave them birth) : 
 In every clime a tender heart we find, 
 A tender heart, th' adornment of mankind. 
 
 Of Negro's love, with gratitude, I'll boast, 
 Of friendship shewn on sultry Africs coast. 
 In days gone by, direct for Ckuia bound. 
 With fav'ring breeze I left dear Britain's ground ; 
 The ship made way, with wind and weather fau', 
 With daily sunshine, and salubrious air. 
 Arriv'd near Afric's shore, the scene was chang'd, 
 A storm came on, and Natine seem'd derang'd ; 
 ('Twas most tremendous gale) — with dreadful blaze 
 The lightning swept the deck ; with trembling gaze 
 Our crew, appal'd, beheld — then thunders roU'd 
 Above, with awe, terrific awe, untold ; 
 By Alpine waves our wind-driv'n ship was toss'd. 
 And all on board gave up themselves as lost ; 
 To Heaven each look'd, thence mercy to implore ; 
 By one impetuous blast she ran on shore, 
 Became a wreck — but all Heaven's pity shard, 
 Each swam to land, and every life was spar'd.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 81 
 
 An Ebon group, possessing feeling hearts 
 For suffering fellow-man, the scene beheld ; 
 With hasty steps approach'd, to hand relief; 
 With unremitting zeal, for months our cares 
 They sooth'd — our wants supplied — our homes 
 
 secur'd : 
 Yet oft blest Albion's land — its much-lov'd shore — 
 Our natal spot — our hearth — our families — 
 Our long-left friends, would flit before our eyes. 
 And raise the strong desire again to join 
 With all we held most dear, upon that soil 
 Where infant years were spent ; and tow'rds the 
 
 sea 
 We daily gave the anxious look, in hope 
 To witness, rising from the vast expanse, 
 The long-desired sail : Each look'd in turn : 
 At length, as on the topmost height we stood, 
 A vessel, gliding o'er the waves, we spied — 
 The British jack in frolic with the wind. 
 Our sparkling eyes dwelt on the sight : England, 
 And home, rush'd on the mind ; wives, offspring, 
 
 friends. 
 With all their fond endearments, fill'd the soul. 
 We hail'd ; they shorten'd sail, sent out their 
 
 launch. 
 And ofTer'd passage to our native land. 
 We all then safe embark'd ; but could not part 
 With Ebon friends of Mercy's suite, to us 
 
 M
 
 82 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Endear d by every kindness they could shew. 
 Or boon could give, without the parting sigh ; 
 From every eye gush'd forth the briny tear ; 
 With gratitude our breasts were warm'd, and theirs 
 With sympathising love. Our sails re-set. 
 We now re-cross'd the main for Britain's coast : 
 Arriv'd, our Ebon friends, far out of sight. 
 Were yet not out of mind : its casket cas'd 
 Their names ; their tenderness was there engrav'd ; 
 Such kindness, and without self-int'rest shewn, 
 Could never be effac'd : where'er we came. 
 The burden of our tale was NegToes' love ; 
 That varied tint of skin effects no change 
 In man's resemblance of his God. 
 
 I'll e'er pursue the Negroes' weal ; 
 
 Nor, in pursuing, stop to rest ; 
 Their ev'ry w ound I'll strive to heal, 
 
 And I'll defend them when opprest. 
 
 Through life my steady aim shall be 
 To shield them safe from every harm ; 
 
 And, when enchain'd, to set them free. 
 And paralyze th' oppressor's arm. 
 
 All-seeing Heaven beholds their grief, 
 It lies pourtray'd beneath its view ; 
 
 All-gracious Heaven can hand relief. 
 Its mercies they are ever new.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 83 
 
 The Negroes and their Children, hieelmg, and 
 looking up to heaven, join m concert. 
 
 Offspring of Thee, Creating Power ! 
 
 Parent and Lord of all ! 
 With glory 'midst thy creatures crown d * ; 
 
 On Thee we suppliant call. 
 
 Behold us, Lord ! enchain'd, opprest. 
 
 Our birthright from us torn ; 
 The iron pierces to the soul '| ; 
 
 Our direful lot we mourn. 
 
 From Thee the richest blessings flow, 
 
 All-mighty 's thy commandl 
 Britain incline o'er us to beam 
 
 The glory of its land. 
 
 And may a gladd'ning, bliss-fraught gale 
 Waft from kind Albion's shore 
 
 The heaven-approving, just decree — 
 " That Slavery 's no more ! " 
 
 OBSERVER. 
 
 Since Brunswick'sHouse ascended Britain's throne. 
 New rays of glory thence have effluent shone ; 
 The brightest Mercy — Oh ! 'tis a charming theme. 
 The exhil)itions of this splendid beam ! 
 
 * Psalm 8, ver. 5. f Psalter, Psalm 105, ver. 18. 
 
 M 2
 
 
 m THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Yes ! 'tis an all-delighting tale to tell, 
 And on this splendid beam I love to dwell : 
 Behold Britannia's high-born Nobles, kind, 
 Britannia's Senators, of humane mind, 
 Her People, all to Mercy's works inclin'd. 
 
 See, through her land, 
 
 When Sorrow sighs. 
 
 When Misery cries. 
 Relief at hand. 
 
 If Grief's beheld, in any form or dress, 
 Their high delight, their study, is to bless ! 
 How oft have they woke up at Woe's appeal, 
 In philanthropic concert ris'n to heal ! 
 Nought can career of Britain's love control, 
 Philanthropy perv ades the British soul. 
 
 t. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 O Britain! blest with heav'n-born joy in blessing. 
 How can I ever cease fi'om thee caressing ? 
 How oft I will — and Britons with me will it — 
 How oft I wish — and Britons they fulfil it — 
 To me look up, as Judge of what is fit ! 
 
 Then I'll give scope 
 
 To happiest hope 
 
 That Britons will 
 
 This wish fulfil, 
 And, by a tvise gradation, manumit.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 8& 
 
 The Negroes, in Song. 
 
 Oh ! how happy we slmll be 
 
 In West-Indian jubilee, 
 
 When poor Negroes are set free ! 
 
 We shall labour then with joy, 
 Feel a pleasure in employ ; 
 Masters will be better pleas'd, 
 While our sorrows will be eas'd ; 
 Negroes smile on masters then, 
 Masters they will smile again ; 
 Of Britain's love we then shall sing, 
 And with the theme the air vdW ring ; 
 Of its goodness we shall talk, 
 While we test, and as we walk. 
 
 Oh ! how hn})py we shall be 
 
 In West-Indian jubilee. 
 
 When poor Negroes are set free ! j 
 
 } 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 When Britain this Britannic deed hath done, 
 Sritain and Love all will proclaim as one; 
 Still more majestic will Britannia rise, 
 Her worth resound throughout the echoing skies ; 
 And her example, beaming now so bright. 
 Will yet with higher lustre strike the sight.
 
 ) 
 
 5 
 
 BC THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Kind Power above ! then let this bhss be mine, 
 Inspir'd by Christian truth, humane, divine, ^ 
 To see my Britain now thus splendid shine ! ) 
 Britain belov'd will yet be dearer friend, 
 Richer celestial dew on her descend, 
 And my all-blissful empire more extend. 
 
 MALE NEGRO. 
 
 We now retire. Philanthropy ; 
 
 And, hopeful, leave our cause with thee ; 
 
 With Britain thou our advocate shalt be. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 With all my pathos I will plead 
 Till you from slavery are freed. 
 
 MALE NEGRO. 
 
 Plead then, O plead with all your suasive powers, 
 
 Till heav'n-born, precious liberty is ours ; 
 
 Ours — to cheer us all our days ; 
 
 Ours — to fill our souls with praise ; 
 
 Ours — to feel our lives a pleasure ; 
 
 Ours— on earth our choicest treasure ; 
 
 Ours — our labours to beguile ; 
 
 Ours— to make our offspring smile ; 
 
 Ours — the Negro's mind t' improve ; 
 
 Ours — to fill his soul with love ;
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 87 
 
 Ours — t' endear the Bible more ; 
 Ours — to prize its sacred store ; 
 Ours — t' admire the Christian laws ; 
 Ours — to love the Christian cause ; 
 Ours — to sweeten Christian tnith ; 
 Ours — t' endear it to our youth ; 
 Ours — that planters God may bless ; 
 Ours — to give them large success ; 
 Ours — to raise Britannia's fame ; 
 Ours — to make us hail her name ; 
 To add a gem of bright renown, 
 New splendour to the British Crown. 
 
 The Negroes retire. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Oh ! could I from the earth remove 
 Whate'er impedes the march of Love ! 
 
 ANTICIPATOR. 
 
 Arise, Philanthropy ! in lively faith arise, 
 And, with delight, lift up expecting eyes ; 
 See Time on wings bring on that age of weal 
 Which every woe on earth will surely heal ; 
 
 And know that nought can stay 
 
 The promis'd happy day; 
 For, 'midst the mass of human ill, 
 Jehovah works his own all-gracious Will.
 
 88 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Fierce war in billows rag'd, with foaming surge,- 
 And Europe groaning lay beneath its scourge ; 
 Its sons bewail'd, its feeling daughters wept ; 
 The sword was drawn — and cannons roar'd — 
 Which widely desolation pour'd 
 In swelling crimson flood ; 
 
 And mounts and vales, 
 
 And hills and dales, 
 And capes and bays, were stain'd with blood; 
 For Peace had fled, and solemn fast was kept. 
 The philanthropic eye heheld with grief, 
 And Pity swoon'd — she could not hand relief. 
 Th' Almighty spoke — proclaim'd around, ^ 
 
 " Peace shall revisit Europe's ground." \ 
 
 (What blissful news ! what joyful sound !) ) 
 
 Attentive Peace, with cheering ray, 
 His blest command did prompt obey : 
 The sword was sheath'd— the cannons ceas'd to 
 
 roar — 
 Blest Concord reign'd — and War appall'd no more. 
 Then Kings and People join'd to raise 
 To God their choral hymn of praise ; 
 'Twas He whose word made Discord cease, 
 And gave from War the glad release — 
 He rides upon th' impetuous storm. 
 And all his pleasure will perform ; 
 His Avays, all- wise, but oft not understood, 
 Are ever bringing forth abounding good.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 39 
 
 A heavenly hand 
 To Britain's land 
 The humane Alexander leads ! 
 
 There to behold th' inspiring sight, 
 Britannia's philanthropic deeds : 
 Charm'd with the scene, he left the British shore, 
 
 T' achieve his wish (his soul's delight) 
 To bless Muscovian lands v^ath sacred Wisdom's 
 store. 
 
 See Liberty's refreshing showers 
 Descend to rear its valued flowers. 
 In different plots of Europe's ground : 
 (What precious flowers, where'er they're found!) 
 Philanthropists, look up with joy. 
 Let scenes to come your thoughts employ ! 
 Believe the Promise of the Lord, 
 Rest on his sure Prophetic Word ; 
 Await the day when, in his richest dress. 
 The Sun of Righteousness shall rise, the world to 
 bless. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Then shall the heavenly Herald be obey'd, 
 Who, from the skies, the proclamation made, 
 " That I should fill a high imperial throne, 
 •' And make th' extensive pop'lous world my 
 own." 
 
 N
 
 90 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 (Blessing- to men ! Decree of Love Divine ! ! ) 
 The earth, with all its millions, will be mine ! ! ! 
 Its millions catch the philanthropic fire, 
 And that of blessing millions be their chief desire. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Philanthropy, all hail ! the world 's thine own ! ! 
 
 Thou hast, in antedated joy sublime. 
 
 All that thy great and gen'rous soul can wish ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 The humane heart yearns o'er a world to come ; 
 The solemn trump will sound — the dead will rise — 
 And numbers hear their doom, "Depart" — the 
 
 thought 
 With sorrow fills the philanthropic breast. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Yet cherish hope ! and hope that 's firmly fix'd. 
 That 's anchor'd on the Sacred Word — that Word 
 Makes known tJi unchano-ino' God — that Word 
 
 reveals 
 That '' God is Love* r 
 
 ANTICIPATOR. 
 
 That Word proclaims a day 
 In which Jehovah " will make all things new;" 
 Will wipe the flowing tear from every eye ; 
 
 * 1st Epistle of John, chap. 4, ver. 16.
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 91 
 
 When Sorrow shall no more the breast assail, 
 When Sin (and Pain, its " consequent and cure") 
 •Shall ever cease ; that glorious day when Deaths 
 And ev'n the second Death, shall be no more. 
 
 Then " shall Jehovah in his works rejoice," 
 And his high praises wake up every voice ; 
 His boundless Love will every tongue employ, 
 And fill the universe with boundless joy ; 
 Then will that Love with richest blessings teem. 
 Brighter and brighter \\\\\ its glories beam ; 
 Its dazzling splendour will increasing rise, 
 Allure and captivate Man's wond'ring eyes ; 
 Delight, as yet unthought of, will impart 
 To his admiring and adoring heart ; 
 Joy after joy will rise in endless train, 
 And Love — Celestial Love — eternal reign ; 
 And the whole human race in heav'nly rest ; 
 *'■ God will be all in all," — and Man supremely 
 blest ! ! ! 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Anticipator ! I, with rapt'rous joy, 
 
 Your theme have heard — How jiood is God ! how 
 
 &^ 
 
 great 
 
 Th' Eternal Mind!!! and (O delightful lliought) 
 *' His tender mercies beam o'er all his works." 
 Words are too faint my gratitude to speak ; 
 In pensive meditation I'll adore ! ! ! 
 
 N 2
 
 s 
 
 92 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 Be mine this theme to spread abroad, 
 
 " Man is the offspring- of his God ;" 
 
 He to Him is ever dear; 
 
 Let Man, then, God's image bear. 
 
 And to Him his altar rear. 
 
 Write thereon, with glowing pen, 
 
 "■ I will love my Fellow Men ;" 
 
 To bless — shall be my great delight, 
 
 To bless — my work from morn till night ; 
 
 Of blessing — be my chief discourse ; 
 
 In blessing — 111 pursue my course ; 
 
 And blessing — every hour I'll be ; 
 
 Thus blessing Men — will God bless me. 
 
 PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Observer ! I have treasur'd up your tale 
 
 Of Britons' ardent and difiusive love ; 
 
 Of Mercy's rays which beam from Britain's throne ; 
 
 (And Mercy, well th' immortal Shakspeare saith, 
 
 " Is mightiest in the mightiest" men;) 
 
 And your remarks on philanthropic deeds 
 
 Of Transatlantic States, and glowing zeal 
 
 Of Alexander (Russia's friend) to bless 
 
 Muscovian lands : — These, with the bliss foretold 
 
 By Prophecy Divine, have rais'd my hope 
 
 To see on earth a paradise again — 
 
 And more — t' expect that high celestial day,
 
 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 93 
 
 When the whole human race (who're wisely form'd 
 With thirst for bliss implanted in the soul) 
 Shall be by their Creator blest in heaven. 
 
 MENTOR. 
 
 O soul-delighting- story ! 
 
 To God we'll give the glory ! ! 
 Awake, in choir, the tuneful tongue, 
 And join t' exalt his name in song. 
 
 Philanthropy, Mentor, Observer, and 
 Anticipator, (in Chorus.) 
 
 Who spake to birth the universe? 
 
 His praise demands our no1)lest verse — 
 
 His name with joy we'll e'er rehearse — 
 
 The Deity. 
 The theme sublime, 
 In loftiest rhyme. 
 Let nations chaunt in ev'ry clime. 
 
 Who made the stars and orb of day, 
 
 Directs the planets in their way. 
 
 And marshals all their bright display? — 
 
 The Deity. 
 His lustre shines 
 In fairest lines, 
 And love with glory he combines.
 
 94 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Who sends on earth the genial showers? 
 
 Who greens the lawns, and leaves the bowers, 
 
 And decks the ground with beauteous flowers ? — 
 
 The Deity. 
 Let Poets raise. 
 
 In brilliant lays, 
 
 To Him their splendid hymn of praise. 
 
 Who Man into existence brought, 
 
 And form'd that wondrous power — thought — 
 
 The soul w ith tender mercy fraught ? — 
 
 The Deity. 
 No tongue can tell 
 What mercies dwell 
 With Him — to Him the grateful chorus swell. 
 
 Treasures of heavenly joys await, 
 And pleasures, in a future state, 
 The men who now His image bear, 
 The men of love— his special care : 
 'Tis them He '11 crown, in realms above, 
 With all the riches of His Love. 
 
 END OF ACT III.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 morn to ^otr,- jf^liritg to Mtn. 
 
 Irradiating Ray, from Thee I beam. 
 
 PAGE 4, VERSE 16. 
 
 When the Great Creator brought into being his creature 
 man, he implanted kindness and compassion in his soul, 
 and imprinted philanthropy on the tablet of his heart. In 
 the present state of man's existence, there are no greater 
 blessings than the heavenly gift of these noble and tender 
 feelings : nor is it an irrational idea to conceive that the 
 more refined part of man's felicity, in a future state, will 
 consist in their extensive employment. It is in these per- 
 fections alone that human nature can in any way become 
 assimilated to the perfections of the all-glorious Deity. 
 Man looks little (indeed, nothingness itself) when he 
 attempts to imitate Him either in power or wisdom ; but 
 he always meets with just acclaim when he aims to imitate 
 his Heavenly Father's love : and these celestial principles 
 have taken such root in human nature, that it is scarcely 
 possible wholly to rid the ground of them, very few per- 
 sons (if any) being so entirely depraved by selfishness, 
 pride, or vicious habit, as to be lost to every compassion- 
 ate and tender feeling, and entirely destitute of a desire 
 after the happiness of their fellow men. 
 
 And social Union richly flow ! 
 
 PAGE 5, VERSE 10. 
 
 Tt has pleased our beneficent common Parent so wisely 
 and so benevolently to constitute the order of things, that 
 tht> social union is for ever on the increase, and naturally 
 more and more consolidating.
 
 96 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 The marriage union most frequently takes place betweem 
 two parties who formerly had no knowledge of each other ; 
 and a close intimacy, and reciprocal friendship and in- 
 terest, is, under the direction of a benevolent Providence, 
 created, which very often branches into numerous streams : 
 and the Almighty has so variously blest the different por- 
 tions of the globe with numerous specific productions, 
 many of them peculiar to their local situation, adapted and 
 suited more especially to the wants and comforts of the 
 inhabitants of the climes wherein they are produced, but 
 coveted, by way of novelty, utility, ornament, or plea- 
 sure, by the inhabitants of nations in other climes : and 
 the all-wise Parent of social man has so kindled in his 
 breast a love of novelty and variety, a spirit of industry 
 and commercial enterprize, (and which spirit of commer- 
 cial enterprize he has so gratified in his wondrous gift, the 
 loadstone, the right hand of navigation), that the flow of 
 the tide of the social union increases thereby in rapidity 
 and in the height of its swell. 
 
 But ambition often interrupts this amongst nations; 
 pride, selfishness, envy, and vice, in family connexions : 
 the fervent prayer of the Philanthropist is, that these in- 
 terruptions may for ever cease, and that human nature 
 may become one united happy family. 
 
 How highly calculated this wise and benevolent ordain- 
 ment of the social union is to endear our all-wise and 
 gracious Creator to us. 
 
 The parent bids his prattUng child, &c. 
 
 PAGE 8, VERSE 8. 
 
 What a bright ornament is it to a national character, 
 and what a treat to the philanthropic heart, that, as soon 
 as children begin to speak plain, one of the first objects 
 in parents and guardians is to teach them to read ; and 
 what easy helps are now afforded to render learning a 
 pleasure ; and what stimulative rewards are now held out 
 for juvenile improvement! How would the great Alfred 
 have rejoiced to have beheld this day ! !
 
 NOTES. 97 
 
 To all possessing her, the choicest prize. 
 
 PAGE 8, VERSE 16. 
 
 ** What would Johnson have beei\ without hterature? 
 " Insensible to the charms of polite society, and a rebel 
 ** against its rules : Yet literature made him a companion 
 " for Princes, whenever he would condescend to associate 
 
 " with them." Williams o« the Moral Tendenoj of 
 
 Knowledge, page 23. 
 
 » I 
 
 The draught o^i sacred pen. 
 
 PAGE 8, VEKSE 23. 
 
 Divine revelation is of unspeakable value I To the 
 higher order of learning we owe the translation of that 
 precious volume, the Bible, into the vernacular tongue, 
 and likewise those diligent researches which, for some 
 time past, have l)een made by piotis literary men, to obtain 
 the text of it pure. 
 
 The following- emendations in the Old Testament^ 
 amongst a number, will shew the great value and import- 
 ance of literary attiiinment and research. 
 
 * 
 
 Isaiah, liii. 9. Common Translaiiow. 
 
 " And he made his grave with the wicked, and with 
 *' the rich, in his death." 
 
 Bishop Lowlh's Translalion. 
 
 " And his grave was appointed with the wicked, but 
 ** with the rich man was his tomb." 
 
 2 Kings, viii. 10. Common Translation. 
 
 " And Elisha said unto him, (Ha/ael), Go, say unto him, 
 " (Ben-hadad), Thou mayest certainly recover; howbeit, 
 " the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die." 
 
 Mr. Bellamy's Translalion. 
 
 " Say not unto him. Thou mayest certainly recover; for 
 " the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die." 
 
 o
 
 98 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHIrOPY. 
 
 Extract from the Rev. John Coleridge's Dissertations, 
 chap. xxix. page 234. 
 
 " I would note also, that, 1 Kings xvii. 4. tD'y^vrr, the 
 t( JYorehim, the ravens, are said to teed Elijah at tlie brook 
 *' Cherith, before Jordan. Now, there is a town mentioned 
 *' Josh. XV. 6. called Beth-Warabah, or simply Warabah, 
 " whose inhabitants Vv onld be called Worebim, or Haurre- 
 ** bim, the men of Warabah. Hence it \% probable that the 
 " translation (1 Kings xvii. 4, 6.) should stiind thus : And 
 ** it shall be tliat thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have 
 " commanded the men of Warabah to feed thee there. 
 *' And the men of Warabah brought him bread and flesh 
 " in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and 
 ** he drank of the brook. This observation, which I suppose 
 *' I may justly claim as my own, will take off one topic of 
 ** ridicule from deistical men, and be more confirmed by 
 *' noting that the town is (Josh, xviii. 22.) in the tribe of 
 *' Benjamin, and seems not far from the river Jordan." 
 
 And, since the received text of the New Testament 
 ■was completed by the Elzevir edition, in 1624, upwards 
 of three hundred manuscripts, some of them of very great 
 antiquity and value, have been collated by learned men, 
 •with much care and skill ; and the interesting work does 
 not stand still. 
 
 And hand it out to millions more. 
 
 PAGE 9, VERSE 6. 
 
 What pleasure does the present great increase of in- 
 struction afford the Philanthropist ! With unspeakable 
 delight he beholds (as it were) a new world, and highly 
 rejoices in the anticipated view of the blessings of the 
 rising and future generations. 
 
 tie 
 
 Learning to Scieiice paves the way. 
 
 PAGE 9, VERSE 14.' 
 
 We are particularly indebted, for the introduction of 
 history and science into Great Britain, to our learned 
 forefathers, by whose labours ancient foreign records of 
 information were translated into the vulgar tongue. lu
 
 NOTES. 99 
 
 this day of improvement, such is the avidity after know- 
 ledge, that the greatest encouragement is given to the 
 translation of every useful discovery, &c. compiled in 
 foreign language. __^_ 
 
 Yet, without me, would she be much unknown. ' 
 
 PAGE 10, VERSE 4. 
 
 Without Art, as an assistant to Science, iiiechanics, 
 hydrostatics, hydraulics, &c. would have been very little 
 known; without optical instruments, how far behind 
 should we be in the science of astronomy ! how valuable 
 the compass, quadrant, telescope, and chronometer, to the 
 science of navigation ! Who, without Art, would have 
 known the extraordinary power of the steam-engine ? and 
 the art of printing may, with great propriety, be called the 
 Palladium of Knowledge. Very numerous cases might be 
 adduced to shew that Science and Art must necessarily 
 form a union, to their arrival at perfection. 
 
 Science ennobles man ! 
 
 PAGE 10, VERSE 5. 
 
 In the study of nature, man sees the Divine character 
 in multifonned excellence, and beholds in the glorious 
 Peity thousands of beauties, which are the continued 
 theme of his meditative thought, and become so many 
 sources of exquisite mental delight; and, while science 
 ennobles the man, it greatly increases his powers to feli- 
 citate his fellow inen. 
 
 JLeadshim through INature's circuit, c^reat and small. 
 
 PAGE 10, VERSE 9. 
 
 Myriads on myriiids <^f animals are so small as to be 
 quite invisible to the naked eye, and discoverable by the 
 microscope alone. A philosophical friend of the author, 
 DOW deceased, (Mr. Coventry, of Southwark), has drawn, 
 by machinery, eipiidistant lines upon glass, to the five- 
 thousandth part of an inch asunder, to admeasure the size 
 of these animalcula^ And the ingenious Mr. Barton, of 
 the Royal Mint, now makes similar micrometers, and in 
 some respects has improved on those of Mr. Coventry. 
 
 o 2
 
 100 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 In August, 1817, at the Glasgow Astronomical Society, 
 their largest solar microscope exhibited hundreds of in- 
 sects devouring- the body of a gnat, and scores that had 
 lived luxuriously for several mouths on the leg- of a moth. 
 The author was once shewn some sea sand, brought from 
 the Italian shore by the late Earl of Bute, and called, 
 after him, " Lord Bute's sand," which, on inspection 
 through a magnifier, proved to be a number of marine 
 shells. The pensive philosopher knows not wherein most 
 to admire the wonderous perfections of Deity — in the tele- 
 scopic or the microscopic world ! And while, in our range 
 through animal nature, we are struck with the grandeur of 
 the lion, the hugeness of the whale and elephant, the 
 towering- cameleopardalis, and with the beauty of the 
 tiger, leopard, and zebra, we behold with eqnal delight 
 the beautiful humming-bird, the curculeo imperialis (or 
 diamond beetle), the moth and butterfly tribe, &c. While 
 the labours of the horse, the ass, and ox, in Europe — the 
 elephant and camel in the eastern nations — the ostrich in 
 Africa — and the rein-deer in Lapland— prove beneficial to 
 man, he receives also the blessings of Heaven through 
 the smaller animals ; as the bee affords him delicious food, 
 the cochineal and silk-worm contribute to his ornament, 
 and thecantliarides often afford him life-preserving remedy. 
 The Almighty likewise makes use of the lesser animals 
 for man's chastisement,»as took place in the plagues of 
 Egypt, and has frequently occurred in human sustenance 
 being devoured by them. 
 
 A late divine of the United States, when in England, 
 gave an account of a man in America, who was a pro- 
 cessed Atheist, and who carried the point so far as to say, 
 *' If there was a Cod, he would go to a certain place, and 
 " there defy him to do his worst." He went, and im- 
 piously gave the defiance. " God" (said the pious divine) 
 " did not send thunder and lightning to strike him dead 
 " on the spot; but, while he was there, a very small fly 
 " settled on his throat, and stang him. On his return to 
 " his home, the part became inflamed, the inflammation 
 " increased, and caused his death !" Thus did he awfully 
 learn the lesson, " ViiRiLY there is A God."
 
 NOTES. 101 
 
 To whom instinctive ray is given. 
 
 PAGE 10, VERSE 15. 
 
 Science is progressive in its growth ; with all its present 
 valuable attainment, it is now very far below its climax : 
 Instinct is ripe at once, and knows no further progress. 
 
 Reason's struck dumb ! 
 
 PAGE 10, VERSE 16. 
 
 Some time ago, the author ^vas in a company when it 
 was proposed to discuss the following question : " Where 
 "does reason begin, and instinct end?" A gentleman 
 gave the following relation : " In my garden I kept bees ; 
 " and there came a toad, and fixed himself at the mouth 
 ** of one of the hives ; the bees became irritated, settled 
 '* upon him, stung him to death ; then set to work, and 
 " made a case of wax completely over him. They soon 
 '• found " (said the intelligent gentleman) " that they 
 *' could not remove him; but how" (observed he) " should 
 " they know that lie would become offensive?" The cir- 
 cumstance was so striking, and the observation so pointed, 
 that the discussion on the subject could proceed no further. 
 Numerous instances of the sagacity of animals might be 
 given, that aie continually passing under observation, 
 which confound our reason, and strike the mind with great 
 iur])rise. 
 
 The magnet, too! (how great its use!!) 
 
 PAGE 10, VERSE 20. 
 
 In order to estimate the value of the magnet, compare 
 the protracted and difficult voyage of the Apostle Paul 
 from Palestine to Rome, with the circumnavigation of 
 Captain Cook. 
 
 It is impossible too much to admire the wisdom and 
 goodness of the Deity, and his benevolent attention herein 
 to his human offspring, in this his curious and surprising' 
 gift; for no other part of anin)al nature partakes of its 
 benefits. Those already received therefrom are of great 
 ▼alue and extent, and with prospect of large increase.
 
 102 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 j Is but the Title of the wonderous Book!!! 
 
 PAGE 11, VERSE Y, 
 
 " The sQjil of man was form'd to walk the skies." — Young. 
 Such is the immense creation of the all-glorious Deity, 
 that when the contemplative mind takes into its accouHt 
 the earth, with its numerous and various inhabitants and 
 productions ; when it considers its attendant satellite, the 
 moon ; each of the planets, with their attendant satellites, 
 all most probably equally well and suitably fdled with in- 
 telligent and animal life, and vegetation; when it con- 
 templates the great number of visible fixed stars which 
 shine by their own native light, as so many suns to systems 
 of planetary worlds, with satellites revolving round them, 
 all likewise inhabited by rational beings and other animals, 
 and suitably furnished with the means of sustenance and 
 enjoyment ; though, in soaring stretch of thought, the mind 
 adds to this assemblage of inhabited worlds, and suns to 
 warm and enlighten them, those numerous systems of 
 planetary and secondary orbs which roll in order round 
 that large number of fixed stars made visible by the tele- 
 scope ; yet, such we may conceive to be the extent of the 
 production of Creative Power, that this immense aggre- 
 gate may be considered but as a grain of sand, compared 
 with the whole creation of God !!! 
 
 I 'm inspiration in the minor key. 
 
 PAGE 11, VERSE 9. 
 
 The surprising discoveries by Sir Isaac Newton, of the 
 laws of nature, &c. appear to us a kind of minor inspira- 
 tion. A large field of valuable science and useful art has 
 arisen from sudden impressive ideas, or what is termed 
 accident, but, with far greater propriety, should be called 
 an unseen providential hand. The circumstance arises, 
 scientific utility strikes the mind, idea expands, and the 
 Biost beneficial consequences are the result. 
 
 To "which our ancestry had httle thought I 
 
 PAGE 11, VERSE 15. 
 
 What an accession of richness and beauty did the gar- 
 flen of science receive under the culture of the great Sir
 
 NOTES. ^ 103 
 
 Isaac Newton ! But, since bis tlay, science has not'stood 
 still : far from it : new discoveries have been made in 
 mechanical powers for the ease and reduction of labour; 
 that mechanic Samson, the steam-engine, and utility of 
 steam itself, and which is likewise made use of in the 
 navigation of vessels and yachts, which are thereby enabled 
 to advance with regular progress and great expedition, 
 even against wind and tide, not only on rivers, but to a 
 considerable extent on the ocean: — discoveries have been 
 made of several latent airs, in different substances, and of 
 peculiar qualities: — the valuable discovery of the properties 
 of the electric fluid, through which edifices may be saved 
 from the destructive effects of lightning ; and the electric 
 fluid itself has likewise been found of great salutary value: 
 — a new world, as it were, has been opened in the science 
 of chemistry, attended with very great and various bene- 
 fits : — great attainments have been made in surgery and 
 pharmacy ; and even the severity of amputation has been 
 much alleviated : — the important discoveries have been 
 made of restoring animation, and of vaccination, to prevent 
 the fatality of that dreadful disease, the smallpox : — new 
 methods are found of producing light, and one of giving 
 light most copiously, and with peculiar brilliance, l3y the 
 means of hydrogen gas ; — and a new mode of conveying 
 intelligence, with unparalleled speed, by the telegraph : — 
 great improvements have been made in the science of 
 optics: — the arts of stereotype and lithographic printing 
 have been introduced : — a great increase has been made in 
 geographical knowledge; the vast oceans have been tra- 
 versed from east to west, and from n(jrth to south ; new 
 islands, and indeed archipelagoes, and what may be styled 
 another continent, under a most genial zone, have been 
 added to the map. 
 
 An extensive field of additi<jnal astronomical knowledge 
 was displayed in Newton's days; but, since his time, by 
 improved opti(^al power, astronomers have made discoveries 
 of several other planets belonging to our solar system, as 
 the llerschel, Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta; and, at- 
 tendant on the llerschel, six satellites; likewise two ad- 
 ditional satellites to the planet Saturn. By diligently ex- 
 ploring the numerous celestial nebuUe, and the genera!
 
 104 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. ^ 
 
 heavenly expanse, a multitude of fixed stars have heen 
 observed that were before unknown ; and, besides this 
 great addition to the sublime science of astronomy, disco- 
 veries have been made of several thousands op 
 DISTINCT CLUSTERS OF STARS, each cluster rationally 
 supposed to be as numerous (immense in number as it is !) 
 as our own cluster or sideral system. How is the creative 
 power of the Deity here brought to view ! and how would 
 the adoring- soul of Newton have risen in stature, had it 
 been his lot to have witnessed these wonders ! 
 
 But it would constitute volumes to detail the numerous 
 discoveries in the different sciences, and the various in- 
 ventions and improvements in art, which have been made, 
 and they are daily making progress. 
 
 Could some improved method of preserving fish for 
 future use, to what has yet been practised, be discovered, 
 so as to render it much more palatable in a preserved 
 state than it now is rendered by the usual methods, and 
 also free from saline particles, the author considers it 
 would be of most extensive benefit — a blessing to his 
 country, and to the world — as the increase of human sus- 
 tenance would be incalculable ; and, in this unparalleled 
 day of discovery, the desideratum may ])Ossibly be ob- 
 tained. It has been discovered that the pi/roUgneous acid, 
 which is obtained by the distillation of wood, has the pro- 
 perty of preventing the decomposition and putrefaction of 
 animal substances. It is suflicient to plunge meat for a 
 few moments into this acid, even slightly empyreumatic, to 
 preserve this meat as long as you desire ; and here putre- 
 faction not only stops, but it retrogrades. Messrs. Donkin 
 and Gamble, of Bermondsey, are in the possession of a 
 patent for the preservation of meat, in canisters, ready 
 cooked, as provision for long voyages. Captain Martin, 
 of the Fortitude, AVest Indiaman, says, meat thus pre- 
 served was perfectly good after having been in the West 
 Indies two months ; and there are many other testimonies 
 to the value of this invention. Beef, that has been to the 
 East Indies and back to London, was perfectly sweet and 
 good. His late Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, the 
 late Sir Joseph Banks, and Mr. Astley Cooper, have 
 highly a})proved of and publicly sanctioned it. With
 
 NOTES. 105 
 
 sneh diseov^eries before us, may we not hope, if efforts 
 ^yere made on the subject, that it would be crowned with 
 success ? Round such an extent of coast as the British, 
 what numerous millions of fish might be caught and pre- 
 served for use, while every philanthropic heart would hail 
 a discovery so fraught with blessing to mankind ! 
 
 The author would recommend to the consideration of 
 gentlemen of opulence and public spirit, the establishment 
 of a society to encourage ingenious and inventive men, by 
 affording them pecuniary assistance to bring out, and carry 
 on, their inventions and discoveries, which he considers 
 would be of great public as well as individual benefit. 
 
 There are a number of persons, who have made valuable 
 discoveries, aud are in the possession of very useful in- 
 ventions, but, for want of money to bring them forward, 
 and carry them on, retain them within their own breasts, 
 instead of handing them out to the public notice. 
 
 The Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Commerce, 
 and Manufactures, (which is a valuable ornament to the 
 British nation,) do much to encourage the developement 
 of improvement and useful discovery, by way of honorary 
 and pecuniary reward ; but there appears to be something 
 wanting much beyond this ; because many persons look 
 forward to their inventions as a support to themselves and 
 families, and hereby many of the most valuable inventions 
 and improvements may lie dormant, for want of a capital 
 to give them effect, and bring them out to the public ; 
 themselves waiting in hope that something might arise to 
 bring the desired pecuniary aid : and thus may the public 
 be deprived of some of the most valuable accessions to 
 science and general utility. By the establishment of such 
 a society, pecuniary aid would be known to be always 
 ready at hand, which might be afforded either by way of 
 gift or loan, as the case might demand, and a large bene- 
 ficial accession to the present valuable stock of improve- 
 ment be the result. 
 
 Which rose on Britain's favoured land. 
 
 PAGE 12, VERSE 11. 
 
 Sir Isaac Newton was born at Woolstrope in Lincoln- 
 shire, on Christmas day, 1642; and, while we pay our just 
 
 p
 
 106 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 tribute of respect to that illustrious character, we caiinet 
 >\ithbold it from the great Lord Bacon, whom the Hon. 
 Mr. Walpole calls the Prophet of Arts which Newtoa 
 was afterwards to reveal ; and Mr. Haslett observes in his 
 Lectures, " He was the principal pioneer in the march of 
 " modern philosophy; his name deserves to stand where it 
 " is generally placed, by the side of Newton, Shakspeare, 
 " and Milton." 
 
 Many persons may be unacquainted with the value of 
 Sir Isaac as a theoloj^ian, considering- him only as a most 
 eminent philosopher : But he shone no less in theology than 
 in philosophy, which his excellent Remarks on different 
 parts of the Holy Scriptures evince; on that sacred 
 volume he set the highest value, as appears from the fol- 
 lowing circumstance. 
 
 Dr. Halley ridiculing the Scriptures in the presence of 
 Sir Isaac, he cut him short with words to this effect : — 
 
 " Dr. Halley, when you talk of astronomy and mathema- 
 "tics, which you have studied, I love to hear you; but 
 " when you talk of the Scriptures you disg-us<t me, because 
 *' I have studied them, and I know that you knew nothing 
 " at all about them." 
 
 And the pious and learned Bishop Newton observes, in 
 his Dissertation on the Fulfilment of Prophecy, that " Sir 
 " Isaac possessed a sagacity that -^as peculiar to him, and 
 *' with which he penetrated into Scripture as well as into 
 " nature." 
 
 How powerfully does this recommend the diligent study 
 of the Bible ! And the estimation which his great mind set 
 thereon lays the quibbling Deist, with all his sneers and 
 loftv language, prostrate in the dust. 
 
 The British Philosopher highly glories in his own country 
 being the birth-place of these truly great men. 
 
 Nmtuied by highly valued Brunswick's hand, 
 
 PAGE 13, VERSE 2. 
 
 Highly do Britons prize the blessings of civil and re- 
 ligious liberty, which they so much enjoy under the benign 
 reign of the illustrious House of Brunswick. 
 
 Trial by Jury is one of the choice fruits of Qivil liberty.
 
 NOTES. 107 
 
 On this interesting subject a much admired author makes 
 the following remark : — 
 
 " And this institution is not more salutary than it is 
 " grateful and honourable to those popular feelings of 
 " which all good governments are tender. Hear the 
 " language of the law : In the most momentous interests, 
 *• in the last peril, indeed, of human life, the accused ap- 
 " peals " to God and his Country, which Country you are.'^ 
 " What pomp of titles, what display of honours, could 
 " equal the clear dignity which these few words confer 
 " upon those to whom they are addressed !" — Paley, 
 
 The present progress of general instruction will, by 
 forming intelligent jurors, highly advance this blessing. 
 And Religious Liberty, how truly valuable and cheering 
 to the heart ! In what an eminent degree does the British 
 nation now enjoy it! When in history we look back in 
 some past reigns, and see how the demon of religious per- 
 secution triumphantly stalked through its land, spreading 
 cruelty and death, surely we may take up the language of 
 the Psalmist, and say, " The lines are fallen to i/s in pleasant 
 " places." 
 
 For Britain's torch halli lighted up tlie flame. 
 
 PAGE 13, VEIISE 14. 
 
 The progress which rational liberty is now making on 
 the Continent of Europe all'ords great pleasure to the phi- 
 lanthropic heart, while the British philanthro[)ist's exults 
 that herein it is his own nation that is looked up to as an 
 example. Tiiily, then, does a Monarch bless his people, 
 when he gives them a constitution of government formed 
 on the model of the British. 
 
 Ill private walk, we .s^ladly trace. 
 
 PAGE 14, VEUSE 17. ' 
 
 Like showers that fall in the night, unseen, yet rich in 
 blessing, are the benevolent who privately do good ; whose 
 pulses beat high with mercy and love, and whose charity often 
 proves amost acce|)table(oiisoJation to the sons and daugh- 
 ters of misery, although their names do not stand recorded 
 
 P 2
 
 108 THE EMPIRE OF PHILAKTHROPY. 
 
 in the public roll of philanthropy, and who, themselves, all 
 humble and unassuming-, yet can truly adopt the language 
 of Job, " The blessing- of him that was ready to perish 
 " came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing 
 " for joy." 
 
 In triumph, Philanthropic Union rides! ! 
 
 PAGE 15, VERSE 8, 
 
 TruW valuable is thaf communion where Benevolence 
 forms the column, and directs the march. 
 
 Here men forget political ancf religious differences, 
 ■while philanthropy, divine philanthropy, is the regular 
 order of the day. 
 
 The disposition to unite with others, to relieve the dis- 
 tresses or to promote the felicity of mankind, exhibits a 
 fine trait of philanthropic character, and shews in what an 
 eminent degree the principle of benevolence is implanted 
 by the Creator in the human heart. 
 
 Radiant example, to the world she shines. 
 
 PAGE 16, VERSE 2. 
 
 " Behold (say the nations) that land of glory and free- 
 " dom ! a])ove all, notice its active and extensive benevo- 
 " lence I !" The philanthropic Briton replies, " Remark 
 *' it, to enjoy its liberties, and imitate its mercy !" 
 
 Benign Britannia runs to bless. 
 
 PAGE l(i, VERSE IG. 
 
 In consequence of the great distress experienced by the 
 poor inhabitants of Spitaltields and its neighbourhood, a 
 meeting was held at the Mansion-house on the 26th of 
 November, 1816, at which the humane Mr. Buxton, in a 
 very impressive speech, pourtrayed their sufferings ; and 
 in a few days the sum of forty-three thousand three hundred 
 and sixty-nine pounds was raised by public subscription 
 fer their relief. 
 
 And how prompt, how noble, how compassionate, how 
 ■welcome, was the relief afforded to numbers in the incle- 
 ment winter of 1819, by the Society for the Relief of the
 
 NOTES. 109 
 
 Houseless, the benevolent Mr. Hick gratuitously offering 
 his extensive warehouse for their reception ! This most 
 compassionate undertaking was supported by the then 
 Lord Mayor, (Alderman Bridges), and for which he after- 
 wards received the unanimous thanks of the Corporation. 
 
 By the liberality of the subscriptions, shelter and relief 
 were afforded to thirteen hundred and seventy-six persons of 
 both sexes, amongst whom were upwards of four hundred 
 houseless seamen, and nearly an equal number of disbanded 
 soldiers. — A Committee of humane Ladies assisted to see 
 attention paid to the females. Beloved Britain ! Compas- 
 sion is thy polar star. This beneficent Society intends 
 annually to continue its laudable undertaking. 
 
 In floating Hells, across wide ocean borne. 
 
 PAGE 17, VERSE 14. 
 
 Scenes have been described, that have taken place on 
 board the slave ships, in their passage from Africa to the 
 West Indies, that justify the expression used as not to be 
 considered too strong. 
 
 The efforts of Mr. Wilberforce and his friends to pre- 
 sent the slave ships (antecedent to the abolition of the 
 trade) being over-crowded, and which object in Parliament 
 they obtained, will ever be gratefully remembered by the 
 friends of humanity. 
 
 Fulfilling' that her soul desir'd. 
 
 PAGE IS, VERSE 3. 
 
 The abolition of the Slave Trade received the Roval 
 assent on the 25th of March, 1807. 
 
 More nobly stands, and rises higher still. 
 
 PAGE 18, VERSE 11. 
 
 We cannot too much admire and esteem the unremitted 
 perseverance of Mr, Wilberforce, and his parliamentary 
 coadjutors, session after session, in pursuit of the noble 
 object, until they in humane triumph finally obtained the abo- 
 lition. What feeling heart can behold the statues of those 
 two great statesmen, Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt, and recollect
 
 110 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 their essential services in this great cause, without an 
 emotion of pleasure ? 
 
 To gain this end, her Prince and Senate plan. 
 
 PAGE 18, VERSE 17.' 
 
 Herein Britain's Prince Regent, its Senators, and Peo- 
 ple, exhibited an overflowing stream of the purest huma- 
 nity, and of the most exalted philanthropy. Never did 
 the British People more zealously unite than in the god- 
 like effort to procure, on the part of other nations, the en- 
 tire abolition of the Slave Trade. Eight hundred thousand 
 persons signed the petitions presented on the subject. 
 
 Our humane Prince, on his part, expressed his determi- 
 nation to use every effort with those Foreign Powers con- 
 cerned therein to obtain it ; and the Right Hon. Lord 
 Castlereagh has since truly remarked, " Ministers herein 
 *' had not slept at their post." And, from the efforts that 
 have been made, the Philanthropist looks up in joyful hop© 
 to ultimate success. 
 
 See how her Charities her land adorn, 
 And hail the boon — to be a Briton born. 
 
 PAGE 19, VERSE 4. 
 
 f If the great Apostle Paul gloried in being born a Roman, 
 what glory is it to be born a Briton of the present philan- 
 thropic day ! 
 
 In the year 1810, Anthony Highmore, Esq. of Ely 
 Place, Holborn, published an octavo volume of one thousand 
 pages, entitled Pieias Londinensis, containing an account 
 of the different charitable institutions in London only; 
 since that time a large increase has taken place. 
 
 Th' affecting scene of hves thus snatch'd from death. 
 
 PAGE 19, VERSE 12. 
 
 What a treat to the philanthropic heart is the sight of 
 persons restored, at the anniversaries of the Humane So- 
 ciety I How doth it call into exercise the finest feelings of 
 the soul, a sensation that language cannot express ! 
 
 It was Britain that gave birth to the Humane Society —
 
 NOTES. Ill 
 
 we stand indebted for it to tbe discoveries and perseverance 
 of those humane and scientific men, the late Drs. Cogan, 
 Hawes, and Lettsom ; and its value is now becoming 
 known by experience, throughout the globe. 
 
 Ill Nature's painful dang rous hour. 
 
 PAGE 19, VERSE 19. 
 
 Here we behold Mercy touching her tenderest chord. — 
 What value is it to the poor, at the painful and perilous 
 Lour of childbirth, to be attended, free of expense, by able 
 and experienced raidwives ; and, in cases of difficulty or 
 danger, by the most skilful Physician Men-midwives, and 
 supplied with all necessary medicines, and that either in 
 hospitals expressly erected for the purpose, or at their own 
 habitations, as their circumstances may require ! By the 
 London Parent Lying-in Charity, instituted in the year 
 1757, between five and six thousand poor married women 
 are yearly delivered, free of expense, at their own homes. 
 There are institutions of this kind in some other populous 
 places; and it is much to be wished that such institution* 
 might be general both in this country and abroad. 
 
 Their children's health is British care. 
 
 PAGE 20, VERSE J. 
 
 Besides tbe gratuitous medical relief afforded to the 
 children of the poor, with other persons, at the several local 
 dispensaries in the metroj)olis, in the year 1816 an insti- 
 tution was expressly established for their benefit, which 
 bestows medical assistance from infancy to twelve years of 
 age, and from which institution others are now rising. 
 
 Poor Debtors gain their li1)erty. 
 
 PAGE 20, VEJtSE 6. 
 
 The Thatched House Society has, for many years, 
 afforded extensive and valuable relief to poor debtors, and 
 tl^ere are many uther sources for tliis highly laudable pur- 
 pose.
 
 113 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Distrest old age — the deaf — the dumb — the bUnd, 
 Implore her aid, and consolation find. 
 
 PAGE 20, VERSE 7. 
 
 Societies have been expressly formed for the relief of the 
 aged in distress ; and truly sympathising are those souU 
 that thus unite to bless. 
 
 An Institution has of late been formed for the relief of 
 maladies in the Ear. And a large and very excellent one 
 has been for many years established for the support and 
 education of the Deaf and Dumb, and which is attended 
 with that valuable success that affords a lively joy to the 
 feeliug heart, and adds not a little to the glory of the 
 British character. 
 
 Nor do the complaints of the Eye ask in vain for gra- 
 tuitous relief. To the relief of the Blind every body ap- 
 pears awake ; an establishment has been instituted for the 
 support and education of the indigent Blind, and to train 
 them up to productive employment, which is attended with 
 the happiest success ; besides this, very large donations 
 and bequests have been made for the benefit of the Blind 
 Poor. 
 
 Who can behold persons, who are born deaf and dumb, 
 without peculiar emotion and interest, and not admire the 
 goodness and wisdom of God, in so greatly making up to 
 them their natural defect, (it being in reality but one de- 
 fect, that of want of hearing), by extraordinary animation, 
 quickness of perception, and adroitness ! A Mr. Cook, a 
 very respectaljle gentleman who resided at Bristol several 
 years ago, used, from his observation of the Minister's lips 
 in the pulpit, to be in possession of his discourse, and 
 which he would afterwards gratify his friends with. 
 
 A family in Essex, well known to the Author, were some 
 time ago discoursing on a theological subject, in the pre- 
 sence of a deaf and dumb youth, one of the sons, and an 
 observation was quoted that a learned divine (whose works 
 they were in possession of) had made on the subject. While 
 tliey were thus in discourse, the youth had attentively 
 watched the motion of their lips, and thereby had become 
 in possession of his father's and family's sentiment ; of his 
 own accord he quitted the room, went to the library,
 
 NOTES. 113 
 
 brought iu the volume, opened the page before them, and 
 placed his finger on the passage. 
 
 Often are we surprised at the general cheerfuhiess of the 
 blind, and not unfrequently are we enlivened by their so- 
 ciety, and improved by their intelligence. How highly 
 is this calculated to raise the soul of the pensive philan- 
 thropist in grateful adoration to our benign Ci'eator ! 
 
 The son of want, who pines at home. 
 
 PAGE 20, VERSR 9. 
 
 Several Societies, called the SicJc Mans or Slrangers 
 Friend, by which the sick and distressed are visited and 
 relieved at tlieir own homes, and to whom the visitants like- 
 wise give pious advice, ai'e now established. Silent but 
 highly valuable are the benefits which these sources of 
 exalted sympathy convey to some of the most piteous sons 
 and daughters of want and woe. 
 
 In 1785, six pious and benevolent persons united to- 
 gether in this great cause of humanity ; they were members 
 of the late Rev . John Wesley's Religious Society, and they 
 addressed the following letter to him on the subject : — 
 
 " Reverend and dear Sir, 
 " A few of us arc subscribing one penny a week each, 
 " and to be carried on the Sabbath, by one of ourselves, 
 " who read and pray with the aillicted, who (according to 
 " the rules inclosed) must be a j)oor stranger, having no 
 " parish, nor friend at hand to help them." 
 
 To which Mr. Wesley gave the following reply : — 
 
 " Hifjhhury Place, Dec. 21, 1785. 
 '* I like the design and rules of your little Society, and 
 " hope you will do good to many. I will subscribe three 
 " pence per week, and will give you a guinea on advance, 
 " if you call on me Saturday morning. 
 
 " I am your allbctionate Brother, 
 
 " J- W'ksley." 
 
 They have now raised above one hundred thousand 
 pounds, and relieved about a million of the poor. In the 
 course of five years, relief was given, by one benevolent 
 society of this description, to nearly four thousand five 
 
 Q
 
 114 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 luindied families in Spitalfields, to whom were paid up- 
 wards of thirteen thousand visits. 
 
 Many Religious Congregations have formed similar 
 societies : and they cannot too much abound, nor be too 
 liberally supported ; for, besides affording relief to very 
 numerous objects of great distress — to the helpless and 
 hopeless sick, and even the perishing for want — they have 
 been the means of reclaiming from vice to virtue, and of 
 converting the prophane swearer to the fear of God, and 
 reverence for his holy name. 
 
 Nor is the Criminal by her forgot. 
 
 PAGE 20, VERSE 15. 
 
 In the awful punishment of death, every care is taken 
 there should be no torture, nor even the appearance of it. 
 The law for the burning of women (after being strangled) 
 for certain crimes, was abolished above thirty years ago, 
 on a motion made in the House of Commons by the late 
 Sir Benjamin Hammett, one of the Aldermen of the city 
 of London. The humane feelings of the British public 
 have of late been much awake to the situation and circum- 
 stances of criminal prisoners. Cleanliness and room have 
 been a great object with those truly benevolent persons 
 who have engaged in this most praiseworthy object; and, 
 what is more, a great attention has been paid to improve 
 moral character. Here the efforts of Mrs. Fry to reclaim 
 the female culprits, and ameliorate their wretched condi- 
 tion, cannot be too highly spoken of; and the Philanthro- 
 pic Society, instituted for the reception of poor children, 
 the offspring of convicted felons, and for the reformation 
 of children who have themselves been engaged in criminal 
 practices, cannot be too highly admired : it truly stands 
 
 " A splendid column unto Britain's praise." — Page 20, v. 22. 
 
 It is a most humane institution, and dictated by the 
 noblest principles of virtue and benevolence : it is a na- 
 tional blessing, and cannot be too well supported. 
 
 It ivould assist tli^ cause of Sritish Charity in 
 710 small degree, while it icould he little felt in the 
 amount of the revenue, if Bequests for charitable
 
 NOTES. 115 
 
 pnrj)Oses tvere exempted from the Legacy Dnt}^ 
 Our benevolent Legislature most probably only 
 want their attention directed to the subject. 
 During the period of the Income Ta.x, the piope?ty 
 belonging to Charities invested in the public funds 
 wa^ Mnnanely exempted therefrom. 
 
 While Jenners skill — 
 
 PAGE 21, VERSE 5. 
 
 The benefits which Vaccination has conferred on the 
 British population are very great — preserving- life, health, 
 eye-sight, and personal beauty; and these benefits have 
 been conveyed throughout the European Continent, to the 
 British territories in the East, and to several other parts 
 of the globe; and in Tartary, where the smallpox had 
 proved so remarkably fatal before vaccination was intro- 
 duced, its worth has been unspeakable. 
 
 Extract from the Annual Oration of the London Bledlcal 
 Society, in 1804, delivered by the late Dr. Lettsom. 
 
 " About the year 1775, inoculation of the smallpox 
 ** was much practised in Gloucestershire, after the Sut- 
 •' tonian plan. Jenner, who then cultivated surgery, ob- 
 *' served, that, among those whom he was frequently called 
 *' upon to inoculate, many resisted every effort to give 
 " the smallpox, in consequence of having undergone the 
 " cow-pock, contracted by milking cows afl'ected with a 
 " peculiar eruption on the teats. Jle was struck with the 
 " idea that it might be practicable to propagate the dis- 
 " ease by inoculation, after the manner of the smallpox, 
 " first from the cow, and finally from one human being to 
 " another. He boldly made the attempt; and for ever 
 " secured humanity from deploring the ravages of the 
 " most pestiferous disease that ever visited the earth : and, 
 " in 1798, he divulged this wonderful discovery to an ad- 
 " miring and astonished world." 
 
 For this valuable blessing to the human race, Dr. Jenner 
 has been liberally rewarded by his country, whose glory it 
 is to have given him birth. 
 
 Q 2
 
 116 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Asyluiiis an(] provision find. 
 
 PAGE 21, VEiRSE Hi 
 
 Greenwich and Chelsea Hospitals' Chest at Chalhanij 
 &c. — And what prompt and liberal subscriptions are made 
 by the British people for the wives and children of their 
 heroes, both soldiers and sailors, when they fall in battle ; 
 and for British prisoners of war confined in an enemy's 
 land ! In the late war, a most generous subscription was 
 raised for such prisoners; so much so, that, on the happy 
 return of peace, there was a surplus of eight thousand 
 pounds, which the Managei-s bestowed in portions to our 
 benevolent institutions. 
 
 Such has been the zealous g-enerosity of the British in 
 behalf of their suffering heroes, that some of the plates at 
 the church door, being- filled, have been obliged to be 
 taken out and emptied, while the people were going out of 
 church, that Ihey might be brought back and replenished^ 
 
 " My sons, come graUs, and be wise!" 
 
 i>AGE 21, VERSE 21. 
 
 Behold, in almost every district, gratuitous instruction 
 given, not only to the juvenile classes of both sexes, but 
 also for adults, if they stand in need thereof, and solicit it; 
 the female part of them being taught separately, and by 
 one of their own sex. The rising British generation bids 
 fair to assume that novel and elevated character, that a 
 public odium will, not long hence, among all classes, 
 attach to ignorance. The Sunday Schools have been for 
 some years past of great benefit. 
 
 My Nelson, jjrave ! 
 
 PAGE 23, VERSE 7. 
 
 " That writer, by whom the name of Nelson is not written 
 " with superior glow, must be wholly insensible to the claims 
 " of transcendant merit ; since, to detail his exploits is to 
 " transcribe the brightest pages of our Naval History ; 
 " and, to do justice to his merit by description, the pen 
 " must be animated by the same supernatural impulse with 
 " which the hero fought." — Kett.
 
 NOTEJ^. lit 
 
 My Hoivard, I behold ! 
 
 PAGE 23, VERSE 11. 
 
 Truly may Britannia exult, when she claims Howard as 
 her own. On entering her great Temple, the humane eye 
 fastens on his statue, and there beholds the image of him 
 in whom ])iety and modesty, with the most zealous and 
 enlarged philanthropy, were so eminently combined. ■, 
 
 "A scene, which boasting Rome did ne'er present; 
 
 PAGE 24, VERSE 18. 
 
 What were the most splendid Roman triumphs — what 
 are the most exquisitely carved Italian statues — what its 
 most superb edifices — compared with the interesting scenei, 
 the annual assemblage of the Charity Children of the Bri- 
 tish Metropolis in St. Paul's Cathedral ? 
 
 Thousands in j^rand 
 Orchestra — pealiiisj Hallelujahs shig\ 
 
 PAGE 25, VERSE 8. 
 
 " Sung Hallelujahs as the sound of seas." — Milton^ 
 
 The number of children that can be seated on this occa- 
 sion 'is about five thousand ; more would attend, if there 
 was more room. The Hallelujahs in the Messiah, which 
 are sung by the children, are impressively grand ; the 
 notes of the Plundredth Psalm are like sacred peals of 
 thunder. The great composer Haydn, when he was pre- 
 sent, was herein so highly gratified, that he observed, 
 " Nothing in music had ever pleased him so much." 
 
 This annual assemblage, large as it is, forms but a part 
 of those children, of both sexes, who are gratuitously edu- 
 cated and clothed in the Metropolis ; those of Christchurch 
 Hospital (who are also maintained) are not included ; and 
 likewise a considerable number who are both educated and 
 clothed in the different Charity Schools established by the 
 philanthropic Dissenters, while many of these Dissenters, 
 at the same time, generously assist in supporting those 
 educated and clothed in the metropolitan districts.
 
 118 THE EMPIRK OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 With grateful heart for long-lost health restored. 
 
 PAGE 25, VERSE 13.' 
 
 On the 23tl of April, 1789, his Majesty King- George 
 the Third being, to the great joy of his subjects, recovered 
 from long and very serious ilhiess, went, with his Queen 
 and Royal House, attended by his Nobles, &c. in procession 
 to St. Paul's Cathedral, to return his thanks to Almighty 
 God. The streets were gravelled on the occasion, and those 
 in the City through which the procession passed were lined 
 with the Train Bands ; and the Lord Mayor, on horse- 
 back, preceded the King- bareheaded. A special assem- 
 blage of the children then took place. The whole spectacle 
 was particularly grand and imposing, and much affected 
 their Majesties and the spectators. Gold and silver medals 
 were struck on the occasion, and a magnificent descriptive 
 print of the entrance of the Royal groupe into the Cathe- 
 dral was engraved. The inscription on the medal : Deo 
 Optimo Maximo Rex pientissimiis jrro Salute restituto 
 Vota solvit liibens Merita, Ajwilis, die 23, 1789. 
 
 And here, too, did the Russian Autocrat, 
 With Prussia's King, 
 
 PAGE 25, VERSE 16. 
 
 This high treat to the philanthropic heart particularly 
 attracted the notice of their Majesties the Emperor of 
 Russia and King- of Prussia, in their visit to this country ; 
 they attended the anniversary of the 15th of June, 1814, 
 and bestowed thereon their warmest encomiums, and each 
 gave a princely donation. 
 
 The Bible, freely, she bestows. 
 
 PAGE 20, VERSE 11. 
 
 It does the pious heart good to witness the energy now 
 displayed to diffuse the Sacred Volume in this country. 
 For a long- time past. Societies have been established for 
 the purpose of its gratuitous distribution. Above thirty 
 years ago, the late Rev. Robert Robinson, of Cambridge, 
 published a Sermon which he preached in London for the 
 benefit of one of these institutions, in which he stated that 
 as many as three hundred Bibles were on board the Royal
 
 NOTES. 119 
 
 George at the time she sunk, which had been distributed 
 among- its crew. These valuable Societies have of late 
 very extensively increased, and persons of every rank have 
 herein manifested a most exemplary zeal. 
 
 The great worth of the Bible consists in its containing 
 the revelation of God to man, confirmed by miracle and 
 the fulfilment of prophecy, enjoining the purest and most 
 exalted virtue, with the most disinterested benevolence ; 
 revealing the character of the glorious Deity, in all its 
 perfection, beauty, and excellence; the forgiveness of sin, 
 and a sure and well-grounded hope of a resurrection from 
 the dead, and immortality to come. By putting it into 
 persons' hands, you thereby enable them to gain a know- 
 ledge of the Divine Will from inspiration itself, to become 
 a blessing to themselves and to their fellow men, to rise 
 above the vicissitudes, trials, and sorrows of life, and to 
 triumph over the fear of death. 
 
 This was the treasure, this the bosom, friend. 
 
 PAGE 20, VERSE 16. 
 
 Some religious ladies were a few years ago visiting the 
 apartments in Buckingham House, the Royal Family at 
 that time frequently residing there. When the attendant 
 (with whom one of these ladies was acquainted) came to 
 one apartment, she made this remark : "This is the King's 
 "room; and here he is every morning at six o'clock 
 " reading his Bible." The Author had this account from 
 one of these ladies. 
 
 See British valour crush the Corsair band — 
 
 PAGE 27, VERSE 14. 
 
 Philanthropists have deeply lamented that the Algerines 
 should have so long * continued the inhuman practice of 
 piracy, and consigning their captives to slavery. In the 
 result of the exploit of Lord Exmouth every feeling heart 
 must rejoice. His Boyal Highness the Prince Regent, 
 in his Speech on the opening of the session of Parliament 
 
 * Kimber, in his History of England, states, that in tlic year 1037 the 
 Britisli Clianiiel was infested with Corsairs, and that Uiey had live thousand 
 English subjects tlieir prisouers.
 
 120 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 tlie 28th of January, 1817, observes : " The hostilities to 
 " which I was compelled to resort, in vindication of the 
 " honour of the country, a^^ainst the Government of Al- 
 " giers, have been attended with the most complete sug^ 
 " cess. The splendid achievement of his Majesty's fleet, 
 " in conjunction with a squadron of the King of the Ne- 
 " therlands, under the gallant and able conduct of Admiral 
 " Viscount Exmouth, led to the immediate and uucondi- 
 " tional liberation of all Christian captives then within the 
 ** territory of Algiers, and to the renunciation, by its Go- 
 " vernment, of the practice of Christian slavery." 
 
 An Italian paper records, that a Member of the Arcadia 
 lias written the following distich on the acliievemeut : — 
 
 Exmoiith en venit ; sed Ccesar major. 
 Nam non imjjosuit, sustuUt ensejugiim. 
 
 The humane mind cannot help shuddering at the follow- 
 ing extract from the Morniuff Advertiser of Tuesday the 
 28th January, 1817 : — 
 
 " Uniom-Hall. — Algerine Cruelty. — A striking proof 
 " of the barbarity practised by the Algerines towards our 
 ** countrymen, who were so unfortunate as to fall into their 
 '* hands previous to Lord Exmouth's glorious expedition, 
 *' was exhibited at this Office yesterday. A young man, 
 " apparently about twenty-six years. of age, dressed as a 
 " sailor, was brought up by May, who discovered him 
 " sleeping in the open air, during the preceding night, in 
 " the Borough Market, in a most deplorable state. He 
 " answered the questions put to him by the Magistrate by 
 " signs, intimating that he was dumb ; and, opening his 
 '* mouth, shewed that he was deprived of the organ of 
 " speech. He requested to have a pen, ink, and paper; 
 " and, on being furnished with them, he gave the follow- 
 " ing history of himself : — Some years ago he was a fore- 
 " mast man on board the Pelerranean Trader ; they had 
 " the misfortune to fall in with and be taken by an Alge- 
 " rine Corsair, who carried them into Algiers : here they 
 " were sold for slaves, and he was sent far into the coun- 
 " try, to the estate of his purchaser ; here he was treated 
 " with the greatest cruelty — his tongue was cut out — and 
 " his person otherwise mutilated in a most barbarous
 
 NOTES. 121 
 
 *' manner; a large iron hoop was fastened round his body, 
 " and he was put to draw a cart and other heavy burthens. 
 " In this state he was when the glorious victory of Lord 
 " Exmouth gave liberty to him and numerous other equally 
 " miserable individuals. On inquiry, it appeared that he 
 " belonged to the parish of Lambeth ; and the Magistrate 
 " ordered an officer to go with him to the workhouse, and 
 " direct that all possible care should be taken of him." 
 
 See France— see Russian — German lands, 
 Partake the bounty of her hands ! ! 
 
 PAGE 28, VERSE 5. 
 
 In France, she blest her enemy. 
 
 PAGE 28, VERSE 19. 
 
 How generous was the British Nation in her collections 
 for the relief of the exiled at the time of the French revo- 
 lution ! and how eminently so in her contributions to alle- 
 viate the sufferings of the Russians and Germans in the 
 late war I 
 
 In the American war, after the French nation had joined 
 the Americans, a large number of French prisoners of war 
 in Britain were in great distress, unrelieved by their own. 
 country. The humane British public generously stepped 
 forward, and, by a liberal subscription, afforded them re- 
 lief. Britannia then truly exhibited herself a Christian 
 nation. And, besides these noble acts of generosity, there 
 is established a Society expressly for relieving Foreigners 
 here in distress. 
 
 And Tongues their oivn — 
 
 PAGE 29, VERSE 8, 
 
 The British nation, highly prizing that inestimable trea- 
 sure, the Word of God, not only exerts itself amply to 
 distribute it through ils own lands, but piously aims to give 
 it abundantly to every nation under heaven, translated into 
 their several different tongues. 
 
 " In the reign of Charles the First, a Mr. Elliott, \y\\o 
 " had emigrated to North America, and who was called 
 " the Apostle of the Indians, did, with indefatigable paiii"*, 
 
 R
 
 122 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 " translate the Bible into the Indian language." — Kimler'^ 
 History of England, vol. vii. page 228. 
 
 In the year 1792, a design was formed to print and cir- 
 culate the Holy Scriptures in the native tongue throughout 
 the French nation ; and a Society was instituted for this 
 purpose, which met at the Author's house, and in which 
 he took an active part. They began their labours by di- 
 recting ten thousand New Testaments to be printed in 
 Paris, and sold at a low price ; and the sum of three hun- 
 dred pounds was collected for the purpose. The first 
 proof of the work was transmitted for inspection by Mon- 
 sieur Jansen, the printer employed, and which the Author 
 is in possession of. The Rev. Monsieur Marron, of Paris, 
 the then principal French Protestant Minister, greatly 
 encouraged the undertaking. The Rev. William (now 
 Professor) Carey, the late Rev. Dr. Coke, the late Rev. 
 Elhanan Winchester, of the United States, then in Lon- 
 don, and several other Ministers, with their congregations, 
 Mr. Wilberforce, and the late Mr. Henry Thornton, and 
 other persons of piety and benevolence, gave their sup- 
 port: But the calamitous war which broke out between 
 the two countries totally suspended the undertaking. The 
 Committee, in consequence, vested the sum in hand in the 
 funds ; and, after waiting some years, and despairing of 
 being able to make further progress, at the suggestion of 
 the late Rev. Dr. Coke, they laid it out, with its accumu- 
 lated interest, in the purchase of English Bibles, to be 
 distributed in Ireland, and which were most thankfully 
 received. Since which (glory be to GoD !) a Society has 
 been formed, under the name of The British and Foreign 
 Bible Society, on a most extensive scale, supported by 
 very liberal subscriptions and donations. This Society 
 has been able already to distribute the Holy Scriptures 
 abroad in no less than one hundred and thirty dif- 
 ferent languages and dialects!!! For this great deed of 
 piety and benevolence, the British nation will be prized 
 by the whole world, generation after generation. The 
 Rev. John Owen, M.A. gratuitous Secretary to the So- 
 ciety, has published, in two octavo volumes, an account 
 of it, with its labours and success. Were Wickliffe here, 
 tu witness the annual Report of the labours and success of
 
 NOTES. 123 
 
 this Society, how would the tears of pious joy stream down 
 his venerable cheeks ! 
 
 Her swnmimi honum ever to diffuse new bliss !! 
 
 PAGE 30, VERSE 11. 
 
 In viewing the orange tree, we see a striking- emblenl 
 of Britain's Charity. Thereon we behold fruit fully ripe — 
 fruit full grown, and becoming ripe — fruit half grown — 
 fruit of minor size — and the expanded and expanding 
 blossom generating future produce. Many of our benevo- 
 lent institutions are in a state of full perfection — many 
 nearly arriving at it — some but half grown — in the blos- 
 som—or only yet in the bud. God bless them all, and 
 crown every philanthropic effort with abundant success ! 
 We have plenty of fostering hands — the Royal House, 
 our Nobles, and our People, are alive to do good ; it is 
 the great treat to the true British heart. With this en- 
 nobled view of the British character before him, the Author 
 takes the liberty of recommending the following New Be- 
 nevolent Institutions, 
 
 NATIONAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR THE GENE- 
 RAL RELIEF OF DISTRESSED MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 An Institution formed for this purpose would be a most 
 valuable national blessing. Such is the fluctuating nature 
 of trade and commerce, that in some part or parts of this 
 manufacturing country there will be manufacturers (pro 
 tempore) out of employ, and consequently in distress. 
 Subscriptions and benefactions might be solicited for this 
 most interesting purpose in every part of the country, and 
 Sermons annually preached in every church and dissenting 
 place of worship, in aid. And there are both the means 
 and the spirit in the British public annually to raise that 
 .sum that might afford most beneficial relief. Committees 
 being appointed, with wisdom and care to* apply it, it 
 would endear the British population to each other, have a 
 great tendency to prevent crime, and annihilate discontent. 
 
 DISTRESSED CLERGY. 
 
 Truly valuable is congregational worship ; and every 
 lover thereof must wish to see the Ministers of Christianity 
 
 R 2
 
 1-24 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 comfortable and respectable in their circumstances, and as 
 much as possible free from the anxieties of life, that they 
 may devote themselves to the important duties of their 
 office : But it is, at times, the lot of some of our Clergy, 
 from a numerous family or some afflictive circumstance, to 
 be in distress; and how does it appal the feelings! indeed, 
 they rise almost indignant at seeing advertisements in the 
 public papers to relieve Clergymen's distress. Amongst 
 several that have appeared, the following is copied from 
 The Times, 5th July, 1818 :— " Charity's Sacred Voice.-- 
 " The benevolent aid of the dignified Clergy, and every 
 " other true philanthropist, is solicited on behalf of a poor 
 " unfortunate Curate, with a wife and seven small chil- 
 " dren, the youngest not a month old, involved in deep 
 " distress and unmerited embarrassments, destitute even of 
 *' an habitation, and actually bereft of every resource, save 
 ** the spontaneous offerings of a British public. Messrs. 
 " Coutts have, at the particular request of a Royal Duke, 
 " ever foremost in the cause of humanity, opened their 
 " house." The establishment of Institutions in every dio- 
 cese, or of one National Institution, to aitord relief to 
 Clergymen in distress, would be a national honour, and 
 prove a valuable blessing ; and there is no doubt but the 
 benevolent members of the National Church would liber- 
 ally contribute, and the opulent Clergy unite with them in 
 this pious undertaking, and collections be annually made 
 in every Church to assist. To the high credit of the Dis- 
 senters of different denominations, this relief is particu- 
 larly attended to. Generous annual subscriptions, and 
 collections at their places of worship, have for years past 
 been made for this benevolent and pious purpose, the 
 llegium Donum being given in aid. Suitable relief is af- 
 forded to their distressed Ministers, care being taken that 
 it should be bestowed on them so as not to wound their 
 feelings, or lessen their importance and usefulness. 
 
 HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 This most afflictive subject powerfully appeals to the 
 compassionate feelings. Hitherto the dreadful calamity 
 has baffled medical skill ; but, when we consider the dis- 
 coveries of the restoration of suspended animation, and of
 
 KOTFA 125 
 
 vaccination, ought we to despair of onr benign Creator 
 suggesting to the mind a remedy? An Institution, ex- 
 pressly formed for this research, might, under the Divine 
 blessing, obtain the desideratum ; and our humane Go- 
 venment have manifested their disposition to reward such 
 
 a valuable discovery. It has been found, by recent 
 
 experiment, that the injection of a quantity of water into 
 the veins of an infected dog entirely subdued every symp- 
 tom of this malignant disease. 
 
 The Highlands and the Western Islands of Scotland 
 contain four hundred thousand inhabitants ; most of them 
 only know the Gaelic language, and there are very few of 
 Hiem that can read. The Author is well persuaded that 
 here he has occasion to make no plea ; he need only state 
 the fact to the active sons and daughters of benevolence. 
 
 The humane attention which is paying to the relief of 
 distressed Seamen, both of our own country and of fo- 
 reigners, manifests a true British feeling. The appoint- 
 ment of a Floating Hospital on the Thames, for the relief 
 and recovery of those who are sick and lame, and which 
 has been liberally encouraged by his Majesty and his Royal 
 Highness the Prince Leopold, is a valuable act of mercy; 
 and both Institutions truly merit encouragement. 
 
 It gives much pleasure to the virtuous and feeling heart 
 to see the public attention called towards the distressed 
 situation of a Female Servant out of place, and in which 
 excellent cause the humane and generous Miss Vansittart 
 has taken an active part; and it is hoped that, by the 
 public liberality. Institutions for the purpose will be formed 
 in the different districts of the Metropolis, and in the po- 
 pulous towns, for this most benevolent purpose. How 
 soon is the little all of a poor servant maid, when out of 
 place and on her own hands, expended ! and then her ap- 
 parel, by piece-meal, goes to pledge, until she is unable to 
 make a suitable appearance to offer herself for another 
 situation. In this her distress she becomes a victim to the 
 harpies of vice, and she is induced to enter into a course 
 of life, the very thought of which would have antecedently
 
 no THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 filled her soul with horror. What pain doth it give the 
 virtuous mind, to behold the throngs of females which 
 nightly parade our streets, and numbers of whom can tell 
 a tale like this ! But, as British mercy is now directed to 
 this object, may we not hope for a happy result ? For, if 
 temporary relief is afforded to those of good character, 
 until they obtain situations, what a merciful boon will be 
 bestowed, and what direful evil may be prevented ! and of 
 many be said, in the language of holy writ, " Is not this a 
 *' brand plucked out of the burning?" 
 
 The Society for the purpose of bestowing Rewards on 
 Female Servants who conduct themselves well and continue 
 in their places, instituted by the Rev. Mr. Watkins, is 
 productive of much good ; and the success it has already 
 met with affords pleasure to the humane and virtuous heart. 
 
 The Truss Society has been a most valuable relief to 
 thousands, and deserves every encouragement. The name 
 of the late humane Mr. Taunton, who so greatly exerted 
 himself for its prosperity, will remain dear to the compas- 
 sionate bosom. 
 
 The Sea-Bathing Infirmary, the BatJt Hospital, the 
 Institution for the Cure of Diseases of the Lungs, and the 
 Dorcas Society, for lending Childbed Linen to Poor 
 Women during their lying-in, are each truly beneficial. 
 
 The intended effort to instruct the Gipsies in this coun- 
 try, and the consequent amelioration of their condition, is 
 a philanthropic novelty, and most truly praiseworthy. 
 
 A feast for Kings — is her rich treasure. 
 
 PAGE 32, VERSE 13. 
 
 When the Emperor Alexander, by his humane perse- 
 vering effort, recovered the Polish peasant who was taken 
 out of the water apparently lifeless, as soon as symptoms 
 of life appeared, in an ecstacy of joy he exclaimed, " This 
 "is the happiest day of my life."
 
 NOTES. 127 
 
 See Her — all Forgiveness, shine!! 
 
 PAGE 33, VERSE 22. 
 
 Forgiveness of injuries is the climax of practical Christi- 
 anity — hard to obtain — but, without it, the Christian cha- 
 racter stands imperfect. In the person of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ we have a most eminent example of it, and his 
 direct precept for it. This virtue should be most earnestly 
 implored, and most diligently cultivated in the heart, or 
 how can we offer up to our Heavenly Father that part of 
 our Lord's all-comprehensive and pious prayer, " Forgive 
 ** us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass 
 ** against us ?" Persons, desirous of obtaining this summit 
 of the Christian character, will do well to consider every 
 injury they may receive as an opportunity afforded them, 
 by the Almighty's providence, of the practice of the virtue. 
 
 Whose care divine decreed connubial life. 
 
 PAGE 34, VERSE 9. ' 
 
 Marriage is a wise and most benevolent ordinance of 
 Heaven ; and, while it greatly encourages virtue, it calls 
 forth into exercise the finest feelings of human nature, and 
 the greatest encouragement should be given to it. If So- 
 cieties were formed, among the more opulent, to bestow 
 portions on industrious virtuous pairs, on their entrance 
 into life, either by gift or loan, it would much promote the 
 cause of virtue and happiness ; and such Societies being 
 established, opulent persons, who may leave behind them 
 no relatives, or none other but such as are wealthy, might 
 be led to bequeath legacies in aid of this valuable object. 
 
 Nor is parental tenderness a gift 
 Of lower birth. 
 
 PAGE 34, VERSE 20. 
 
 How wise, how affectionate, how transcendently kind 
 does the glorious Deity appear in his gift of parental ten- 
 derness ! Herein does He most truly appear to be our 
 Heavenly Father. The disposition of many persons, who 
 are childless, to adopt the young, and foster them like their 
 own, with the tcnderest care, not only relatives, but
 
 128 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 strangers, shews how strongly parental love is, hy the 
 Parent of all good, impressed ou the heart. 
 
 A very striking instance of the strength of parental af- 
 fection took place in the afflictive event of the loss of the 
 Aheona transport by fire, at sea, with passengers from 
 Greenock to the Cape of Good Hope, near the Equator, 
 in 25 degrees west longitude, on the 25th November, 1820. 
 Out of a crew of twenty-five, and one hundred and forty- 
 one passengers, only forty-nine persons were saved in the 
 boats, and which, by the interposition of Providence, were 
 met with by a Portuguese vessel, and taken on board. 
 The narrator of the melancholy catastrophe thus expresses 
 himself: — " Parental affection never shone with greater 
 " lustre than on this occasion. Mothers and fathers, re- 
 " gardless of themselves, caught up their young children, 
 " and threw them into the boats ; and in one family (Bar- 
 " rie's) the eight juniors were preserved, one a child of 
 " fifteen months old, while the noble parents, with their 
 " eldest son and daughter, are numbered with the dead." 
 
 Magnetic Infant Smile 1 
 Alluring sovereign o'er the heart. 
 
 PAGE 34, VERSE 21. 
 
 The smiles of her infant, on the affectionate mother, 
 repay her for all her tenderness, compassion, and care; 
 and a sensation of inexpressible delight thrills through her 
 bosom when she witnesses the first smile of her babe; 
 while, at the same time, those smiles speak the language 
 of alluring dictates of love and care to the heart of the 
 father. 
 
 Maternal Love ! (Ador'd be Heaven for this, 
 It's Catholic gift) 
 
 PAGE 35, VERSE 5. 
 
 So general is affection and tenderness towards their in- 
 fantine offspring found in mothers, that a woman without 
 them is spoken of in the Prophet Isaiah, chap. xlix. v. 15,, 
 as an anomaly in nature.
 
 NOTES, 129 
 
 See what perennial Sympathy is here ! 
 
 PAGE 35, VERSE 9. 
 
 How unabating is maternal tenderness ! Who can wit- 
 ness it without admiration ? It is a remark of mothers, 
 that those of their children, whom they have long nursed 
 and watched over in sickness, they find they love the best. 
 If such is parental tenderness — such maternal love — what 
 a most powerful, what a most rational claim is there on 
 man to unremitting filial affection! 
 
 The man Avith piety possest, 
 Becomes on earth supremely blest ! 
 
 PAGE 30, VERSE 5. 
 
 The most valuable gift of Heaven to man is piety, espe- 
 cially early piety, as it generates in the mind the detesta- 
 tion of every vice, and cultivates every virtue ; and when 
 it is seated in the soul, it becomes tlie never-failing source 
 of an enlarged and glowing philanthropy. The pleasures 
 of sense are transient and cloying, and frequently leave a 
 sting behind; riches are unsatisfactory, and often fleeting, 
 and, at death, like the aerial meteor, pass away ; but con- 
 templation of the Deity is an inexhaustible felicity, in- 
 creasing by enjoyment, lasting to the verge of the present 
 life, and will be prolonged throughout the future ages of a 
 never-ending eternity. Rational piety is not only the best 
 gift of Heaven to man, but it is the brightest ornament of 
 human nature. 
 
 lie has no time to kill. 
 
 PAGE SC, VERSE 10. 
 
 The way of killing time, with many, is by laying and 
 deciding wagers : — and it gives no small pain to the bene- 
 volent mind to observe the encouragement that has for 
 several years past been given in this country to the prac- 
 tice of piize-Jighting. Strange it is, that husbands and 
 fathers, and those who call themselves Christians, can, 
 with any thing but disgust, look on such scenes. Such 
 persons would do well to consider whether the system of 
 prize-fighting has not a great tendency to lead on to iiuts
 
 130 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 of barbarity, and to murder. Many, who abet this prac- 
 tice, may themselves mean no harm ; but they should con- 
 sider what a number there are of unpolished bystanders 
 assembled at a pitched battle, and those lookers-on get 
 thus habituated to bloody scenes; and, thus habituated, 
 the crime of murder itself, at the thought of which they 
 antecedently would have shuddered, becomes familiar. 
 And it ought to be remembered that such pugilistic con- 
 tests are a breach of the public peace ; and, when our 
 worthy magistrates are apprised thereof, they hold the 
 parties to bail to keep it. Some persons plead for this 
 practice, that it keeps alive British courage, and which 
 the nation will stand in need of when at war ; but, before 
 this practice of prize-fighting received the encouragement 
 it has of late done in this country, were the British military 
 and sailors less valiant than they are now? has not history, 
 for ages past, herein recorded their renown i 
 
 It appals the humane heart to read the particulars of 
 those scenes which so frequently now meet the eye in the 
 public papers. I will give a few instances from the bloody 
 record, with a hope to discourage (if possible, to annihi- 
 late) the practice : — 
 
 From the Morning Advertiser, June 24, 1817. — " The 
 " men were both piping like horses marked for the 
 " knackers ; and the claret had flown in such abundance, 
 " that the seconds were even steeped in it." 
 
 From the same Paper, April 8, 1819. — " Pugilism. — 
 " Palm Sunday. — Sunday morning a tremendous battle 
 " took place in Islington fields, between a young man of 
 " great notoriety in the boxing ring, named Bill Finney, 
 " and an Hibernian, named Murphy. The former was 
 " seconded by Brandy Tom and Bill Tippett, and the 
 " latter by a black man and another. Finney entered the 
 " ring about half past two o'clock, amidst the loud huzzas 
 " of a vast concourse of people ; Murphy soon followed, 
 " and was also received with the same acclamations. — 
 "■ Bound 2. Both men set-to in a cheerful manner, and 
 " were some time before they could get a hit at each other. 
 " At length, after great manoeuvring. Murphy gave him 
 " (Finney) a right-handed hit under the right ear, which, 
 ♦' shocking to relate ! knocked him down, apparently life-
 
 NOTES. 131 
 
 •' less. Death appeared in his face. His friends imme- 
 " diately conveyed him to the Rose, in Frog-lane, Avhere 
 " he was laid on a table, and a surgeon sent for, who used 
 *' every exertion to restore his speech and the use of his 
 " limbs, but without effect; and he was conveyed home 
 " on a litter, and little hopes are entertained of his reco- 
 " very." 
 
 From the British Press, 3Ia>/ 10, 1819. — " Carter was 
 '* dreadfully cut up ; his face beaten out of all remem- 
 " brance ; and, by being twice thrown on the ropes, his 
 " back was lacerated in the most dreadful manner." 
 
 Fro7n the Morning Advertiser, March 3, 1820. — 
 " Pitched Battle, yesterday morning, nearCuffnells, Bucks, 
 " between Apsley and Burke. — In the 1st round, they 
 " went fiercely to work ; in three minutes, they were both 
 " so covered with claret, that they were only known by 
 " yellow breeches and brown breeches. 5th round, Apsley 
 '* received a blow on the temple, which in a minute left 
 " him without a glimmer of light ; he cracked a rib of his 
 " antagonist in return. Both the men were led off the 
 " ground very ill." 
 
 Fro7n the Morning Advertiser. — " Hackfield Common, 
 " near Oakingham, 4th May, 1820. — Battle between Gee 
 " and Bodkin. — 2d round. Bodkin's upper lip was laid 
 " open from the nose, as if a surgeon's instrument had 
 " been worked." 
 
 From the Times, Jan. 2, 1821. — " On Thursday last, 
 " an inquest was commenced at Culham, in Oxfordshire, 
 " in view of the body of Richard Pusey, who, on the 
 " Tuesday preceding, in a light with a young man of the 
 " name of John Owen, received so severe a blow on the 
 " neck, under the left ear, as to render him insensible, in 
 " which state he continued a few hours, and then expired. 
 " — Verdict, Manslaughter.'' 
 
 Could the gladiators, in former unpolished times, have 
 afforded much more sanguinary exhibitions ? And these 
 are a very small specimen of such scenes, and whicii strike 
 horror to the philanthropic heart, being so calculated to 
 brutalize the soul, and to eradicate those compassionate 
 feelings which so ennoble our nature, and endear the hu- 
 man race to each other. It is lamentable to sav, that if 
 
 s 2
 
 132 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 the diflerent accounts in the newspapers were published 
 together, they would fill volumes. Herein I have made 
 no mention of the broken jaws and other instances of per- 
 sonal injury which have taken place, and which stand upon 
 record. And the idea of training for the bloody exploit 
 appals the feeling heart with a horror almost indescribable. 
 And shall it be told in this enlightened day, that Sujiday 
 newspapers vie with each other, which shall give the most 
 particular account of previously-fought pitched battles ? 
 And does it not outrage all decency, and bid defiance to 
 every thing sacred, to see placards posted up publicly, 
 not only during the Sunday, but even in the hour of divine 
 worship, announcing that newspapers contain accounts of 
 such sanguinary conflicts I 
 
 My fellow Britons ! While you stand so high to the 
 world, as ennobled and enlarged philanthropists — while 
 vou profess the holy religion of Christ — those blessed doc- 
 trines of peace and love — discourage, with all your in- 
 fluence, this hateful practice ; and assist our valuable Ma- 
 gistrates, by every means within your power, to accomplish 
 its extinction. Let it ever be considered, throughout the 
 world, that humanity, and not brutality, constitutes the 
 British character. 
 
 Persons, fond of wagers, would do well to employ them- 
 selves in betting who could produce the most humane be- 
 nefit with a certain sum of money. The boon in question 
 would then rejoice many a poor widow and orphan's heart, 
 and console many an afflicted family. 
 
 His sacred name, by all be high rever d, 
 By none prophan'd. 
 
 FACE S7, VERSE 5. 
 
 It is said of the great Sir Isaac Newton, that he never 
 named the Deity without first making a solemn pause. 
 Strange it is, that the sacred name of Him whose energy 
 alone causeth the successive beatings of the heart, and by 
 whose providential bounty man is daily supported and com- 
 forted, should by man ever be profaned. Stranger still, that 
 it should be so (and so commonly too) by enlightened and 
 highly-favoured Britons. It appears surprising, that man, at
 
 NOTES. 130 
 
 all reflecting on the greatness and goodness of God, should 
 ever do contrary to the Divine Will ; but sensual gratifica- 
 tion and interest too frequently allure him from the path 
 of duty : But man has nothing to allure him to the com- 
 mission of the sin of swearing and profane discourse ; it 
 is committing iniquity for the sake of committing it. Man 
 is not at all constitutionally formed with a disposition to- 
 wards it ; and he who prophanes the name of his great and 
 benign Creator, prophanes the name of Him who hath 
 formed him his rational creature, and dignified his created 
 rank, by blessing him with that gift of speech which he 
 hereby so greatly abuses, by lending it to the service of 
 sin. The practice arises from example and habit ; and, 
 like other habits, it increases by use. Those persons who 
 may see its criminality, but, from the power of habit, still 
 continue its practice, may, by diligent attention and per- 
 severance, gain that command over themselves, so as to 
 entirely relinquish it. This prevalent vice should be con- 
 tinually declaimed against in every pulpit. 
 
 In this great duty, let man live!!! 
 
 PAGE 38, VERSE 13. 
 
 " So many pathetic reflections are awakened by every 
 ' exercise of social devotion, that most men, I believe, go 
 ' away from public worship with a better temper towards 
 ' the rest of mankind, than they brought with them. 
 ' Sprung from the same extraction, preparing them for 
 ' the period of all worldly distinctions, reminded of their 
 ' mutual infirmities and common dependance ; imploring 
 ' and receiving support and supplies from the same Great 
 ' Source of power and bounty ; having one interest to 
 ' secure ; one judgment, the supreme object of their hopes 
 ' and fears, to look towards ; it is hardly possible, in this 
 ' position, to behold mankind as strangers, competitors, 
 ' or enemies, or not to regard them as children of the 
 ' same family, assembled before their common Parent, 
 ' and with the same portion of tenderness which belongs 
 ' to the most endearing of our domestic relations. It is 
 ' not to be expected that any single effort of this kind 
 ' should br considerable or lasting ; but the frequent re- 
 * turn of such sentiments as the presence of a devout con-
 
 134 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 '* gregation naturally suggests, will gradually soften down 
 " the unkind passions, and may in time generate a perma- 
 " nent and a productive benevolence." — Paley. 
 
 Wisdom and Power and Love then call Him mine. 
 
 PAGE 38, VERSE 21. 
 
 Nothing affords that true, that delectant joy, as to have 
 the character and attributes of the glorious Deity continu- 
 ally in remembrance, as a Being possessed of consummate 
 wisdom, infinite power, and boundless love ; and that he 
 is unchangeably the same, and ever with us, in the v/hole 
 of his beatifying character. The tie, connection, and re- 
 lation between the Great Creator and his human offspring 
 is indissoluble ; and we cannot too highly appreciate it, 
 nor too frequently contemplate thereon. The creature is 
 imperfect, thoughtless, and apt to forget this relationship 
 between him and his God ; but our Heavenly Father is 
 never forgetful of his ; for he is kind even to the unthank- 
 ful and the unholy. The prayer of the pious man is, that 
 the beauty and excellence of the character of Him who is 
 the ocean of joy may be continually felt on his soul ; that 
 he may see God in every thing, and every thing in God. 
 It is the contemplation of the Divine character, in all its 
 harmonious excellence and heavenly riches, that will ge- 
 nerate that love towards God which our Lord enjoins ; that 
 is, with all the heart, the mind, and the strength. And 
 ever be it remembered, his love always takes the prece- 
 dence of our's ; and that, in every period of life, and in 
 every instance, we must adopt the language of the Apostle, 
 " We love him, because he fiist loved us." How much 
 would these ideas, dwelling on the mind, have a tendency 
 to pievent suicide and insanity 1 
 
 Go see the Philanthropic Hoivard die ! ! ! 
 
 PAGE 42, VERSE 17. 
 
 This truly great man, when visited by Admiral Priest- 
 man, thus expressed himself: " Death has no terrors for 
 " me ; it is an event I have always looked up to with 
 " cheerfulness, if not with pleasure ; and, be assured, it is 
 " to me a more grateful subject than any other."
 
 NOTES. 135 
 
 " He would himself of good deny. 
 
 PAGE 43, VERSE 21. 
 
 The Author was intimate with a private single gentle- 
 man, of moderate independent property, (some years since 
 deceased), who would deny himself the purchasing of new 
 apparel, when his rank in life required it, that he might 
 bestow private charity on distressed families. 
 
 " He was the wretched culprit's friend. 
 
 PAGE 4S, VERSE 23. 
 
 The late Isaac Buxton, Esq. relative to the present be- 
 nevolent J. F. Buxton, Esq. M. P. had that humane trait 
 in his character, that induced him to visit criminals under 
 sentence of death, unknown to him before their trials. 
 This man of mercy was very attentive to the late Rev. Dr. 
 Dodd, and in his carriage attended him to the place of 
 execution. A late intimate friend of the Author, who 
 lived to an advanced age, was in the habit, even from his 
 younger days, of visiting condemned prisoners, to give 
 them pious advice. 
 
 " Beheld Mankind the offspring of his God. 
 
 . PAGE 44, VERSE 9. 
 
 The enlarged philanthropic mind considers each indivi- 
 dual of the human race as so many distinct flowers borne 
 ' by the same root; and wherein he linds himself blessed, he 
 wishes them to share in the same blessings. Whatever 
 excellencies he feels himself possessed of above others, he 
 resolves the whole into the special kindness of his indul- 
 gent Creator, given him to devote to the felicity of his 
 fellow men : If any are ignorant, he rejoices in instructing 
 them ; if in misery, in affording them relief, according to 
 that sphere of ability in which his Heavenly Father, in his 
 all-wise providence, has placed him. 
 
 " Who brought the Negro to this land, 
 
 PAGE 44, VERSE 14. 
 
 Ill the summer of 1806, the Author witnessed a scene 
 in Clapham Church which afforded him the most lively
 
 10(5 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 sensation of pleasure — a nnmber of fine Negro youths at- 
 tending- divine worship, who had been brought to this 
 country by the Sierra Leone Company, to be educated. 
 It was found that this climate did not a^ree with them, 
 some fell victims to it, and the plan was given up. The 
 benevolent spirit and efforts of the Company did not in 
 consequence abate ; for schoolmasters were sent by them 
 to the colony, to instruct the children of the African race; 
 many hundreds of them are in the schools founded there, 
 and their number is increasing. 
 
 For richer far — page 45, verse is. 
 
 How highly do the exploits of a Howard tower above, 
 and how much more brilliantly adorn the poet's page, than 
 the fabulous feats of a Hercules, or the conquests of an 
 Alexander I ! Let this idea be impressed on the juvenile 
 mind. 
 
 >i 
 And makes a Man resemble God ? 
 
 PAGE 47, VERSE 12. 
 
 With this inspiring thought, who can embosom a con- 
 tracted heart ? " God is love," doing good without ceas- 
 ing. The true philanthropist will consider that a lost day 
 in which he has not, in his humble sphere, resembled 
 Him ; in which he has not rendered some service to his 
 fellow men ; and for every opportunity, ability, and dispo- 
 . ^ition to do good, he will be grateful. 
 
 O'er him her Shield of Mercy throw ? 
 
 PAGE 49, VERSE 6. 
 
 The generosity of a British warrior, to a vanquished foe, 
 cannot be too highly spoken of, nor too greatly admired. 
 
 *' Well done ! on Earth thou did'st display — 
 
 Philanthropy. 
 
 PAGE 50, VERSE 9. 
 
 Let no one repine at the wise allotment of Proyidence, 
 and say, •' Because I am not possessed of affluence, I shall 
 " iave no place on my Judge's right hand — the King will
 
 NOTES. 137 
 
 " not say, * Come, thou blessed,' to me;" for very exten- 
 sive good may he communicated by us to others, without 
 being possessed of riches. We may visit the sick and the 
 prisoner, instruct the ignorant, give pious advice, excite 
 others to liberality, and may form extensive plans of use- 
 fulness. Our Judge will not call us to an account for the 
 non-improvement of talents we do not possess, but for not 
 improving, for the benefit of our fellow men, those talents 
 God has given us. Oh ! with what shame will the cold- 
 hearted miser hide his face, and what a pang will pierce 
 his soul, when he then stands before his Judge ! How will 
 he wish he had employed that wealth which God had given 
 him, to bless those around him ! Let, then, the man of 
 hoarded wealth now recount his treasure, not to say, " I 
 " have goods laid up for many years," but to calculate 
 what blessings he can on others bestow. 
 
 Millions without instruction live. 
 
 PAGE 52, VERSE 8. 
 
 If we take a view of the world, we shall find that very 
 extensive portions of it — the populous land of Ilindostan, 
 the Chinese empire (containing three hundred millions of 
 people), the large peninsula of Africa, Tartary, a great part 
 both of North and South America, Australia, &c. — are in 
 a state of awful mental darkness : and the philanthropic 
 heart cannot contemplate this without feeling the most 
 lively pity, without an ardent wish that heavenly showers 
 of amelioration and divine instruction may descend there- 
 on ; for his soul is grieved, it is horror-struck, at the ac- 
 counts of the gross idolatr}', and the barbarous supersti- 
 tions, which those travellers who have witnessed them re- 
 late to exist : — 
 
 " Wliere lacks associate in hands, ' 
 
 " And unto idols worship give." — P. 52, v. 9. 
 
 Dr. Ijuchanan, in his Christian Researches in India, 
 writing from Orissa, 30th May, 180G, and giving an ac- 
 count of the worship of the idol Jaggernaut, observes : 
 " The multitude at Jaggernaut exceeded every anticipa- 
 " tion, their voices sounding like thunder ; and their num- 
 ** ber l)rought to my mind the countless multitude in the 
 
 '1'
 
 138 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 ** Revelations. On inquiring as to the number of wor- 
 " shippers assembled, the natives asserted that a lack of 
 " people (one hundred thousand) would not be missed." 
 
 Hear Ganges' flood repeat a tale- 
 
 PAGE 53, VERSE 9. 
 
 In the Evangelical Magazine, for September, 1813, 
 Mr. William Carey, who is at Cutwa, communicates the 
 following account of savage offerings made to the Ganges. 
 
 " On the 2d of March, at the Varoonce festival, a large 
 " concourse of Hindoos assembled from all parts of the 
 ** adjoining country, to bathe in the Ganges, at a village 
 " about two miles from Serampore. While the crowd 
 " were employed in bathing, an inhabitant of Orissa ad- 
 '* vanced to the banks of the river, leading in his hand a 
 " beautiful boy, of about six years of age. Having anoint- 
 " ed his body with turmeric, and surrounded his temples 
 ** with a garland of flowers, and clothed him in new ap- 
 •' parel, he repeated the incantations prescribed by the 
 " Shaster : Then, descending into the river, and taking 
 " his son in his arms, he said, ' O Mother Ganges, this 
 " child is thine; to thee I offer it.' So saying, he cast 
 " the little boy into the river, who sunk, to rise no more ! 
 " The crowd testified their approbation, by crying out, 
 *' Hurrihul. It appears, that, several years back, he, 
 " being desirous of children, promised to offer his first-born 
 *' to Gunga, should the goddess be propitious to his 
 " wishes. — Another man, at the same place, having per- 
 *' formed the usual ceremonies, to prevent the intervention 
 " of his relatives, carried his son, a lad about twelve years 
 " of age, in a boat, to the middle of the stream, and there 
 "dropped him in. The child struggled for some time; 
 " and was happily discovered by some one passing, who 
 " rescued him from death.^ — An infant was also cast into 
 ** the river by its mother, at the same time, but the rela- 
 " tives recovered it, and carried it home." 
 
 And deed the tongue with falt'ring names. 
 
 PAGE 53, VERSE 16. 
 
 Dr. Buchanan gives an account of one hundred and fif- 
 teen women burnt on the funeral pile of their husbands.
 
 NOTES. 139 
 
 within thirty miles round Calcutta, in six months, from the 
 15th of April to the 15th of October, 1804. And, at a 
 meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, held at 
 the Freemasons' Tavern, May 3, 1820, the Rev. William 
 Ward gave a deplorable account of the evils produced in 
 India by the shocking and gross superstitions that prevail 
 there. The custom of burning and burying women alive, 
 so far from being on the decline, he lamented to say, was 
 becoming more general. In one district, during the year 
 1815, between four and five hundred were immolated in 
 this way. In 1816, the number burned or buried alive was 
 near six hundred ; and, in 1817, they amounted to seven 
 hundred and eighteen. In the House of Commons, it was 
 stated by the Right Hon. Bragge Bathurst, that in Cal- 
 cutta, in the year 1815, one hundred and fifty-three widows 
 were sacrificed ; in 1816, two hundred and eighty-nine ; 
 in 1817, they increased to four hundred and forty-two ; 
 and, in 1818, to five hundred and forty-four. Indeed, to 
 such a pitch is this practice carried, that the sucking 
 infant is torn from the breast, that this horrible deed of 
 Hindoo superstition may take place. Professor Carey 
 calculates there are in the whole not less than ten thousand 
 widows annually thus sacrificed. 
 
 Th' unfeeling son, he strikes the blow ! ! 
 
 PAGE 54, VERSE 4. 
 
 Dr. Leyden, in his Dissertation on the Language and 
 Literature of the Indo-Chinese Nations, relates, that 
 " when a man becomes infirm, he invites his own children 
 ** to eat him. Accordingly, in the season when salt and 
 " limes are cheapest, he ascends a tree, around which his 
 " offspring and friends assemble, and, shaking the tree, 
 " they join in a dirge, the burden of which is this : * The 
 " season is come, the fruit is ripe, and it must descend.' 
 " The victim then descends; and those that are the nearest 
 " and dearest to him deprive him of life, and devour his 
 " remains at a solemn banquet." 
 
 Accounts have lately been received from Sumatra, that, 
 in a part of that island, children are fattened, that they 
 may be sold as human food ! ! ! 
 
 rp O 
 1 <W
 
 140 THE E:\fPIRF. OF PHTTANTHROPY. 
 
 Are wanton sacrifices slain. 
 
 PAGE 54, VERSE 6. 
 
 '' In Guinea, the funeral of a sovereign is attended with 
 " uncommon scenes of horror and inhumanity. Several 
 " of his slaves are dispatched at the grave, as attendants 
 ** to serve him in a future state. One of his wives, and 
 " principal servants, with such friendless wretches as are 
 " unfortunate enough to be within reach, add also to the 
 " splendour of the barbarous sacrifice." — GoldsmitKs 
 Geography, page 567, 
 
 Letters from Calcutta, dated 20th January, 1817, stated 
 the death of the Rajah of Nepaul, and that one of his 
 queens, one of his concubines, and five female attendants, 
 were consumed on his funeral pile, on which they precipi- 
 tated themselves. One of them was only sixteen years of 
 age. 
 
 i* . — 
 
 Now hear th' inspir'd and soul-inspiring Word. 
 
 PAGE 55, VERSE 24. 
 
 Isaiah, chap. ii. v. 3, 4 ; chap. xi. v. 6 — 9 ; chap. Ixv. 
 v. 25. Micah, chap. iv. v. 4. Habakkuk, chap. ii. v. 14. 
 
 Of Tyre did He predict its marvellous fate. 
 
 PAGE 59, VERSE 7. 
 
 Great Babylon, of proud and peerless sway, 
 By sure destruction shall be swept away. 
 
 PAGE 59, VERSE 15. 
 
 Ancient authors, Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, and 
 others, represent Babylon as a most immense city, being 
 above sixty miles in compass, with walls round it, three 
 hundred and fifty feet in height, and so broad, that six 
 chariots could go abreast upon them. And the Prophet 
 Isaiah makes use of most lofty language to describe its 
 glory and consequence ; while the Prophet Jeremiah calls 
 it "the praise of the whole earth." " Its beauty, strength, 
 " and grandeur," Bishop Newton observes, " are described 
 " with such pomp and magnificence by heathen authors, 
 *' that it might deservedly be reputed one of the wonders
 
 NOTES. ■ 141 
 
 " of the world." Both Isaiah and Jeremiah prophecy of 
 its conquest, debasement, overthrow, and complete de- 
 struction, and that it should be " as when God overthrew 
 " Sodom and Gomorrah." And Isaiah thus proclaims, in 
 the 14th chapter of his Prophecies, verse 23 : " And I will 
 " sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of 
 " Hosts." 
 
 Mr. Salmon, in his History, vol. i. chap. 2, observes, 
 " What is as strange as any thing that is related of Baby- 
 ** Ion, is, that we cannot learn, by ancient writers or rao- 
 " dern travellers, where that famous city stood." 
 
 Mr. Hanway remarks, in his Travels, " that its ruins, 
 " which geographical writers place about fifteen leagues 
 " to the south of Bagdat, are now so much effaced, that 
 " here are hardly any vestiges of them to point out the 
 " situation." 
 
 The Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel both very particularly 
 prophecy concei'ning that great mart of nations, the ancient 
 city. Tyre. Ezekiel, in the 28th chapter of his Prophecies, 
 speaking thereof, says : " Thus saith the Lord God, Thou 
 " sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty." 
 And, in the 27tli chapter, from the 3d verse to the 25tb, 
 is a very elaborate account, and highly worth attention, of 
 the commerce and riches of this once-renowned city. Both 
 these prophets foretold its downfiill, and that it would be 
 complete. Ezekiel, in his 26th chapter, verses 4 and 5, 
 proclaims, " I will also scrape her dust from her, and 
 " make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for 
 " the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have 
 " spoken it, saith the Lord God." It is repeated again, 
 in the 14th verse, " I will make thee like the top of a 
 '■ rock : thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon." 
 
 Bishop Newton, in his Dissertation on the Prophecies, 
 speaking on the subject of the fulfilment of the wonderful 
 predictions relative to the city of Tyre, says: "The 
 " famous Huetius knew one Hadrianus Parvillerius, a 
 " .Jesuit, a very candid man, and a master of Arabic, who 
 " resided ten years in Syria ; and he remembered to have 
 " heard him sometimes say, that when he approached the 
 " ruins of Tyre, and beheld the rocks stretched forth to 
 " the sea, and the great stones scattered up and down on
 
 142 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 ** the shore, made clean and smooth by the sun and 
 ** waves and winds, and useful only for the drying of 
 •* fishermen's nets, many of which happened at that time 
 " to be spread thereon, it brought to his memory the pro- 
 " phecy of Ezekiel, chap. 26, verses 5 and 14, " I will 
 " make thee like the top of a rock : thou shalt be a place 
 " to spread nets upon ; thou shalt be built no more: for I 
 
 *' the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God." The 
 
 Bishop likewise remarks, that Dr. Shaw, in his account of 
 Tyre, and also Mr. Maundrill, a traveller held in great 
 estimation by that intelligent Prelate, for the correctness 
 of his description, speaks of how much God has fulfilled 
 his word relative to this once-renowned mai'itime city. 
 
 The Author would recommend, to all instructors of 
 youth, the frequent public reading of that most excellent 
 work, BisJiop Newt oris Dissertation on the Prophecies, 
 and that the facts stated therein, with his remarks, should 
 be (with any others the instructor may be able to supply) 
 impressed on the youthful mind. He considers its value 
 would be unspeakable, proving a heavenly panoply to pre- 
 serve our youths from the attacks of infidelity, and enabling 
 them, throughout life, with dignity and eflect, to support 
 and defend the cause of God and his divine revelation ; 
 for there is that, in the fulfilment of prophecy, which par- 
 ticularly fastens on the mind, and endears to it the Bible. 
 
 Messiah's words attend, the Jews behold ! 
 
 PAGE 59, VERSE 19. 
 
 My doctrine shall prevail, the Savionr said. 
 
 PAGE 59, VERSE 21. 
 
 The Jews behold indeed ! How wonderfully is prophecy, 
 both of our Lord and of the ancient prophets, (particularly 
 of Moses), relative to this people, who have been now for 
 very near eighteen hundred years scattered amongst the 
 nations, fulfilled, and fulfilling ! — we ourselves being eye- 
 witnesses to these descendants of the ancient patriarchs 
 being thus, by a special providence, still preserved a dis- 
 tinct people, no doubt for some great event to come. 
 
 And how wonderful has been the spread of the Christian 
 religion 1! — a religion directly hostile to that idolatry Mhich
 
 NOTES. ^ 143 
 
 then universally prevailed, without the promise or even the 
 hope of earthly pleasures, riches, or consequence to its 
 professors and converts ; but, on the contrary, exposing 
 them to loss of property, liberty, and life. Yet, in the 
 face of the most cruel persecution, did the doctrine of 
 Christ prevail, and so rapidly and extensively spread, that 
 in the 313th year of the Christian era, Constantine, the 
 Roman emperor, became a Christian, and Christianity be- 
 came the established religion of the empire. And, vt'ith 
 such evidences before us of the truth of the divine predic- 
 tions, who, that seriously attends to the subject, can have 
 a doubt but that grand prophecy, " The earth shall be 
 *• filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as 
 " the waters cover the sea," (Habakkuk, ch. ii. v. 14), will 
 have its glorious and most complete fulfilment? and that 
 high triumphant anthem shall be in full chorus sung, 
 *' Hallelujah : for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 
 " The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms 
 '* of our Lord, and of his Christ." 
 
 Intelligence and happiness to men. 
 
 PAGE 02, VERSE 27. 
 
 The Reports of the British and Foreign School Society 
 are truly inspiring. Instruction is now (as well as at home) 
 going on abroad, on a rapid and very extensive scale. At 
 Florence, twenty-three schools are established. In Cal- 
 cutta, eighty-eight, likewise a Scliool-book Society, and 
 a Hindoo College. The Noble INlarquis at the head of 
 the British Government in India gives great encourage- 
 ment to the work of instruction amongst t'ae natives, while 
 the Noble Marchioness is, on her part, active in promoting 
 the education of the female part of those inhabitants. The 
 several Missionaries there persevere with unabating xeal ; 
 and, most happily, now the long and peculiarly obstinate 
 prejudices of the inhabitants of Hindostan are giving way. 
 The work of instruction goes on with success in other 
 parts of the world ; and so much so among the South Sea 
 Isles, that no less than seven thousand of the inhabitants 
 of Otaheite are now able to read.
 
 144 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Thus richly she diffuses blessing-. 
 
 PAGE 65, VERSE 22. 
 
 If only lliat one happy circumstance, of having put a 
 stop to the inhuman and most unnatural practice of in- 
 fanticide, in the South Sea Isles, had been the result of 
 British Missionary effort, highly would it have been re- 
 warded ; but what various and valuable additional fruits of 
 its labour do we already witness, and with a well-grounded 
 hope of a yet far more copious harvest ! And may we not 
 hope that the plan which our Government has adopted, of 
 sending colonies to our settlement in South Africa, will, 
 under Divine Providence, be the happy mean of instruct- 
 ing the natives, and blessing them with Christianity i The 
 efforts already made for that philanthropic and pious pur- 
 pose have been attended with success. 
 
 The Western States of Albion's stock, behold, 
 Are cast in Britain's philanthropic mould ! 
 
 PAGE 66, VERSE 7. 
 
 To the high gratification of the philanthropic heart, the 
 work of education is carrying on in the United States of 
 America, with great energy and prosperity. 
 
 From the Monthly Magazine, for September, 1819. 
 
 " Extract of a Letter from Philadelphia, dated 30th 
 '' May, 1819: — About the latter end of January, Mr.Lrn- 
 " caster left this city for Baltimore and Washington. At 
 " the latter he arrived during the session of Congress- 
 " Their Hall was granted for the purpose of his lectures ; 
 " and so delighted were the Members, so frequent the 
 " loud plaudits of approbation, so charmed with his elo- 
 " quence in the cause, that it appeared as if the spirit of 
 " Franklin had arisen from the dead, and electrified them 
 " with lightning from heaven." 
 
 And the Monthly Extracts from the Correspondence of 
 the British and Foreign Bible Society exhibit great zeal- 
 ous exertion making in that country to distribute in their 
 extended field for action the Sacred Volume, and numbers
 
 NOTES. 145 
 
 of Auxiliary Bible Societies (as in Britain) have been 
 formed, and are forming-, to assist the Parent Society in 
 the pious work. A letter from New York observes, " We 
 " have an immense tract of country to distribute or circu- 
 " late Bibles through. The new States, west of the AUa- 
 " ghany Mountains, are five times the extent of the At- 
 " lantic States, and are peopling- very fast." 
 
 Besides these valuable efforts of the American States 
 for the improvement and happiness of their fellow men, on 
 the 1st of January, 1818, a Society was formed at Wash- 
 ington to colonize the free people of colour belonging to 
 the United States, and to send them to the western coast 
 of Africa ; and which, if well accomplished, may in the 
 result prove an incalculable blessing to that untutored re- 
 gion. 
 
 To Alexander now attentive look. 
 
 PAGE 6G, VERSE 17. 
 
 In an opposite direction to the United American States, 
 in Russia, that widely-extended domain, and containing a 
 population of many millions, who have long lain in a state 
 of mental darkness, the philanthropist is highly gratified 
 to behold the seed of useful and religious knowledge now 
 abundantly sown. The zeal and liberality of the Emperor 
 Alexander, and of the Dowager Empress, in the cause of 
 education in that country, are very great; and their example 
 is imitated by numbers of rich individuals. Some thousands 
 of schools have there been established, several of which 
 are governed by young Russians, who had been sent to 
 England to be instructed in the Lancasterian system. Not 
 only Russia, but Russian Poland, and even Tartary, are 
 now receiving the benefit of education. Bible Societies 
 are there established, and which receive great encourage- 
 ment from the Imperial Family, from the opulent, and 
 from the Greek Clergy. The precious Book is widely cir- 
 culating in the different dialects of the empire; the Em- 
 peror is patron of a Polish Bible Society established at 
 Warsaw ; and (glory be to God !) a very copious harvest 
 of blessing may be expected to be reaped.
 
 146 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 See Albion's sister shore, Hihernias isle. 
 
 PAGE 72, VERSE \G. 
 
 The Author has here introduced the subject of Ireland, 
 under the impression that most extensive benefit might he 
 there bestowed, at a comparatively small expence to that 
 incurred by the efforts to disseminate instruction and reli- 
 gious truth in distant foreign parts. Not that he would 
 wish to slacken the philanthropic and pious efforts now 
 making to instruct the heathen, or that he thinks no atten- 
 tion is paid on this subject to the Sister Country — very far 
 from it — hut to impress the idea, that, if the same energy 
 and effort were made in the cause of Ireland, a most 
 valuable result might be expected. The cause of Ireland 
 is a true British cause — she is our Sister Country — and 
 British humanity yearns over her to bless her. Let, then, 
 her cause be taken up with spirit throughout the land ; let 
 there annually be collections made at every church and 
 chapel in this country, and subscriptions be generally so- 
 licited in behalf of this great cause. Let it be at once 
 begun ; and may the God of Britain bless the philanthropic 
 effort ! The Irish are a warm-hearted, hospitable people; 
 and shall we not, by copious instruction throughout that 
 country, ere long, thereby add to the list of Missionaries 
 for foreign instruction.' 
 
 ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. 
 
 Grant, gracious Heaven, that my rejoicing eyes 
 May see my heroine to her zenith rise ! ! 
 
 PAGE 73, VERSE 15. 
 
 We are now arrived at a solemn pause in the progress 
 of the Philanthropic Empire — an obstacle, for the removal 
 of which the zealous spirit of Philanthropy calls on the 
 energy of the British Nation to act as pioneer, that its march 
 may not be impeded. Great achievement the British nerve 
 has accomplished, and greater still is it able to effect. 
 
 A contemplative foreigner, visiting this country^ i's na- 
 turally struck with its excellence, its national freedom, its
 
 NOTES. 147 
 
 equal laws, its aspiring intelligence, and the humanity and 
 benevolence of its Prince and People ; but, should he take 
 ship, and sail to the British West India islands, and there 
 see, in a part of the British dominions, thousands of his 
 fellow men in a state of slavery ! — there bought and sold 
 like cattle, and themselves and their offspring without a 
 hope of ever obtaining their precious birthright ! — and 
 beholding human nature thus degraded, thus robbed of its 
 dearest right, how would he be struck ! He would ex- 
 claim, " How can this be?" But, reflecting on what he 
 had antecedently witnessed in Great Bi'itain, he would 
 rationally conclude that this tarnish on the wisdom, the 
 humanity, the philanthropy, and the Christianity of the 
 British character could not much lonsrer exist. It is to 
 be remarked, that, although slaves in the Spanish and 
 Portuguese dominions do not unfrequently, either by en- 
 tering into the pale of the Catholic Church, or by the 
 discoverv of treasure in the mines, obtain their manumis- 
 sion, the chain of the poor British slave is so (irmly rivetted, 
 that he has but rare opportunities of obtaining his birth- 
 right; and it may be said of him, " The iron [hath] en- 
 " tered into his soul." What feeling heart could endure 
 the thought of a child, relative, or friend being thus de- 
 graded, thus consigned to slavery ? 
 
 Every person of reflection, from the progress of intelli- 
 gence, and the active spirit of philanthropy, which are now 
 so happily witnessed in the British nation, must conclude, 
 that a day tvill arrive when Negro Slavery shall be decreed, 
 by its King and Parliament , to be repugnant to the sacred 
 principles of the British Constitution, hostile and abhor- 
 rent to the benevolent spirit of Christianity , and a laio ivill 
 he made for its abolition. Such was th€ case respecting 
 the Slave Trade. An acquaintance with human nature 
 will naturally dictate that the abolition of Negro slavery 
 must be gradual, and under the wisest and best-guarded 
 regulations. And why should not the law for its abolition 
 take place NOW? Why should the numerous philan- 
 thropic British souls, whose pulses of generous humanity 
 beat so high, not have the exalted satisfaction of witness- 
 ing in their own day the merciful decree ? — and, as the 
 abolition must take place by gradual steps, why, in the 
 
 u 2
 
 148 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 name of Mercy, should this dignified act of British phi- 
 lanthropy (may I not likewise say of British justice?) be 
 handed over to a future generation to perform ? Glory 
 be to the Father of Mercies, that there are Members of 
 the British Senate whose noble minds would feel a high 
 and sacred pleasure in uniting to accomplish the godlike 
 object — the gradual manumission of the poor British Negro 
 slave ; nor would, I am persuaded, our humane Prince, 
 his present Majesty, who has manifested such exertion on 
 his part to induce the different nations concerned in the 
 African Slave Trade to follow the example of Britain, and 
 ■wholly abandon the inhuman traffic, be behind in this truly 
 Christian and great philanthropic deed. I read his heart 
 very incorrectly, if I do not believe it would afford him an 
 unspeakable pleasure. 
 
 But there are masters who are humane born. 
 
 PAGE 75, VERSE 19. 
 
 That many slave-holders manifest much kindness and 
 humanity towards those whose lot it is to be under their 
 yoke, is evident, from the circumstance of Negro nurses 
 and female attendants, who have had the care of planters' 
 children when brought to England for education or other- 
 wise, after having been informed, that, if they staid here, 
 they would by the laws of the country be free, returning 
 by their own choice to the West Indies, to continue in the 
 state they were before. 
 
 Then think what heavy chains are those that bind, 
 Where masters are of harden'd, cruel mind. 
 
 PAGE 75, VERSE 23. 
 
 Over this heart-sickening picture I draw a veil ; suffi- 
 cient to fill a humane mind with the abhorrence of slavery, 
 and of British slavery too, has long been before the public, 
 and the Legislature has interfered to check its severity. 
 The Abbe Raynal observes, " He who vindicates the system 
 " of slavery is an enemy to the human race." Indeed, the 
 high-toned philanthropist can never rest easy while slavery 
 exists ; he well knows the Empire of Philanthropy cannot 
 be complete while it remains. What dignified humanity
 
 NOTES. 149 
 
 possessed the" heart of the late Dr. Lettsom, who, having- 
 had bequeathed to him an estate in the West Indies, im- 
 mediately on his coming into possession, liberated all the 
 slaves thereon ! The Earl of Moira (now Marquis of 
 Hastings) reported, at a meeting of the African Institu- 
 tion, held in 1809, that Sir Sidney Smith had been pre- 
 sented by the Prince Regent of Brazil with a quantity of 
 land, with all the slaves thereon, to cultivate it; and the 
 use he made of it was to liberate the slaves, allotting to 
 each person a portion of land to cultivate for his own ex- 
 clusive benefit. What greatness of soul ! ! 
 
 Is not the slave a Man, 
 God's noblest work ? 
 
 PAGE 79, VERSE 1. 
 
 Mr. Shaw, a member of the British and Foreign School 
 Society, on his visit to America, makes the following re- 
 marks upon a school for the children of Africans at New 
 York : — 
 
 " Never was any one more highly gratified than myself 
 " on visiting the school. Whether the unusual sight of 
 " three hundred Africans in an improved and improving 
 ** mental state, made me look veith partiality on them, I 
 ** know not ; but I conceived that there was more order 
 " there, and more strict attention paid to the system, than 
 " in any that I had visited. In one corner was an African 
 " Prince attentively copying the alphabet ; a young lad, 
 " about fourteen years of age, was reciting passages from 
 " the best authors, suiting the action to the words ; another 
 " was working difficult questions in geography, &c. In 
 " fact, let the enemies of those neglected children of men 
 " perform a pilgrimage to New York, and, at the shrine 
 " of Education, recant their principles, and confess that 
 '* the poor despised African is as capable of every intel- 
 *' lectual improvement as themselves" 
 
 Baron Pampile de la Croix, a Lieutenant-General in 
 the Haytian service, who has published, in French, an 
 Account of the Island of St. Domingo, therein says: — 
 " I have known some who taught themselves to read and 
 " write : they walked about with their books in their
 
 150 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 " hands, and requested to know the meaning- of words. 
 
 " Many have become Notaries, Advocates, Judges, &c. 
 
 " There are in St. Domingo who are tolerably good sculp- 
 
 " tors, architects, and mechanics ; they work in the mines, 
 
 " with no other aid than books on chemistry, natural phi- 
 
 " losophy, and mathematics ; they have established manu- 
 
 " factories of nitre, gunpowder, arms, and a cannon foun- 
 
 u ^j,y." 
 
 It is the Author's ardent prayer, that his life may be 
 prolonged to witness this day of glory to Great Britain — 
 to see this high treat to the humane heart, the Abolition 
 of Slavery, begun — that there may be no longer any im- 
 pediment to the philanthropic march. Nor would he 
 despair ! For a long period, throughout Europe there was 
 no servitude but that of slavery, and the life of every slave 
 was in the hands of his master ; but the benign influence 
 of Christianity abolished it; and when, too, rational liberty 
 was comparatively little known, as it is now in Britain : 
 And may the heavenly influence of Christianity, without 
 delay, erecf its banner, and gloriously triumph here ! 
 
 The Author would suggest, as an outline plan of 
 GRADUAL MANUMISSION, as follows :— 
 
 That all children, of both sexes, who may he born in 
 the British West Itidia Islands, or in other j)(irts of the 
 British dominions ivhere slavery then exists, shall, after a 
 certain date, to be specified in the Emancijjating Decree, 
 be considered free persons. This was the late Mr. Pitt's 
 idea. 
 
 That all male Negro slaves shall become free, after the 
 date specif ed, when arrived at the age of forty-five years ; 
 €ind all females at the age of thirty-five. And, in case 
 of weakly constitution, or other incapacity for labour, 
 they shall each become free at more early periods ; Com- 
 missioners being appointed by the JEma^icipating Act fivho 
 are not themselves slave-holders) to be judges of such in- 
 capacity, and also of ages, ivhere there may be a difficulty 
 to determine. 
 
 The humanity of the British Legislature will naturally 
 dictate that courts of provisional protection and supply
 
 NOTES. 151 
 
 shall domicile and siqyport free cliildren (where it is ne- 
 cessary) until arrived at a sufficient age for labour in 
 manufacturing or domestic employment, and to procure it 
 for their subsistence ; and likewise for adults becoming 
 free from age, who are not capable of labour ; and for 
 those who, though fully capable, may not be able imme- 
 diately to procure it. Atid a plan might be adojjted, that 
 the latter may not be a great or long burden, by the courts 
 of provisional supply being empowered, and by funds en- 
 abled, to purchase portions of land for cultivation, or to 
 establish manufactories, ivhich might employ them, as tvell 
 as youths under their jyrotection gradually becoming fit 
 for labour; those courts reaping the benefit of such 
 labours. 
 
 This is thrown out as an outline ; the wisdom and hu- 
 manity of the LegisUUure will ameliorate it where neces- 
 sary, and enact every requisite provision in this high Bri- 
 tannic deed — this great Christian undertaking ! The Com- 
 missioners before mentioned will of course be invested 
 with powers to see every provision of the Act fulfilled. 
 Thus, in the course of about forty years from the date 
 appointed by the Emancipating Decree, would British 
 Negro slavery become extinct, and, I trust, without the 
 least danger or ultimate injury to the Planters. 
 
 Some of the friends of humanity consider that it would 
 be improper to enact a law for the abolition of slavery in 
 the British dominions, until the slaves had antecedently 
 embraced the Christian religion ; but I would submit that 
 this is protracting this great and imposing philanthropic 
 deed sine die ; it seems to be perpetuating their present 
 condition ; for how can a population, professing the Chris- 
 tian religion, expect to impress its blessed sentiments on 
 the Negro mind, while the Negro beholds them trample 
 under their feet its just and positive laws ; especially that 
 so imperatively enjoined, and so fully explained by its 
 merciful Founder — thatlaw which is the soul of Christianity, 
 " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;" and, " As ye 
 " would that men should do unto you, do ye also so to 
 *' them?" 
 
 Surely a wisely-appointed gradual manumission would
 
 152 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 be the ready way to endear Christianity to the Negro 
 heart, and to generate therein esteem for those of their 
 fellow men, who thus, by their conduct, exemplify the 
 heavenly religion they profess. And Christianity being 
 thus practically held up to the poor Negro in its primitive 
 beauty, and in so amiable a point of view, his heart would 
 become more and more allured ; and his mind, being more 
 and more the recipient of its blessed instruction, would 
 increasingly imbibe its spirit, and practise its precepts ; 
 and the Planter find not only a pleasurable satisfaction, 
 but an increased benefit in the employment of Negroes in 
 their condition of free labourers, instead of that of slaves ; 
 while Heaven — all-approving Heaven — with its abundant 
 blessing, smiles on the deed. 
 
 Therefore, let me press the idea of an early, gradual, 
 wisely-regulated ABOLITION of SLAVERY, wherever 
 it may exist in the British dominions, being well persuaded 
 the wisdom of the Legislature is fully adequate to the im- 
 portant object. And, were petitions to the Legislature 
 thought necessary to manifest the public feeling on the 
 subject, I have no doubt, when it was duly reflected on, 
 that a million of the British population would, with philan- 
 thropic ardour, unite to solicit it. And Britain's God, 
 who hath blessed it with Christianity and much distin- 
 guished kindness, who is the Approver of Justice and the 
 Parent of Mercy, will yet increasingly bless my beloved 
 country for this great and truly Christian act — an act that 
 will be held up as an example to every nation possessing 
 slaves — which will at once root up the odious Slave Trade, 
 and highly gratify every philanthropic soul, in eventually 
 hailing the welcome day when every human being shall 
 possess his birthright, and slavery be swept from the earth. 
 
 The brightest Mercy — 
 
 PAGE 83, VERSE 19. 
 
 Several years ago, his present Majesty v/as returning 
 home in his carriage in the night, when, noticing a poor 
 lad standing against a wall in the street, houseless and 
 comfortless, he stopped his carriage, and humanely directed
 
 NOTES. 153 
 
 that he should be conveyed to Carlton House, to be lodged 
 and taken care of. 
 
 From The Percy Anecdotes. — " Nearly forty years ago, 
 " his present Majesty, then Prince of Wales, was so ex- 
 " ceedingly urgent to have £.800 to an hour on such a 
 " day, and in so unusual a manner, that the gentleman 
 " who furnished the supjjly had some curiosity to know 
 " for what purpose it was obtained. On inquiry, he was 
 " informed, that, the moment the money arrived, the Prince 
 " drew on his boots, pulled off his coat and waistcoat, 
 " slipped on a plain morning frock without a star, and, 
 " turning his hair to the crown of his head, put on a 
 " slouched hat, and walked out. This intelligence raised 
 " still greater curiosity ; and, with some trouble, the gen- 
 " tleman discovered the object of the Prince's mysterious 
 " visit. An officer of the army had just arrived from 
 " America, with a wife and six children, in such low cir- 
 " cumstances, that, to satisfy some clamorous creditor, he 
 " was on the point of selling his commission, to the utter 
 « ruin of his family. The Prince, by accident, overheard 
 " an account of the case. To prevent a worthy soldier 
 " suffering, he procured the money; and, that no mistake 
 " might happen, carried it himself. On asking, at an 
 « obscure lodging-house in a court near Covent Garden, 
 '< for the lodger, he was shewn up to his room, and there 
 '< found the family in the utmost distress. Shocked at the 
 '< sight, he not only presented the money, but told the 
 
 " officer to apply to Colonel Lake, living in street, 
 
 "and give some account of himself in future; saying 
 " which, he departed, without the family knowing to whom 
 '< they were obliged." 
 
 And, without noticing other instances, how strikingly 
 does the mercy of the British Throne appear in the cir- 
 cumstance of the very few criminals who suffer the pu- 
 nishment of death, compared with the number who are 
 sentenced thereto, having forfeited their lives by the 
 breach of the law !
 
 154 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Whate er impedes the march of Love ! 
 
 PAGE 87, VERSE 14. 
 
 There is a system of oppression which has long been 
 adopted in the British Nation, in time of war, that wounds 
 the heart of the Philanthropist — tlie impressing of persons 
 into the service of the Royal Navy ; and it demands the 
 serious attention of our humane Legislature to put a stop 
 to it, by forming- plans for wholly manning- it by a volun- 
 teer service ; and the happy time of a peace, apparently 
 likely to be lasting, affords a very favoural>le opportunity 
 for their turning their attention to the subject. The onus 
 of this oppression always falls principally on a most valua- 
 ble and useful class of British subjects — the mercantile 
 seamen. Most undoubtedly the King has a right to call 
 on every one, in a time to war, to rise in defence of the 
 country, and he will naturally call on those who are the 
 best qualified for such service; but surely some more 
 eligible mode of manning- the Royal Navy might be 
 adopted, than the usual one of impressment, which stands 
 so opposed to the darling liberty of a Briton, appals the 
 feeling of the individual, and not unfrequenlly is attended 
 ■with afflictive circumstances, and sometimes ruin to fa- 
 milies. 
 
 The establishment of National Fisheries would employ 
 a number of seamen, ever ready to be called on at once, 
 in time of war; and, if an improved method of curing fish 
 could be discovered, as mentioned in page 104, these 
 national fisheries then being very extensive, the number 
 of expert able seamen, immediately ready for service, 
 would be large. 
 
 Lads, in great numbers, might be induced to enter into 
 the service of the Royal Navy, who would soon grow up 
 a body of excellent seamen at command ; and these lads 
 might, were national fisheries to be adopted, be employed 
 therein. That valuable institution, the Marine Society, 
 continually contributes its aid to furnish lads for the Royal 
 Navy, but its means are not sufficient to afford aid herein 
 to any great extent. 
 
 Mercantile seamen might, for a bounty and some annual 
 pay, be induced to register their names to be called on
 
 NOTES. 155 
 
 for service, in a time of war, when they arrive at a Bri- 
 tish port; giving time, antecedent to their entering into 
 actual service, to visit relatives and friends. 
 
 Such plans, or similar ones, with such improvement and 
 regulations as the wisdom of the Legislature might adopt, 
 would do away with the necessity of impressment, so at 
 variance with the liberty and philanthropy of our beloved 
 Country; and let us hope they will, without delay, take the 
 subject into their consideration. 
 
 His ways, all-wise, but oft not understood, 
 Are ever bringing- forth abounding good. 
 
 PAGE 88, VERSE IG. 
 
 How long and dismal was the cloud that hung over 
 Europe, and what desolating scourges afflicted it from 
 the ambitious career of Buonaparte ! But with what ad- 
 miring and adoring thought does the contemplative 
 Philanthropist behold herein the Almighty's goodness 
 supervene, bringing out of it an entail of abundant bless- 
 ing; and particularly in the circumsttince of the visit of 
 the Emperor of Russia to this country, who, embosoming 
 a heart fashioned by Heaven to be inoculated with its 
 zeal to educate the young, and diffuse the Holy Volume, 
 caught its sacred flame : Thousands in his extensive 
 empire have received, and are receiving, the greatest of 
 benefits, and generations yet unborn will have to bless 
 the event. 
 
 Jehovah " will make all things new." * 
 
 PAGE 90, VERSE 18. 
 
 Truly philanthropic is the prayer of our National 
 Church : — " That it may please thee to have mercy upon 
 " all men, ive beseech thee to hear us, good Lord!" — 
 A higher wish cannot germinate in the generous soul; and 
 the attentive Bible reader can oflf'cr it up in faith. The 
 word KoXac'c, (in Matthew, chap. 25, ver. 46), translated 
 punishment, the learned Grotius states to be one of the 
 words used by heathen Greek writers and philosophers, 
 
 * Revelations, chap. 21, verse 1—5.
 
 156 THE EMPIRE OF PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 in reference to such punishments as were intended for 
 the benefit of him who offended ; and the expression of 
 the original, there used for duration, signifies an unknown 
 or hidden period. 
 
 And love with glory he combines. 
 
 PAGE 93, VERSE 19. 
 
 When we look up to the glory of the heavens, and con- 
 template our own planetary system, and suppose each 
 fixed star to be a sun illuminating a system of inhabited 
 planetary worlds, we must be impressed with the senti- 
 ment, that love, combined with glory, is written in lively 
 characters throughout the vast celestial expanse, calling 
 on us, in deep solemnity of thought, to admire and adore 
 Him who spake the immense and glorious univei'se into 
 birth. 
 
 'Tis them He '11 crown, in realms above, 
 With all the riches of His love. 
 
 PAGE 94, VERSE 18. 
 
 What an inspiring motive is this for man to cultivate 
 the spirit of love towards his fellow men I — for, not only 
 will he hereby resemble his GoD, and obtain HIS high 
 approbation, but he will, while on earth, in a measure, 
 anticipate the bliss of the heavenly world ; for love will 
 ever be the song of the blessed — will constitute the em- 
 ployment and enjoyment of heaven. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 FERGUSSON, PRINTER, NEWMAN STREET, OXFORD STREET.
 
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