EDUCATION OF THB WORKING CLASSES. 99 



being painful to have intercourse with the poor of our country, from 

 the scenes of profligacy, vice, and misery to which we must be wit- 

 nesses, a new order of things would speedily arise ; self-respect being 

 called into operation, their conversation and dwellings would be the 

 very opposite of what they now are. To mingle with them — to 

 alleviate the sufferings of the afflicted and the destitute — ^would be a 

 work of love. As members of a Christian community — as lovers of 

 your fellow-creatures — I would say to all who posses^ any influence 

 (and there are but few who do not possess some) — unite and use 

 every means in your power to forward this great work ; for you may 

 be assured a rich and plentiful harvest awaits your exertions, and by 

 so doing, you are best shewing your gratitude for the advantages you 

 yourselves possess. 



THE SEA. 



Time rolls on, year on year, and age on age 



Accumulating ; ruin and decay 



Destroy relentlessly all human works. 



Yet the wide Sea no signs of coming age 



Presents to man. The murmur of its waves 



Has ceaselessly for fifty centuries 



And more continued ; tide has follow'd tide 



Without an intermission ; storms have howl'd. 



And fearfully — consigning, deep in brine. 



To rest the weather-beaten sailor's corpse. 



Alas ! what fleets have sunk to rise no more ! 



The flags of every nation rotting lie 



In deep sea-caves ; and here in awful depths. 



Miles, miles beneath tlie place where plummets reach. 



Burns the marine volcano— water mix'd 



With flame sulphureous. What mystery 



To human minds ! But all is mystery there. 



The world of waters is a world unknown. 



And still will be, till th' last trump shall sound. 



Whose awful pealings nought may disregard. 



Arthur. 



