o9 
singing of ‘‘ Steal away,” “* Row, Jordan, Row,’’ and others, was 
a liberal education in the art of vocalisation. The Lecturer cited 
the history of John Brown and illustrated the way in which was 
sung the grand song of 
“John Brown’s body lies a mouldering in the grave, 
But his soul goes marching on,”’ 
an illustration which touched sympathetic chords and was greeted 
with cheers. The secular songs of the negroes were not so num- 
erous as those in which there was a religious strain. The 
plantation songs were more civilised in character and afforded 
a pleasant contrast to the ruder airs. In the ‘‘ Charlestown 
Gals” there was only one verse, but they repeated each line 
two or three times. 
“T’m goin’ to Alhabama O 
For to see my mother Ah,” &c. 
was well sung by the Lecturer, who modestly said he was no 
singer. Special reference was made to the American writers 
who had denounced slavery, including Whittier, Bryant, and 
Longfellow, the latter of whom in the ‘‘ Slave’s Dream,’’ wrote— 
“Beside the ungathered rice he lay, 
His sickle in his hand; 
His breast was bare, his matted hair 
Was buried in the sand. 
Again in the mist and shadow of sleep 
He saw his native land.” 
Poetry such as that could only come from men who had lived 
among the unhappy surroundings of slavery. 
Quite a series of negro samples of humour in pulpit and court- 
house were given, and created much amusement by their drolleries. 
The negro in story was well represented by ‘‘ Uncle Tom’s 
Cabin ” by Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose book was no doubt one 
of the causes which hastened the beginning of the Civil War, a 
beginning which soon put an end to slavery, and there was 
reason to hope that in the future the negro race would take a 
higher place amongst the more enlightened nations of the 
world. (Cheers.) 
On the motion of Mr. J. Lancaster, seconded by Mr. Holden, 
a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Lecturer, who, in 
reply, said he was pleased to have been among them to repay in 
some measure the debt which the Darwen Literary Society owed 
to the Burnley Society for the help received from it in the past. 
During the evening a quartette party, who were cordially 
thanked for their services, rendered in good style—the Lecturer 
said he had never heard them sung better—a number of planta- 
tion and other songs, including ‘‘ Dat’s why de sun am shinin,” 
“ De Ole Umbrella,” and ** Good Night.” 
