726 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810; 



An inland ocean, on whose jasper rocks 



With shells and sea-flower-wreaths she binds her locks: . 



She sleeps on isles of velvet verdure, placed \ 



Midst sandy gulfs and shoals for ever waste ; ' 



She guides her countless flock to cherish'd rills, 



And feeds her cattle on a thousand hills ; 



Her steps the wild-bees welcome through the vale. 



From every blossom that embalms the gale ; 



The slow unwieldy river-horse she leads 



Through the deep waters, o'er the pasturing meads ; 



And climbs the mountains that invade the sky. 



To soothe the eagle's nestlings when they cry. 



At sun-set, when voracious monsters burst 



From dreams of blood, awake'd by raad'dning thirst; 



When the lorn caves, in which they shrunk from light, 



Ring with wild echoes through the hideous night; 



When darkness seems alive, and all the air 



Is one tremendous uproar of despair. 



Horror and agony ; — on her they call ; 



She hears their clamour, she provides for all. 



Leads the light leopard on his eager way, 



And goads the gaunt hyaena to his prey. 



In these romantic regions man grows wild ; 

 Here dwells the Negro, Nature's outcast child. 

 Scorn 'd by his brethren ; but his mother's eye, 

 That gazes on him from her warmest sky, 

 Sees in his flexile limbs untutor'd grace, 

 Power on his forehead, beauty in his face ; 

 Sees in his breast, where lawless passions rove. 

 The heart of friendship, and the home of love; 

 Sees in his mind, where desolation reigns, 

 Fierce as his clime, uncultured as his plains, 

 A soil where virtue's fairest flowers might shoot, 

 And trees of science bend with glorious fruit ; 

 Sees in his soul, involved with thickest night, 

 An emanation of eternal light, 

 Ordain'd 'midst sinking worlds, his dust to fire, 

 And shine for ever when the stars expire. 

 Is he not Man, though knowledge never shed 

 Her quick'ning beams on his neglected head? 

 Is he not Man, though sweet religion's voice 

 Ne'er bade the mourner in his God rejoice i 

 Is he not Man, by sin and suffering tried ? 

 Is he not Man for whom the Saviour died ? 

 Belie the Negro's powers : — in headlong will. 

 Christian, thy brother thou shall prove him still ; 

 Belie his virtues ; since his wrongs began. 

 His follies and his crimes have stampt him Man. 



