HARRISON. 73 



without railroads completing what a stage- 

 coach begun that is, without reaping the 

 benefits of that free and familiar inter- 

 course, which marks the progress of civi- 

 lization among the people. 



Amidst this waste of waters there 

 are gems to be found of more than 

 usual brightness. In this wilderness of 

 rushes flowers can be plucked of exceed- 

 ing beauty and fragrance, quite enough 

 to embody the poet's sublime idea 



" Full many a gem of purest ray serene 



The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear ; 

 Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, 

 And waste its sweetness in the desert air." 



The productions of Harrison, the Poet of 

 the Fens, as he has been termed, have 

 never yet been collected ; but from what I 

 remember to have seen of them, they were 

 quite equal to many writings of the pre- 

 sent day as well in the air of wholesome 

 sentiment they breathe as in the terseness 

 and vigour of their style. The poems of 



