181 L] 
Original 
INSTRUCTION; 
A POEM. 
By Isaac Brandon, 
^Recited hy Mr. George Frederic Busby, 
at the first Anni'versary Dinner cf the Siib~ 
senbers and Friends to the F.o'tal British Systetn 
of EduMtiort, at Free Mason's Hall. 
O mark the human from the brutal kind, 
God breath’d in man his noblest gift—a 
mind! 
But gave that blessing, like the fruitful 
land, 
To yield its harvest to the tiller’s hand ; 
Left to Itself, the wildest weeds shall grow, 
And poisons flourish where the fruits should 
blow. 
This law is nature, of Almighty plan, 
And God’s command,—that man enlighten 
man! 
O say, ye candid, liberal, and wise, 
In which of these a nation’s safety lirs? 
In youth impress’d with what fair lesSons 
yield, 
Or left more rude than cattle of the field ? 
Base groups of filth, the pup.is or the -ireet. 
Where playful theft and young debauch’ry 
meet j 
Young social villains that in rags are seen, - 
While wrinkled wretches mould the vice that’s 
gi ' e I; 
Whose shrivell’d hands, with drams, the in¬ 
fants ply. 
Teach them diseas’d to live, and harden’d 
die! 
Teach Plunder quickness,—back the lie, and 
swear. 
Crime’s brutal laugh,—all leading to despair 1 
Go, mark the youth with manly feelings 
brave. 
Sunk ere his manhood in the culprit’s grave; 
Firm to his band,—with fortitude to bear. 
Genius to plan, and enterprise to dare ; 
Tue sturdiest virtues moulaed into gu.lt, 
Which wisely train’d immortal Fame had 
built. 
O bless’d Instruction! now thy temples 
rise. 
Virtue shall spring like incense to the skies 1 
Thy searching powers the mental mines 
explore, 
And gems of Genius shall be lost no more 1 
£ach tender Ajvver shall feel thy fostering 
care. 
Nor waste its sweetness more on desert air! 
Honour’d the man, and deathless be his 
name, 
Whose SCHOOLS now rise his monuments of 
fame : 
Marble will moulder, that his worth miy 
trace. 
But these rever’d shall live from race tor-ace ! 
Behold-the School! see rang’d in order fai 
plants of hii han4 and children of hh 
sate,”) 
Poetry^ S53 
The shelter’d babes of Poverty and Guile, 
Their looks all brighten’d from Instruction’* 
smile! 
Cleanly, though poor—though rude, yet 
gently taught 
Th’ industrious habit and the virtuous 
thought: 
Each little bosom feels the sacred fire. 
Which Faith and Hope and Ch irity inspire. 
See cheerful ranks on emulation bent, 
Where gen’rous contes cannot mar content j 
Studious, yet playful, where at once we see 
Wise discipline and wholesome liberty: 
No coward brow !—no Ho chat trerrior speaks, 
Wnile fear’s pale passion frosts upon the 
cheeks; 
For here no Tyrant deals the brutal smart. 
To rouse the baser passions of the heart; 
But here wise Punishment awakens shame. 
While sweet Reward proclaims the infant, 
fame. 
System of Genius! whose effect sublime 
Seems to enlighten without aid of Time ; 
Like that vast engine’s mighty speed and 
power 
Which stamps the coin by myriads in aa 
hour! 
The guileless children that we rang’d be¬ 
hold. 
As pure, and ductile too, as virgin go'd! 
Each like the coin shall take the stamp im^ 
press’d. 
And sterling iiear his monarch in his breast: 
The patriarch monarch, by whose pious hand 
They rise the strength and treasure of the 
land. 
Instruction! bending o’er thy groups, 
proclaim 
The school’s first patrons bore each royal 
name! “ 
And as the little list’ners lift their eyes, . 
’Grave on their hearts who bade the fabric 
rise; . 
With cherish’d knowledge, grateful love 
instil 
The names of Bedford and of Somer¬ 
ville! 
Names ever dear where Cultivation 
reigns, 
O’er Britain’s youth, or o’er her pregnant 
plains! 
Let sullen souls, who only praise the past. 
Prove that each age is baser thn the last; 
AppL^ud tire times when Inquisitions reign’d, 
And noble Reason like a wretch was chain’d ! 
Be oi+r’s to boast tnac era good and wise 
When Hst’iung senates mourn’d Che Negroes* 
cries ; 
When virtuous Cl ar KSoN with a holy hand 
Dilfused a sacred feeling through the land ; 
Track’d the oread , scenes that stain’d the 
Libyan snore, 
And bade the bloody traffic be no more! 
Now to these realms the gen’rous Britons go. 
Not to spread bursings, massacres, and woe, 
With 
