Both understood, and practised,—so that none,
However destitute, be left to droop

By timely culture unsustained, or run

Into a wild disorder; or be forced

To drudge through weary life without the aid
Of intellectual implements and tools;
A savage Horde among the civilized,
A servile Band among the lordly free!
This right, as sacred almost as the right
To exist and be supplied with sustenance
And means of life, the lisping Babe proclaims
To be inherent in him, by Heaven's will,
For the protection of his innocence;
And the rude Boy-who, having overpast
The sinless age, by conscience is enrolled,
Yet mutinously knits his angry brow,
And lifts his wilful hand on mischief bent,

Or turns the sacred faculty of speech

To impious use-by process indirect

Declares his due, while he makes known his need. -This sacred right is fruitlessly announced,

This universal plea in vain addressed,

To eyes and ears of Parents who themselves

Did, in the time of their necessity,

Urge it in vain; and, therefore, like a prayer

That from the humblest floor ascends to heaven,

It mounts, to reach the State's parental ear;
Who, if indeed she own a Mother's heart,

And be not most unfeelingly devoid

Of gratitude to Providence, will grant

The unquestionable good; which, England, safe From interference of external force,

May grant at leisure; without risk incurred

That what in wisdom for herself she doth,

Others shall e'er be able to undo.

Look! and behold, from Calpe's sunburnt cliffs To the flat margin of the Baltic sea, Long-reverenced Titles cast away as weeds; Laws overturned, and Territory split; Like fields of ice rent by the polar wind And forced to join in less obnoxious shapes, Which, ere they gain consistence, by a gust Of the same breath are shattered and destroyed. Meantime, the Sovereignty of these fair Isles Remains entire and indivisible;

And, if that ignorance were removed, which acts
Within the compass of their several shores
To breed commotion and disquietude,
Each might preserve the beautiful repose
Of heavenly Bodies shining in their spheres.
-The discipline of slavery is unknown
Amongst us, hence the more do we require
The discipline of virtue; order else

Cannot subsist, nor confidence, nor peace.
Thus, duties rising out of good possessed,
And prudent caution needful to avert
Impending evil, do alike require

That permanent provision should be made

For the whole people to be taught and trained.

So shall licentiousness and black resolve
Be rooted out, and virtuous habits take
Their place; and genuine piety descend,
Like an inheritance, from age to age.

With such foundations laid, avaunt the fear

Of numbers crowded on their native soil,

To the prevention of all healthful growth

Through mutual injury! Rather in the law

Of increase and the mandate from above

Rejoice!-and Ye have special cause for joy.
-For, as the element of air affords

An easy passage to the industrious bees

Fraught with their burthens; and a way as smooth For those ordained to take their sounding flight From the thronged hive, and settle where they list

In fresh abodes, their labour to renew ;

So the wide waters, open to the power,

The will, the instincts, and appointed needs

Of Britain, do invite her to cast off

Her swarms, and in succession send them forth;
Bound to establish new communities

On

every shore whose aspect favours hope Or bold adventure; promising to skill And perseverance their deserved reward. -"Yes," he continued, kindling as he spake,

66

Change wide, and deep, and silently performed,

This Land shall witness; and, as days roll on,
Earth's universal Frame shall feel the effect
Even 'till the smallest habitable Rock,
Beaten by lonely billows, hear the songs

Of humanized Society; and bloom

With civil arts, and send their fragrance forth,
A grateful tribute to all-ruling Heaven.
From Culture, universally bestowed

On Britain's noble Race in freedom born;
From Education, from that humble source,
Expect these mighty issues; from the pains
And quiet care of unambitious Schools
Instructing simple Childhood's ready ear:
Thence look for these magnificent results!
Vast the circumference of hope-and Ye
Are at its centre, British Lawgivers,

Ah! sleep not there in shame! Shall Wisdom's voice,
From out the bosom of these troubled Times

Repeat the dictates of her calmer mind,

And shall the venerable Halls ye fill

Refuse to echo the sublime decree?

Trust not to partial care a general good;
Transfer not to Futurity a work

Of urgent need.-Your Country must complete
Her glorious destiny.-Begin even now,

Now, when Oppression, like the Egyptian plague
Of darkness stretched o'er guilty Europe, makes
The brightness more conspicuous, that invests