make no apology, as a preacher of the gospel, for writing verses; the example of Young, Walts, Wesley, and many others, furnishes a good plea: 6. Thus did the muses sing in early times, I hope I may be excused for throwing a dart non and then at the execrable trade of buying and selling men : I have heard that some ministers of the gospel do this: if they do, God forgive them the blood-guiltiness ; they are no more fit for the sacred office, than their slaves to rule an empire. But some will perhaps say, you are kicking a dead wolf; slavery is now abolished. Where is it abolished? In Great Britain ? Slavery never did exist in England. But is it abolished in the British Colonies ? Ah ! there is the rub. And is slavery abolished among the freedom-loving citizens of the United States ? Alas! alas! though execrated in the eastern part of the Union, there are myriads of these degraded beings in the southern states! Oh, when will this curse of nature and humanity be removed from the earth! Hoping none will be hurt by any thing that I have written, I remain the reader's affectionate and obliged servant, and sincere friend, POEMS ARE AFFECTIONATELY AND RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO THE REVEREND DOCTOR THOMAS COKE, General Superintendent of the British Methodist Missions, &c. &c. dr. AS A SMALL TESTIMONY OF THE SINCERE AFFECTION, DEVOTED FRIENDSHIP, AND RESPECTFUL ESTEEM OF THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. ......................................... ..................................................... PAGE MEMOIR of the Author's Life.................... 3 Preface.................... Descriptive Epistle from Bermuda..................... 17 Spiritual Theft, or Stolen Bible............ Farewell to Nova-Scotia.......... The Homily, or Verses on Preaching..... Best Wine at the last, or Death-Bed of the Glory in Reversion................ The Pastor's Wish, or Materials for the Ministry 45 The Arbor Tristes, or Sad Tree of Molucca....... 47 The Best Beverage, Lines on Water-drinking.... 51 The Mariner's Song, written on seeing a Water- |