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member, I have had the aching fear of want throbbing in heart and brow. The currents of my life were early poisoned; and few, methinks, would pass unscathed through the scenes and circumstances in which I have lived. The child comes into the world like new coin, with the stamp of God upon it; and in like manner as the Jews sweat down sovereigns, by hustling them in a bag, to get gold-dust out of them, so is the poor man's child hustled and sweated down in this bag of society, to get wealth out of it; and even as the impress of the Queen is effaced in the Jewish process, so is the image of God worn from heart and brow, and day by day the child recedes devilward. I look back now with wonder, not that so few escape, but that any escape at all, to win a nobler growth for their humanity."

At fifteen years of age, Massey came an errand-boy to London. What his occupation since has been we are not informed. Eliza Cook simply tells us, that

"He started, in 1849, a cheap journal, written entirely by working men, entitled, The Spirit of Freedom. It was full of fiery earnestness, and half of its weekly contents were supplied by Gerald himself, who acted as editor. It cost him five situations during a period of eleven months,twice because he was detected burning candle far on into the night, and three times because of the tone of the opinions to which he gave utterance."

Such is this youth of six-and-twenty years of age. He is a Poet; and poverty and oppression have given to his breathing thoughts and burning words a tone which should awaken the patriotism of men in power, lest sentiments like his become so rife among the working-classes, as to peril the position of the wealthy and more influential. Such geniuses as Massey's cannot wear a yoke meekly: nor ought they. There is a divinity within them: and, God be thanked! they know it.

Massey devotes his lyre to scenes of domestic tenderness, and to the vindication of the rights of the down-trodden masses. His imagery is original and fresh. Addressing his wife, he says

"In all thy summer beauty, warm as when I look'd out on the sunny side of life,

And saw thee summering, like a blooming vine, That reacheth globes of wine in at the lattice, By the ripe armful."

"The sleeping Beauty in my heart's charm'd Palace

Woke at Love's kiss. My life was set aflush,
As roses redden when the Spring moves by,
And the green buds peer out like eyes, to see
The delicate Spirit, whose sweet presence stirr'd
them.

How my heart ripen'd in its flooding spring!
As when the sap runs up the tingling trees,
Till all the sunny life laughs out in leaves,
And lifts its fluttering wings."

"Love rays us round, as glory swathes a star;

And, from the mystic touch of lips and palms, Streams rosy warmth enough t'illume a world."

"The fleetest swallow-dip of a tender smile

Ran round your mouth in thrillings; while your cheek

Dimpled, as from the arch Love's finger-print, Out flew his signal, fluttering in a blush."

"The harvest of an age's wealth of bliss

In that first kiss was reap'd in one rich minute!
The wanton airs came breathing like the touch
Of fragrant lips, that feed the blood with flame!
The very earth seem'd bursting up, and heaven
Clung round, and clasp'd us, as in glowing arms,
To crush the wine of all your ripen'd beauty-
Which were a fitting sacrament for death-
Into a costly cup of life for me."

"In her bosom's soft, white nest,

A fair babe, beautiful as dawn in heaven, Made of a mother's richest thoughts of love, Lies, like a smile of sunshine among lilies.” "Thy lavish love hath twined about my life, Like the lush woodbine wedded to the thorn, Hiding its harshness with her wealth of flowers." "My life ran like a river in rocky ways, And downward dash'd, a sounding cataract! But thine was like a quiet lake of beauty, Soft-shadow'd round by gracious influences, That gathers silently the wealth of earth, And woos heaven till it melts down into it."

Is not this poetry of high order? Hundreds of such passages meet the eye in this little volume. Here is his description of the birth of a child

"Ah, bliss to make the brain reel wild!
The star new-kindled in the dark-
Life that had flutter'd like a lark-
Lay in her bosom, a sweet child!
How she had felt it drawing down

Her nesting heart more close and close,-
Her rose-bud ripening to a rose,
That she should see one day full-blown!

The father, down in Toil's mirk mine,
Turns to his wealthy world above-
Its radiance, and its home of love-
And lights his life like sun-struck wine.
The mother moves with queen-like tread :
Proud swell the globes of ripe delight
Above her heart, so warm and white,
A pillow for the baby-head!"

Then comes the death of the babe

"We sat and watch'd by Life's dark stream,
Our love-lamp blown about the night,
With hearts that lived as lived its light,
And died as died its precious gleam.

She thought our good-night' kiss was given,
And like a lily her life did close;
Angels uncurtain'd that repose,

And the next waking dawn'd in heaven."

"All last night-tide she seem'd near me, like a lost beloved bird,

Beating at the lattice louder than the sobbing wind and rain;

And I call'd across the night, with tender name and fondling word,

And I yearn'd out thro' the darkness all in vain.

O'er its widow'd nest my heart sits moaning for its young that's fled

From this world of wail and weeping, gone to join her starry peers;

And my light of life's o'ershadow'd, where the dear one lieth dead,

And I'm crying in the dark with many fears."

But Massey knows the uses of sorrow. He has read that poor man's library-the Bible, and Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." Hence his plaintive Muse sobs aloud—

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These are but gems taken at random from a cabinet of precious stones,-flowers plucked in passing through this Eden of poetry. Had more space been at our disposal, we would have quoted "To a Beloved One," Not Lost, but Gone Before," "When I come Home," " 66 Husband and Wife," "A Maiden's Song," "The Bridal," and "A Poor Man's Wife," lyrics these that do honour to human nature, and that are full to overflowing with richest imagery, and manly tenderness of sentiment. The poet's political effusions, and his noble vindication of the rights of the many, must be reserved for a future number of the BANNER.

Education Best Promoted by Perfect Freedom, not by State Endowments. With an Appendix containing Official Returns on Education in 1818, 1833, and 1851. By EDWARD BAINES. London: John Snow. WE cannot here enter into any discussion of the vexed question of State Education. We are inclined ourselves to make a wide difference between State endowments of religion, and State provisions for education. We simply remark here, that in the pamphlet before us, Mr. Baines most ably and completely states the case against all Government interference in the matter.

A Poet's Children. By PATRICK SCOTT. London: Longman and Co.

THIS is one of the most charming little volumes of lyrics we have met with. To a lofty conception, and great wealth of imagery, Mr. Scott unites a depth of sterling thought rarely met with; and to a delicate and exquisite fancy he unites the most stirring vigour and force of expres sion. There is nothing "namby-pamby," nothing to fill up, but every line has its distinctive meaning, and expresses some beautiful thought in words that give it vitality, or illustrate it by an image that stamps it on the memory. We thank Mr. Scott heartily for this our first introduction to his Muse, and commend this little volume to every lover of genuine poetry amongst our readers.

A Voice from the Pulpit on the Coming War; its Causes, Prospects, and Obli gations. By the Rev. T. G. HORTON. Second Edition. London: James Judd. THIS is a lecture, as eloquent and instructive as it is well-timed. With graphic horror, the terrible character and fearful results of war generally are depicted; the precise character and bearing of the present war are then clearly stated; and finally, the duty of Christians in regard to it is eloquently enforced. We most cordially recommend the lecture to our readers, as eminently calculated to direct Christian feeling into the right channel at this crisis.

Obituary.

SINCE our last number was printed, the venerable James Montgomery, whose name for more than half a century has been known and loved wherever Christian poetry is admired, has been called home. On Friday afternoon, April 28th, he had a slight attack of diarrhoea, to which he had latterly been subject; but, notwithstanding, attended as usual at the board meeting of the governors of the infirmary, of which he had been chairman for many years. He walked there and back. On Saturday he took a walk into the town, and up to the time of his retiring to rest was in his usual health. He, however, appeared rather more forgetful than ordinary of what he had done during the day. Early on the following morning he was found lying on his bedroom floor, in a state of exhaustion. He had got out of bed, but had been unable to regain it. Mr. Favell,

of Sheffield, his medical attendant, was immediately sent for, and on arriving found Mr. Montgomery much exhausted, and under the impression that he had had a paralytic stroke. He said he had lain upon his bedroom floor several hours, and had lost all sensation in his limbs. It transpired, however, on examination, that he was not suffering from paralysis, but from the cold which had benumbed his limbs. Cordials were administered to him, and he seemed to rally. At noon, Mr. Favell again visited him, when he appeared considerably improved. About four o'clock, however, Mr. Favell received information that Mr. Montgomery was much worse, and therefore hastened to his residence; but the venerable poet was no more. a future number we hope to give a more extended notice of the life and character of the Christian Bard.

In

Intelligence.

THE MAY

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-The Annual General Meeting of this Society was held in Exeter Hall, on Monday, the 1st of May; Sir EDWARD NORTH BUXTON presiding. The Meeting was as flat and uninteresting as of late years has become usual. After a speech from the Chairman, in which he dwelt on the importance of an energetic endeavour to get out of debt,

The Rev. E. Hoole read the financial and statistical statement, from which we learn that the receipts of the Society for the year ending December 31, 1853, were 114,4987. 148. 3d., being an increase of 9,1167. 148. 9d. over those of the preceding year. The donations on annuity are less by 4,000l. than in the previous year, and there has been a decrease in the Colonial Grants and other miscellaneous income, but the receipts from the Home Districts in the Hibernian Missionary Society, and in the contributions of foreign auxiliaries, especially those in Australia, have exceeded all former years. The amount of legacies received during the year has been advanced beyond all former precedent by the payment to the Society of the munificent bequest of 10,000l., less duty, by the Society's early and well-known friend, the late Thomas Marriott, Esq.

The total Ordinary Receipts

at the Mission House, and from the Home Districts, have been

£ s. d

66,911 15 2

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MEETINGS.

The Expenditure of the year has also been 114,4981. 14s. 3d., including the amount of 5,1197. 178. 4d., which has been paid in partial liquidation of the accumu lated deficiencies of former years. The remaining balance of those deficiencies now stands at 19,5017. 11s. 10d., the entire liqui dation of which the Committee keeps steadily in view in connection with the financial management of all the operations of the Society. The expenditure of the year has been augmented to a large amount by the outfits and passages of no less than thirty Missionaries, some of them married.

The Home Receipts (including 4.1957. 88. from Ireland) were 76,4051. 1s. 9d.; the receipts from Foreign Auxiliaries, &c., 17,7137. 13s. 4d.; and the Miscellaneous Receipts, 20,3791. 198. 2d.

The following thirty-one Missionaries, and eleven wives of Missionaries, have been sent out since the last anniversary :-Mr. and Mrs. Hodson, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Hardey, to India; Mr. and Mrs. Bickford, Mr. and Mrs. Hill, Mr. Waugh, Mr. Wells, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Akrill, Mr. Albiston, Mr. Angwin, Mr. Mack, Mr. Abell, Mr. Gale, Mr. Kelynack, Mr. Curnow, Mr. Vanderkiste, Mr. Williams, Mr. Brown, to Australia; Mr. and Mrs. Verco, to the Friendly Islands; Mr. and Mrs. Fordham, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, to Feejee; Mr. and Mrs. Gladwin, to South Africa; Mr. Dillon, Mr. Teale, to Sierra Leone; Mr. Bridgart, to the Gambia; Mr. and Mrs. Bleby, to Antigua; Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, Mr. and Mrs. Padgham, to Demerara; Mr. Moon, to the Bahamas; Mr. Cheeswright, to St. Domingo; and Mr. Bishop, to Eastern Canada. Of this number, Messrs. Hodson, Hardey, Bickford, Hill, Wells, Gladwin, Bleby, Hudson, and Padgham, who have been before honourably and usefully employed in various missions, but had returned home for a season, having been again appointed to the foreign work.

The following much-lamented Missionaries have been removed by death :-Mr. Martin, at the Gold Coast; Mr. Andrews, at Trinidad; Mr. J. E. S. Williams, at Berbice; Mr. Atkins, Mr. Wildish, at Jamaica; Mr. Hutchings, at Abaco; Mr. Thompson, at Turk's Islands; Mr. Towler, at St. Domingo; and Mr. Booth, at Kingston, Canada. To this affecting record must be added that of an excellent female, the wife of a Missionary, who has also exchanged mortality for life.

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The Rev. GEORGE OSBORN then read the General Report, which detailed at great length the state of affairs in all the Missions under the superintendence of the General Committee.

The adoption of the Report was moved, in a speech containing little of moment, by the Rev. J. Lomas, President of the Conference, and seconded in a long and tedious speech by the Rev. Thomas Vasey. After specches from the Rev. Samuel Coley, of Stockport, and the Rev. Dr. Barth, of Wirtemburg,

The Rev. R. Young addressed the Meeting, detailing the particulars of his recent visit to the Antipodes. He said

During the prosecution of the duties of my mission, I have visited the Australian colonies, including Van Diemen's Land. I have been to New Zealand, the Friendly Islands, and the Feejee Islands. On my outward voyage I called at South Africa, and on my homeward voyage at the island of Ceylon, and in both those places, as well as in all the countries in the far South through which I was called to pass, I have had the most delightful evidences of the success which has been vouchsafed to the labours of this Society. Everywhere I have witnessed scenes of moral beauty, and everywhere I have heard songs of holy and joyful triumph. I will begin with Australia. In that land of gold, to which public attention has been for some time so intensely directed, great good has been effected. The Society has established a cause in that island-continent which is Christianity in aggressive action, and going everywhere through the land, and communicating its benefits to quarters far in the wilderness, and to the diggers on the gold-fields, as well as the numerous villages and the communities of large towns and cities. Openings for usefulness are everywhere presenting themselves, and more ministers are earnestly desired. During the last thirteen months nine Missionaries from this So

ciety have arrived in Australia, nine more are on their way, three have been received from Polynesia, four have been carried out in the country, and I have brought with me cash to pay the outfit and passage of six more, making altogether an addition of thirty-one labourers. Nor do the friends of that country ask for any further pecuniary aid from the Parent Society, but with an enlightened and generous liberality engage to make provision for all their ministers, to maintain their own institutions, and to contribute a handsome sum annually for purely Missionary purposes. Having visited the different Australian colonies, I proceeded to New Zealand, accompanied by my excellent friend, Mr. Boyce. Here I met with a new phase of the Missionary work. It is only about thirty years since the first native of New Zealand was converted to God,-was converted to Christianity. But since that period "what hath God wrought!" By his abundant blessing upon the labours of the church and the Wesleyan Missionaries, the entire Maori population has been more or less brought under the influence of Christianity. It is true that they have not all received the Gospel in its renovating power, yet it has saved all of them from cannibalism, and from those vices which so greatly debased and blackened their former character. And not a few of them have felt the Gospel to be the power of God to their salvation, and are now walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. Schools have been established in the country, and the people generally have evinced a great desire to be instructed. So much so that, according to the statement of your excellent Missionary, Mr. Whiteley, three-fourths of the popuJation can read the Word of God, and two-thirds can write their own language correctly. Civilisation, too, is advancing. The people are beginning to cultivate land, to build suitable houses, to accumulate property, and to gather round them. many temporal comforts. Having accomplished my mission to New Zealand, I started for the Friendly Islands, and after a somewhat rough voyage on anything but a "Pacific" Ocean, I arrived at the Tonga group, early one morning, and from the deck of the vessel I distinctly counted at one time twenty lovely islands, just gilded by the rays of the rising sun, and sparkling like so many emeralds on the bosom of the now pacific deep. The Tonga Islands embrace the Vavau and other groups, and number about 200, and their population is estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 persons. It is only about thirty years since the Missionaries first visited these islands. These islands of beauty were then islands of blood. But a great change has been effected. With the exception of about fifty persons, the entire population have embraced Christianity. It is true that they have not all felt its saving power, yet they have all been more or less benefited by its influence, and some thousands of them have experienced its transforming power, and now, by the grace of God, adorning the doctrine of God their Saviour. I never saw a sabbath so hallowed in any part of the world. I was also delighted with the attention of the people to family worship. I was also pleased with their proficiency in learning. Not less than 8,000 of them can read the sacred Scriptures, and 5,000 can write their own language, and some of them very elegantly. On my arrival in Tonga, I immediately paid my respects to King George; and, hearing that he had a desire to visit Australia, I at once offered him a passage in the John Wesley. He accepted the offer, but said he must provision the ship. I refused, stating, that I was quite sure, from the high estimate which the Missionary Committee had formed of his character, they would be delighted to know that I had the means of offering him that accommodation. He said, that was all very well; and, looking at me very archly,

are

and smiling at the same time, he said, "You are in a strange land, and you must be kind enough to obey the will of its king." I, of course, submitted, and he provisioned the John Wesley. He sent on board five and a-half tons of yams, fifteen cwt. of pork, upwards of 2,000 cocoa-nuts, and about 600 fowls. On our arrival at Feejee, he evinced the same kind of disposition, for on the day following our landing, he sent me my dinner to the Mission-house, and it was well cooked. And what do you think that dinner consisted of?-Six large puddings, four capacious baskets of tallow, and two large baked hogs. Whatever others may be disposed to do, it is evident that King George has no disposition to stop the supplies. He is also a most decided and exemplary Christian, and a local preacher. Having accomplished my work in the Friendly Islands, I sailed for Feejee -dark, sanguinary, cannibal Feejee. After visiting Lakemba and Vewa, I proceeded to Bau, the capital of the country, and doubtless the deepest hell upon earth. On my nearing the shore, the tide was receding, and I had some difficulty in getting out of the boat, when a native came up, and in the politest manner handed me out of the boat, and brought me safely on shore. I took off my hat, and made him a low bow, on which Mr. Calvert, our indefatigable Missionary. smiled, and said, "You little know whom you are bowing to— that man is the fiercest cannibal in the place." I was then shown six hovels in which eighteen human beings had recently been cooked, in order to provide a feast for some distinguished stranger, and the remains of that horrid repast were still to be seen. I next went to one of the temples, at the door of which was a large stone, against which the heads of the victims had been dashed, previous to their being presented in the temple, and that stone still bore the marks of blood. I saw but I pause. There are scenes of wickedness in that country that cannot be told. There are forms of cannibalism, and developments of depravity that can never be made known to a meeting like this. No traveller, whatever may be his character, would have the hardihood to put on record what he witnessed in that region of the shadow of death. I went to see Sakembow, the great chieftain as he is sometimes called, the king of Feejee. I found him seated on a mat. He received me with great politeness, and got up and handed me a chair; and his queen, knowing I was from England, at once made me a comfortable cup of tea-a thing that I hardly expected in the palace of a cannibal king. Before I left, King George arrived at the palace; and I requested him to deal faithfully with Sakembow's conscience, and I believe he attended to my request, and did the thing with good effect. and I hope the fruit of that visit will be seen after many days. Before I left Bau, I called to see the King of Somo Somo, who was on a visit to the capital. I knew he had burned his own father alive, and that he had threatened that the first man who "lotued" in his dominions should be cast into the oven. Yet I was very anxious to see the man, and accordingly called upon him. On being introduced I found him under the operation of his hairdresser. He took hold of my hand and grasped it firmly, and used with peculiar emphasis the only two words in the English language which he could utter. And what were they?- Large knife." Now, connecting his cannibal propensities with this very extraordinary expression might have shaken some whose nerves are less firm than mine; but I perceived from his manner and his countenance that it was a begging petition; and I at once replied, that I had not come there as a trader to give him a "large knife," but that I came with something better that I had come as a minister of Christ, to offer him salvation in the name of Jesus. He said, that was very well, but he preferred a "large knife." I then reasoned with the savage, and, as

I thought, very powerfully and very conclusively, but, alas for my anticipations! the only reply be made to my arguments was, "Large knife. 1 left that individual, and sent King George to him, thinking he could manage him much better, ba King George returned to me and told me, that the king of Somo Somo had said to him that the loud Christianity was a very good thing for bad men, as it made them good, but that he did not require ithe was already so good himself that he had no need whatever of Jehovah's lotu. A few weeks beforel arrived in Feejee, one of our excellent preachers had been ill-treated, beaten, and killed. But n withstanding the darkness, impiety, and sin, and cannibalism in Feejee, a great work is being ef fected in that country. We see that much good has already been accomplished. We have 3,000 of the people in church-fellowship. 4,000 in the schools, and 6,000 regular attendants on the ministry. We have fifty native teachers, who are valiant for the truth, and who in different parts of the land are making known the power of Christ's salvation. I anticipate from their labours the most glorious results. Then the people understand the character, the motives, and the objects of the Missionary; formerly they did not. When they heard that a man had come from England all the way to their country, depriving himself of so mary comforts, simply out of love to their souls, they could not believe it. It was a new idea, and it was too great for them to comprehend. But now they understand and appreciate the character and the motives of the Missionaries. Our Missionaries there are the most courageous, devoted, and selfdenying men. It is now desired, as has already been intimated, in the southern world, to attach these interesting Missions to the Australian Connexion about to be formed. Should that arrangement be deemed advisable, the expenditure in the South Seas would not only at once he reduced some thousands of pounds annually, but arrange ments also would be made to meet all the expenses of these Missions in a very short time without asking any aid whatever from the parent Society.

The time having arrived for making the collection, during its progress the Rev. John Scott rose and intimated that he deemed that a fitting occasion for announeing the lamented death, on the previous day, of the Rev. Dr. Newton, adding: "What effect this information, to-day received, and now communicated to the Meeting, may have on the collection, I will not venture to anticipate; but I am quite sure, that if we could now, short as the time is that he has been with his Master in the world above, hear him address us on the subject of our great work; if he could now urge us to diligence and zeal, we should feel as we never before probably felt in this great cause." We offer no comment on the taste, or want of it, which could attempt to turn the unburied dead to a pecuniary purpose.

After addresses by the Rev. S. Llewellyn, R. Scott, E. Nye, S. Christopher, S. Jackson, Dr. Bunting, and others, the Meeting separated.

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