Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1829 edition. Excerpt:...away the branches, but the roots Too deep were in her bosom to be forced From thence by human strength:--they still are there, Though drawing not so much of nourishment Since that the mighty tree itself was dead. And now 'twas hoped the sun of liberty Would shine supreme;--but oh! that heart of man! That self-willed, obstinate, ungrateful thing! Men fancied not the change, or liked a part Alone;--the rest breathed forth their loud complaints Incessant, and produced a lurid fog Of suffocating prejudice, that hid The dawning splendour from their mortal sight;--This still obscures it, ever will obscure, While that the roots of slavery are found Within earth's bosom: for so wedded seem These sons of folly to their ancient ways, The forms and custom of the olden time, That 'tis their chief employment, the delight That warms their hearts, these roots to cultivate And watch and nurse;--and ever and anon A new plant rises from the ground, and shoots Its stem amidst fair wisdom's tender shrubs, Its branches intermingles, and its juice Sprinkles and soaks within the fairer fruit,--That heedless mortals while they gather one, Too frequent suck the poison of the other. The metaphor to drop;--Is free the land Where dwells a spirit of monopoly, Of avarice insatiable, that grasps, Unsatisfied for ever, at the whole Of whatsoever it may be, whose part His property and substance constitutes? Nor grasps alone,--but ev'ry means employs, Or fair or foul, dishonest or upright, That works consistent for this one chief end? Is free the land where numbers oft appeal,--Forced by the lust of wealth which fills the hearts Of them whose duty 'tis to cultivate The soil, and who, to load the more their purse Already overflowing, strive to raise The price of corn, of labour to...