HYMNS WRITTEN BY THOMAS OLIVERS.

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Introductory Essays, as Charles Wesley's: in consequence of this, a lady of the name of Tooth forwarded a small parcel to me, with her respects, requesting my acceptance of the enclosed. I was delighted to find it was the hymn in question, in the handwriting of Charles Wesley, with variations. I hold it as a treasure; and much as Mr. Everett," continued he, pleasantly, may desire the autograph, no price, which even he might be disposed to give, would purchase it. By the way, can you tell me whether Thomas Olivers composed any hymns besides The God of Abraham praise,' and 'Lo, He comes with clouds descending?"" Everett: "He wrote one on the Last Judgment, consisting of several stanzas; and another, entitled a Hymn of Praise to Christ.'* The former was set to music by himself, and had reached the twentieth edition in 1779; the latter was set to music by a gentleman in Ireland, and was performed before the Bishop of Waterford in his cathedral on Christmas Day. The tune to Lo, He comes,' in Wesley's Sacred Harmony,' was also composed by Olivers, and does him as much credit as his verse. He was the author of an 'Elegy,' of considerable length, on the death of Mr. Wesley." Montgomery: "The man who wrote "The God of Abraham praise,' must have had the finest ear imaginable; for, on account of the peculiarity of the measure, none but a person of equal musical and poetical taste could have produced the harmony perceptible in the verse. John Wesley," he proceeded, "had a heart of adamant, as compared with that of Charles in respect of poetic feeling; but no man could throw more sense into a smaller

* Wesley's Works, vol. iii. pp. 44. 195.; vol. x. p. 510., 8vo. 1829.

compass of words than he did." of words than he did." As an instance of condensation, he referred to Wesley's remarks on Apostolical Succession, and the Consecration of Churches, especially the latter, where he compresses the whole controversy within the following paragraph:

"I went to Canterbury, and opened our new chapel. How is it that many Protestants, even in England, do not know, that no other consecration of church or chapel is allowed, much less required, in England, than the performance of public worship therein? This is the only consecration of any church in Great Britain which is necessary, or even lawful. It is true Archbishop Laud composed a form of consecration, but it was never allowed, much less established, in England. Let this be remembered by all who talk so idly of preaching in unconsecrated places!"

His own lines on "Our Saviour's Miracles" being mentioned in connection with a remark on the generally unsatisfactory character of "Scripture paraphrases" in rhyme, he said that he had recently read a sparkling versification of the account of Christ stilling the tempest, with which he was inclined to be pleased. But, he said to a friend, "let us compare it with the prose version of the narrative in the authorised translation. We did so; and the verses fell into dust and ashes at the touch!" The Bible was laid on the table, and the reading falling on a chapter in the gospel according to St. Mark, he adverted, as we have heard him do on other occasions, to a peculiarity in this evangelist, who is allowed to have followed the narrative of St. Matthew. But Mark takes up little incidents, totally omitted by others, which proves him not only to have been an eyewitness, in many instances, but, apart from inspiration, a man of minute and nice observation; yet all is simple and natural, and sometimes presenting a perfect picture

OUR SAVIOUR'S MIRACLES.

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of the scene described. The story of the man with a "withered hand," Mark iii. 1-7., was read, and compared with the same case as given by Matt. xii. 9—15.; also that of the demoniac among "the tombs," Mark, v. 1—20., with Matt. viii. 28–34.; and the stilling of the tempest, Mark iv. 35-41., with Matt. viii. 2327. In reference to the first case, he noticed, as little additions inserted by St. Mark, our Lord entering "again" into the synagogue,-his "looking round with anger, being grieved," and commanding the man to "stand forth," as well as to "stretch forth" his "hand." On the second case, he dwelt with force on the expression in Matthew, "exceeding fierce," and the pure Saxon of "no man might pass by that way;" and then entered upon the little niceties in Mark, as the man having his "dwelling" in the tombs, no man being able to “bind him," not even " with chains,”—his having been "often bound with fetters and chains,"— their being "plucked asunder by him,”— the "fetters broken in pieces," his dwelling in "the mountains and in the tombs," "night and day, crying, and cutting himself with stones," &c. &c.; rendering the narrative much more graphic than Matthew. On the third case, he observed, that Mark pointed out the period of the day, at "even,”—the course the vessel was to take, to "pass over to the other side,"- - those in company with them, "other little ships," — the place where our Saviour lay, "the hinder part of the ship," the comfort afforded him, "a pillow," &c.; the whole being simple, touching, and sublime; indeed, he knew of nothing in the whole range of uninspired literature equal to it. It reminded us that perhaps these were little niceties more likely to attract the poet than the divine; the one being in quest of beauties, and the other of food for the soul.

Southey was mentioned; and a fear being expressed

that his case was hopeless, - Montgomery: "He must have broken down very suddenly: I had a letter from him in 1838, just before his second marriage. He said his general health was good, his sight tolerable, that he often walked twelve miles in a day, and could walk as many more. The letter was forwarded to me through the medium of Wordsworth, along with the last edition of his poems." Everett : "Ebenezer

Elliott has informed me, since I came to Sheffield, that his eldest son lately saw both Southey and Wordsworth, and that the former is not impaired so much in health as in memory, being unable to recollect either persons or things. Elliott at the same time complained of the failure of his own memory; he could recollect faces, but not names; consoling himself with the reflection, that the loss was not of a person, but of a word." Montgomery: "Elliott himself, like others, is moulting I suppose at present. You would find him grown so gentle, that you might stroke him." Holland: "I suppose you mean in the right direction?" Montgomery: Aye; and even in the wrong way, till you elicit sparks, as from the back of a cat." Everett: "He has had sufficient of trial, either to tone down or excite his feelings, if, as he tells me, he has lost 40007. within the last three years." Montgomery: "Four thousand pounds, over and above what he retains, is a very considerable sum for a man like him so soon to have acquired in the Sheffield trade. I met him in the news room a short time ago. He told me he had two sons clergymen. But I was most impressed with the gentle tone of his voice, in the tender, mild manner in which he inquired after my health. It went to the very bottom of my soul; and, comparing it with some of his boisterous speeches at public meetings on the Corn Law question, it haunted me afterwards like a spectre." Everett: "I was amused with some of his

EBENEZER ELLIOTT.

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half-jocose and half-serious remarks on public speaking. He said he felt great trepidation in facing a few thousands in open field: yet, continued he, all public speakers of eminence had been remarkable for health, as Demosthenes, Cicero, Wesley, Whitfield, Burke, Pitt, Chatham, Fox, and so on. They were constantly inhaling vast quantities of oxygen, the distinguishing properties of which not only render combustion more vivid, but in an extraordinary degree support human life. Then, turning to Mrs. Elliott, he playfully observed, That is what supports you, my dear, and others of the fair sex; for the ladies are proverbially great talkers.' Montgomery: "He is an extraordinary man. Take him away from politics, and even religion smiles at his touch. There is scarcely anything more beautiful than the opening lines of his Ranter.'"

Everett: "Southey, he informs me, wrote a favourable critique on his poems, and sent it for insertion in the 'Quarterly Review,' but Lockhart refused to admit it." Miss Gales: "You would be sorry, Mr. Everett, - for I believe they were favourites with you as well as with me. -to hear of the painful circumstances connected with the death of Miss Jewsbury and Miss Landon, afterwards Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. McLean?" Everett: "I was; particularly with the latter." Turning to Mr. Montgomery, Mr. E. asked whether he had any personal acquaintance with either of them? Montgomery: "Miss Landon attended my lectures in the Metropolis; and she sent me a copy of her verses on the Queen attaining her majority, a few months before her own marriage, accompanied with a small note about the size of the wings of two butterflies: I wrote her a letter of acknowledgment. She appears to have been oxygen, what

*Some of them imbibed other stimulants besides ever may be said of their health.