THE

COMMEMORATIVE WREATH.

A HYMN OF THANKSGIVING,

FOR BEHOLDING THE DAY WHEN SLAVERY CEASES THROUGHOUT THE BRITISH COLONIES.

THINE the praise! Almighty Father!

Thine the glory! Son of God!

Holy Spirit! Thine to gather

To the one Eternal Word.

Blessed union-all subduing,

Hearts of adamant give way
When Thy Grace, the soul imbuing,
Leads in humble faith to pray.

B

On her seraph wing ascending
Ardent prayer avails above,
Mercy, at Heaven's gate attending,
Bears it to the Throne of Love.

Here Divinity approving

What Divinity inspired,

Touched the chain-which, quick removing,

All opposing hosts retired.

Bless Thy work! O God of Glory,

Bless it now to all-we pray! Raise the anthem-Holy! Holy! On this consecrated day.

Bid Thy radiant Love divine
Chase the moral clouds of night;

On both white and sable shine,
Blend all shades in Gospel light.

With Thy HERALD of SALVATION
Send thy Holy Spirit forth :
Let it ring through every Nation,
JESUS hath the victory wrought!

M. D.

FIRST OF AUGUST, M.DCCC.XXXIV.

Now glory to God from the Isles of the Ocean,
And praise from the uttermost parts of the Earth;
From bosoms that thrill with triumphant emotion

Peal forth ye glad songs of thanksgiving and mirth: His people's affliction Jehovah hath known,

And the voice of their crying hath reached to His throne.

Lovely and bright as the sun-beam out breaking
From thunder-clouds black with the long pending

storm;

And sweet the clear note of the sky-lark awaking When spring's early breathing was fragrant and

warm:

But oh! for the carol that bursts from the Slave

When Freedom's first day-streak dawns over the wave.

The treacherous dealers no more shall oppress thee,

Thou poor sable victim-thy fetter is broke;

The hand of thy Saviour is lifted to bless thee,
And fix the sweet bond of His spiritual yoke :
The Lord thy captivity turneth again-

He hath broken the rod-He hath severed the chain.

And we who in tears have been lab'ring and sowing,
And prayerfully waiting the tardy increase—
Oh! we must press forward, with ecstasy glowing,
To reap the rich harvest in freedom and peace.
All glory to God, from the Isles of the West!
Shout aloud, for the Africans' wrong is redressed
Glory and praise from the Isles of the Sea,
Shout, for the Negro-the NEGRO is FREE!

CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH.

THE TRIUMPH.

DELIGHTFUL theme! with rapture I essay
Poetic numbers, and the call obey,

To add one weak, one tributary song

To swell the pealing strains that float along,
Heard not on earth alone-but heard above
Shall be those hymn-notes of fraternal love—
Shall be those grateful accents that now rise
From hearts which prove affection's sympathies.
Welcome thrice happy theme! how new! how fair
Art thou in all thy bearings! Hope doth bear
Visions too bright to open all to view ;

Yet one, at least, this feeble strain shall shew,
And it the picture of that day shall be

When the degraded islands of the sea

Thy stain, O England!—with such rapture heard

Their Freedom sealed-as freemen's hearts ne'er stirred.
Yet who can paint the bliss-the bounding joy!
Seen in the limbs! heard in the tongue's employ