THE SLAVER:

A BALLAD

The sun is setting red,

And the sky of a murky hue.—

Then a cheer we'll give for the dead, And a cheer for the slaver's crew.

She speeds o'er the green sea-wave, She speeds at a twelve-knots pace: Then " .A cheer o'er the Negro's grave! While the foe is giving chase."

" Can he catch us ? British loon!"

Asks the Spaniard, with a smile:

"The Devil will as soon,' Says he, and sneers the while.

But o'er his haughty brow, Emaciated,

A shade is coming now—

"Let her run before the gale!"

He shouts aloud: and then He calls for the deep red wine; And he doubts whether slaves be men, Form'd by the band Divine.

The brave ship cuts away Through the ever yielding sea; And foams the sparkling spray,

So bright and merrily.

"The English press us hard!" Exclaims the dark-eyed mate.

"No, no 1 such fears discard—

The lubbers are too late !"

He makes reply. But mark,

His hand is upon his brow—

"We must lighten the gallant barque While time and weather allow."

Such are his words—and "splash" Is all we're doom'd to hear.

Stop a while: phosphoric flash The sea-waves, and then—a cheer

Is beard above the roar

Of waters; then another

Splash—and all is o'er.

They cheer each drowning brother.* Night comes. The slaver's ran Has not been made in vain: The captain cries, "We've won !" And chuckles o'er his gain.

MORAL.

0 gentle England ! pause. is such thy bootless task? At least the evil cause Thereof don't shun to ask.

That cause is greedy lust Of pelf, man's primest Desires corrupt, which must Be slaves of evil will.

But still by Christian art

Mankind improved maybe:

We find hope where there's heart,

And both where's "IABOUR FREE."

Then never say "Despair," But place in God thy trust: Who cloth for sparrows care Will conquer evil lust.

• In the course of the evidence before a Committee of the House of Commons, it was stated in reply to a question upon tile point, that they did indulge in merriment on boast slave-trading vessels, but that the occasions were those of funerals, when the Ilitttrof some unfortunate slave was committed to the deep, amidst the general exalts- 111.1•Cthe survivors at his being released from the honors of his situatlon."—A recent *oat st, Sir Robert Peel on She ,Slave-trade.