I, upon life's tempestuous billows thrown A little bark before the tempest drivenStrove for a time the surging tide to breast, And up its rolling mountains sought for rest. Wearied, at length, with the unceasing strife, To mad ambition's heartless rivalry; No longer venturing for exalted life, (For storms and quicksands have no charms for me,) I, in the listless labors of the swain, Provoke no turmoil, and awake no pain. To drive the team afield, and guide the plough, The lambkins sport, and brindled oxen feed, And when stern winter breathes the chilling storm, And sate their hunger from the gathered store; Of childhood lovelier than the vernal flower, Partake its harmless glee and prattle gay, Thus were the numbers taught at first to flow, Scarce conscious that they bore a tale alongBeneath my hand still would the pages grow They were not labor but the joy of song Still every line would unsung beauties shew In Williams' soul, and still the stream prolong; Till all enraptured with the theme sublime, My thoughts spontaneous sought the embodying rhyme. The winds of March o'er Narraganset's bay Move in their strength-the waves with foam are white, O'er Seekonk's tide the waving branches play, The woods roar o'er resounding plain and height; 'Twixt sailing clouds, the sun's inconstant ray But glances on the scene-then fades from sight; Dissolving snows each downward channel fill, Deep-voiced Pawtucket thunders louder still; To dark Mooshausick joyously he calls, Who breaks his bondage, and, through forests brown, Murmurs the hoarse response, and rolls his tribute down. But hark! that sound, above the cataracts And hollow winds in this wild solitude Seems passing strange. Who, with the laboring axe, On Seekonk's eastern marge, invades the wood; Stroke follows stroke-some sturdy hind åttacks Yon ancient groves which from their birth have stood Unmoved by steel-and startled at the sound, The wild deer snuffs the gales-then with a bound Vaults o'er the thickets, and, down yonder glen, Vex his repose-then, cowering with affright * * * * * 5 LETTER FROM ROGER WILLIAMS, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF RHODE-ISLAND, IN RELATION TO THE SERVICES OF DR. JOHN CLARKE. [THE following characteristic specimen of the composition of Roger Williams, is now for the first time published. This fact it is presumed will give it an interest in addition to its historical value. The Editor is however aware, that at least a brief explanation of the circumstances under which it was written, may be required by those readers who are not familiar with the early history of Rhode Island. The first charter of the Colony, (the Earl of Warwick's Patent,) was granted in 1643. In 1651, William Coddington went to England, and obtained from the Council of State, a Commission, by which he was made Governor of the Island of Rhode-Island, Canonicut, &c. for life. With this the people were much dissatisfied, and Williams and Clarke were immediately sent by the Colony to England, to procure its repeal, which they accomplished in 1652. Williams returned in 1654, and was in the same year elected Governor. Clarke remained in England as the agent of the Colony, until 1663, when he obtained the Charter of Charles the Second. It appears from the letters of Williams, that during at least a part of the time while thus absent from home, he was obliged to provide for his own support. He says, in a letter to the town of Providence, written in 1664, "I was unfortunately fetched and drawn from my employment, and sent to so vast a distance from my family, to do your work of a high and costly nature, for so many days and weeks and months together; and there left to starve or steal, or beg, or borrow. But blessed be God, who gave me favor to borrow one while, and to work another, and thereby to pay your debts there, and to come over with your credit and honor, as an agent from you, who had in your name grappled with the agents and friends of all your enemies round about you." It further appears, that he had recourse to teaching as a means of support; and in connexion with this fact, a passage in one of his letters to John Winthrop, written soon after his return, is peculiarly interesting, on account of the proof which it furnishes of his personal acquaintance with his great contemporary, Milton. He says: "It pleased the Lord to call me for some time, and with some persons, to practise the Hebrew, the Greek, Latin, French, and Dutch. The Secretary of the Council, (Mr. Milton) for my Dutch I read him, read me many more languages." Clarke was absent, in the service of the Colony, twelve years. In 1664, his accounts were audited by the General Assembly, and the sum of £343, 15s. 6d. was found due him, which the Assembly often urged the towns to pay; but that act of justice was not performed during the life of Clarke. His circumstances however were not necessitous, for he was enabled to die as he lived,-doing good, leaving a Will by which his Estate was to be applied to "the relief of the poor, and bringing up children unto learning.” Clarke was highly respected and esteemed by Williams. Of this fact, an interesting memorial is preserved in the library of Brown University, in a copy of "The Bloody Tenet yet more Bloody," on one of the blank leaves of which, is an inscription in the hand-writing of Williams, in the following words: "For his honored and beloved Mr. John Clarke, an eminent witness of Christ Jesus, against the Bloody Doctrine of Persecution, &c."] Beloved Friends and Countrymen, My due respects presented, with hearty desires of your present and eternal prosperity, when this short life is over. I was resolved to have visited you myself, this winter and to have persuaded with argu |
