ARGUMENT.

Apostrophe to the Proposer of the Bill that suggested the Subject. Power of the existing Laws for the Protection of Man against the Assaults of Man.-Dreadful State of Human Society undefended by Laws.-The LOWER WORLD a frequent Subject of POETRY and PAINTING.— Their respective Powers in a Variety of Instances described; but neither the Pen or Pencil embrace the present Subject. Still less do the Laws extend to the Protection of the Animal World.-Apostrophe to the living Poets of the Country.-The RIGHTS of the LOWER WORLD examined.-Common-place Arguments of Pride and Interest against the Admission of such RIGHTS.-Apostrophe to false Reasoners on the Subject.

THE

LOWER WORLD.

BOOK I.

WH

HEN public honours, in the public cause, Exalt to power, yet dignify the laws;

When with Fame's brightest laurels cover'd o'er

To favour'd genius, Fame can give no more;
On these, when proud distinctions of the state,
The fair awards of eloquence await;

When these, by noblest paths have led to wealth,
And nature grants the richer boon of health:
O! with all these assembled blessings crown'd,
When sacred Leisure spreads its shades around;
Where resting from the World's entangled road,
The soul ascends sublime from man to God;

Mid the bow'r'd silence of the private scene,
Say, what so well can fill the pause between
As that which Nature prompts to Pity's breast?
-Pity, of every generous heart the guest,
As that which dares each colder code refute,
And justifies the ways of man to brute?

A thousand laws, and what no law can reach,

The ways of man, to fellow man may teach ;

Not those alone who wrong their native land,
The mask'd assassin, or the robber band;

Not those who stop the traveller on his way,
Ruffians of midnight, or of open day;

Not they to whom the direst acts belong,
But for each shade of social crime and wrong,

Law lifts the giant arm, nor lifts in vain,

The sacred powers of order to maintain, Guardian of human rights, nor wants the force

To aid inferior beings in its course.

Yet aids them only on the social plea,

Of goods or chattels, claim'd by you or me;

As right protects, as property defends,

But to pure human pity ne'er extends.

The LOWER WORLD, like purchas'd slaves, must find

A tyrant savage, or a master kind;

This, holds the helpless tribe in sacred trust,
That, tortures life, or crushes it in dust.

Oh! who can paint the horror that prevails, Where Law controls not, and where Mercy fails? The waves, when wild they overflow their bound, Covering with wrecks the watery world around; The meteors, when they ride the catching air, And shake contagion from their blazing hair; The maniac whirlwinds, when oppos'd they rave; The ravenous earthquake—an enormous grave, Whose mouth capacious, by whole cities fed, In one dire moment swallowing quick and dead, Less fell than man, with passions unconfin'd, And soul debas'd let loose upon his kind; His wit, his genius, then but more annoy, His godlike powers but engines to destroy,

The fiercest monster that e'er roam'd the wood,
Or lash'd the billow less profuse of blood.

No

pen, no tongue, his cruelties can tell,

On earth committing foulest deeds of hell!

The LOWER WORLD full oft the Muse has sung, And every chord of every lyre been strung; Long have the feather'd, furr'd, and scaly train, Inspir'd the painter's touch, the poet's strain. Ardent alike the pen and pencil try,

Which most shall charm the heart, or lure the

eye;

Their varied hues and thrilling numbers move,
And all is beauty, harmony, and love.

On painted banks there sleeps the fleecy dam,
And close beside her stands the pictur'd lamb;
Here stretch'd at large the pamper'd Ox is seen,
Pastur'd in meadows of Parnassian green;
There bolder sketch'd the spirit-breathing Steed,
Like some proud courser of ethereal breed,