New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-08-26

least some of the comforts and endesrments Of
bone bat again he was doomed 20 sad dissppoint-
ment Mistortunes seemed 10 gather and ia more
thickly upon bis head Where be bad eft home,
be found no one 70 welcome him. His family was
In the work house Of the Parish Of " igan. twenty
or thirty miles distant His wife having found her
self unable 10 support herself and children, had aP-
piled 70 the Parish Of Hyde for some assistance
and was sent in consequence 20 the work house
Of Wigsn, the latter being the parish 70 which her
husband properly belonged
In state bordering on frenzy, Prince hurried
20 bis wife and children. took them from the work
house and brought them 70 Manchester, where he
rented a garrett. Here with no bed but bundle
OF straw with nothing deserving the name OF iurni-
ture and with clothes scarcely sufficient 70 cover
their nakedness they lived several months IN great
destitution. Prince himself could obtain very III
tie 10 do at reed making, and 1t was only the labor
Of his wife at weaving that enabled them to exc
out their existence.
1t might be supposed that so much misery would
chill and blast the most ardent spirit Not SO with
Prince. His heart continued fresh and true. full
/ of humanity and good will TO all men Nothing
/ harsh or misanthropical ever proceeded from bis
pen Under all difficulties, and in all cIrcum-
stances Poetry was his refuge and his solace' aud
some Of the most touching and purest lines that ne
has ever written, were penned during the darkest
hours Of bis life, before he became known 70 the
| public as poet. About the time OF which we
| have Just been speaking, when he hrst settled IN
Manchester after his return from the Continent he
lost child and his grief on that event was ex-
pressed in a poem full Of beauty and deep feeling.
/ The following is an extract
Yes thou art gone. my beautiful my boy
Thy fathers sOlace, and thy mothers JOY
Gone 10 far, far world, where sin and strife
Can never stain thy purity Of life;
young bright worshipper At Mercys throne,
While am here unblessed and Lone
! Lons 81 a shattered bark upon the deep,
When unrelepting storms around her sweep
Lone tree beneath an angry heaven,
Its foliage scattered and its branches nven
Lone as broken harp, whose wonted strain
Can never wake 70 melody again
Such is the striking language Of man, who at
the time he peDned it, was, In condition, little ABOVE
/ the beggar in the street
He was first brought into public notice and repute
/ by volume entitled Hours ruth the MUSES.,
which be published chiefly through the assistance
of John Bolton ROgerson, poet and editor OF Man
| chester. This work gave him Immediately high
/ rank among English poets His necessities became
/ known also. and many handsome presents were
] made him by men Of rank and wealth. He cannot
complain of i'll usage from his countrymen since his
! genius came to light He resides at present IN the
/ town of Ashton under Lyme. near Manchester Nv
/ ing IN an humble manner, working occasionally at
! his old trade Of reed making, but supporting him
/ self chiefly by his pen. In outward appearance
he bears Indication Of his genius The suterlngs
| he has endured have made him seem much older
than he is He is about the middle size with n
stoop in his shoulders, retreating forehead, and a
pale melancholy countenance. He is very modest
and unassuming in his manners, and possesses very
little conversational power.
Such is a hasty glance at the history OF this ex
traordinary man. He is certainly the most re.
markable If not the best poet who has appeared
since the time Of Burns. OF the character OF his
writings, time and space forbid me to speak at pres
ent. 1 would only say that he is eminenty Poet
Of the People. Sprung from the very lowest class
of society he syInpathizes with the masses and
seeks to elevate them. Not, however, by putting
forth destructive or revolutionary doctrines, but by
aiding the steady progress of Light and Truth, He
exborts men to use reason and not violence. Hear
an extract from his cal TO the People,
Awake in moral manhood strong
Endowed with mental might
With warm persuasion on your tongue,
To plead tho OF Right;
Let Reason. center Of the soul,
Your wild and wandering thoughts control
And give them life and light
Then msy ye hope at length 10 gain
That Freedom ye have sought in vain.
/ Yet he sometimes aims powerful and. well di
rected blows at existing abuses. The following
strong lines are extracted from his " gisioH Of ne
| Future -
81 see no splendid tyrant on throne,
Extorting homage with bauble rod
No senate, needless of peoples moan,
Cursiug the produce Of the fertile sod
No sensual priest with pampered pride oerblown
! shielding oppression IN The name Of God
/ No pensoned coDcubine-nO pAuper peer.
To scorn the widows or the orphans tear
Yours. sc. J. c. C.