Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-10
MONTGOMERY, THE POET.

The foreign correspondent of the New York Observer
gives the following description of interview with this
venerable Christian poet
On the summit of hill near Sheffield in fine house.
commanding splendid prospect of city and green fields
and forests, such aprospect poet in full communion
with his fellowmen would love to look on found the
name Of
JAMES MONTGOMERY
the door, We had heard that the venerable poet was
advanced in life and feeble in health that he
was not willing to see company, and with many
misgvngs that stood at his door and asked the servant
if he was in. Learning that he at home, handed
my card and babe her say that three gentlemen from
America would be glad pay their respects to Mr. Mont
gomery. Before had finished my message he stepped
from his library into the hall and received me with q
greeting that wentto my heart You do much hon.
or" he said Come in, and your friends" He led us
all into his study and insisted sitting down.
said to him. "You were known, sir in America, and
loved, before we born"
He replied 81 thank you. 1t is gratefulto me to know
that any thing Ihaye written has been pleasure
others Your country has published many beautiful edi
tons Of my poems and grateful for their favorable
regard"
He spoke with hesitation, and appeared feeble
though far less than had expected small thin man.
and slightly stoopn9 with bright eye and sharp face
he would not have appeared to had met him in the
street, as the to write " The World before the
Flood" or the Wanderer of Switzerland" Ifthere
not both OF these poems beauties of the highest order
and specimens Of the power of pathos equal the poet
ry of any who has died within the last twenty-five
years. then will confess that lost my trouble in going
i
him. have yeas you have to hear the verdict pos
terity"
EYES," he replied 81 have survived nearly all coten1
poraries."
And you have survived the attacks Of the Edinburgh
Review which predicted that you would not live at ALL
The old man laughed gaiy at this "Reminiscences Of q
slashng review forty years ago. and said The Review
was young then, and they thought they kill some
one in every number; and they sought to make victim
Of me, but lived through it. Those were early trials
and had others but trials good for u.s. and they will
soon be over"
"May ask how old you now, sir?"
:" Shall be eightytwo years old the fourth day Of
November next"
could not refrain from telling him that the fourth Of
November is my day also, and How old will you
be, sir " he added was not unwilling to find another
coincidence in the fact that should be then Just one
half of his age And this led to religious conversation
in which he spoke of that peaceful trembling hope he
had that he should enter upon the promised rest
His lips quvered his voice broke and stood in his
eyes he spoke Of his unworhines be accepted but
Of his trust in the Saviour whose grace is sufficient for
the chief of sinners We take leave and we
shook hands in silence, Edwards repeated of the
poets own stanzas, from The Grave:n
There is q calm for those who weep,
rest for weary pilgrims found"
and he had strength to say, g. hope we shall meet in
Heaven and, following US to the door, babe an af-
fectionate farewell.