Hark! in the vale some little bird is singing,
And sweetly calls its fellows to awake;

And now the lark, into the clear air springing,
Echoes the call; while from each bush and brake
The happy-hearted songsters answering, make
The welkin ring with praise. Rich odours rise
In worship from the flow'rs; and from the lake,
Reflecting in its depths the o'erarching skies,
A curling vapour, as of incense, heavenward flies.
GOD's praise the foaming cataracts proclaim,
And, bowing in deep reverence, adore.

The echoing mountains, too, repeat His name,
Then veil their faces with the clouds once more.
His praise the billows sound from shore to shore ;
While viewless winds, those spirits of the deep,
Exulting join the ocean's anthem-roar,

And time, to bounding waves' wild music, keep,
As ever in GoD's praise their solemn harps they sweep.

And when yon sun, which now is seen to rise,
Shall light at last creation's funeral pyre;
And earth shall perish, and the azure skies
Become one awful winding-sheet of fire;
While stars, like sparks, fly upward and expire,
Their elements dissolved by fervent heat;
E'en then, throughout that dissolution dire,

When clouds in darkness surge beneath GOD's feet, Chaos, in mighty thunders, shall His praise repeat.

And shall the universe of GOD resound
For ever with His high and glorious praise;
Shall worship in the scent of flowers be found,
And adoration in each star's pure rays;

Is there no dew-drop which in beauty lays

Its soft cheek on a rose-leaf, nor a spring
Nor mountain torrent, but whose glad life pays
Its MAKER homage; and shall I not bring

TO THEE a tribute of my love, my GOD and KING?

The worlds of splendour in the midnight sky, Which gem-like shine so beautifully bright, Are but THY breath, ALMIGHTY GOD MOST HIGH, Condensed whilst passing through primeval night With these creative words-" Let there be light! And THOU canst speak, and all that's dark in me, At once shall take its everlasting flight; And, like a star o'er life's tempestuous sea, My song may haply guide some wandering one to THEE.

O SPIRIT of unutterable love,

Of highest wisdom and unbounded grace,

Speak! and, as sprang the stars in heaven above,
From deepest darkness of the realms of space,

To show for ever to the human race

THY still unchanging goodness, here shall shine
Some starry truths which hearts will joy to trace;
Uplifting them from earth to things divine;

The peace and gladness ours; the praise and glory THINE!

G. W. M.

REPORT

OF THE

Royal Society of Literature.

1879.

Royal Society of Literature.

GENERAL

ANNIVERSARY MEETING.

APRIL 30th, 1879.

THE Chair was taken at half-past four P.M. by Sir PATRICK DE COLQUHOUN, Q.C., LL.D., V.P., owing to the unavoidable absence of the President, His Royal Highness THE PRINCE LEOPOLD, K.G.

The Minutes of the General Anniversary Meeting of 1878 having been read and signed, the following Annual Report of the Society's Proceedings, as prepared under the direction of the Council, was read.