GOING TO LONDON.

335

fact," from all we know of Montgomery he seems to us the last person to have made himself the hero of such a tale. This early disappointment may, indeed, account for the single life which he led, eminently suited as he was, from his shyness of general society, and his strong local. and personal attachments, to enjoy the "social sweetness" of married life.

• Montgomery's first stay at Wath was a year's length; when he formed the acquaintance of Mr. Brameld, the village bookseller of Swinton, in whose humble shop the only evenings which he spent from home were passed. Here ambitious hopes were kindled. Here the poet found an admiring auditor; one who could not only appreciate genius, but find it a market. Brameld had dealings with London booksellers, and with many a scrap of successful authorship did he fire the enthusiasm of the young clerk: unrequited labor, disappointed expectations, hungry, homeless authorship begging bread in London, could not dampen, but only add fuel to the flame. A volume of poems was prepared, which Brameld forwarded to Paternoster Row, followed in a few days by the young author himself. Mr. Hunt parted with his faithful servant unwillingly enough, less sanguine, perhaps, of his success. In the family Montgomery seems to have met with the same friendship which marked his former homes, and which, though it could not woo him to stay, strewed his way with grateful remembrances.

CHAPTER III.

MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE - DISCOURAGING OCCURRENCES-DEATH OF HIS PARENTS-ARRIVAL IN LONDON — HIS WANT OF SUCCESS-CONTEMPORANEOUS GENIUS-NEW SCHOOLS OF POETRY.

WHILE the son is pitching his tent here and there in his wanderings for the Promised Rest, his parents are toiling under a burning sun, and in face of difficulties grim enough to daunt the stoutest faith, for the spiritual emancipation of the poor Negro in the West Indies.

Their original destination was Barbadoes, afterwards changed to Tobago, at the urgent solicitation of a planter, anxious for the Christian instruction of his own slaves, and promising his influence to befriend the mission.

In August, 1789, the missionary and his wife visited the island, whose moral desolations appealed strongly for their stay.

"Attended the usual Sunday service in the town, with Mr. Hamilton's family," say they. "As yet no church has been built in the island, and divine service is performed in the town-house. Adjoining to this is the negro market, and the noise they make during the service is such that hardly one sentence of the discourse can be understood. About a thousand negroes are generally in the market-place, and I only saw one at the service. In the evening gave an

MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE.

37

exhortation to Mr. Hamilton's negroes. As this is done in the dining-room, and in the presence of the family, the negroes are kept in good order."

"During the following days," says Mr. Montgomery, "I paid some visits to the negroes, but found not one who showed the least desire to be converted. They all ruin themselves in soul and body by the same sins and abominations that prevail in the other islands, and their whole minds seem absorbed in them.

"We received about this time letters from the Synod of the Brethren, informing us that it had been resolved to begin a mission in Tobago, and that we were appointed to enter upon it. God our Saviour knows our weakness and inability; but in reliance upon him we have accepted the appointment, and commend ourselves and the poor negroes in this island to the prayers of all our brethren everywhere.” The French authorities of the island seem to have received the worthy couple with great friendliness.

On their second coming, for a permanent residence, “As soon as the governor heard our names," they tell us, "he gave orders that we should be brought on shore immediately, and sent a soldier to conduct us to his house. He came to meet us, took me by the hand, and assured me, by his interpreter, that he greatly rejoiced at our being at last arrived to settle, and should be glad to render us all the services in his power. Our goods were not examined: the officers placed on board for that purpose suffered them to pass free. The word of Scripture appointed for this day was, 'He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways;' and we experienced a gracious fulfilment of this promise, even in behalf of us, his poor children."

Political disturbances, a mutiny in the French garrison,

the conflagration of a greater part of the town, and the fear of a negro insurrection, for a time barred all missionary labor, and self-preservation swallowed up the beneficent plans of the planters.

"You may easily suppose," writes the missionary home, "that these circumstances occasioned a general terror; for no one knew what hour he might lose life and fortune. Both whites and blacks kept strict watch every night. During this dreadful period we looked confidently to our gracious and Almighty God and Saviour, as helpless children, and, believing he has sent us hither, offered up prayers and supplications to him in behalf of ourselves and the island, that he would in due time silence the storm, dispel all darkness, and cause the light of his precious gospel to shine in the hearts of the poor negroes. We felt his peace amid the tumult, and put our trust under the shadow of his wings. To look out for a settlement in the present crisis is impossible, and no house could be procured with safety."

The storm at length lulling, a house was obtained, to which they removed from the hospitable mansion of Mr. Hamilton, through whose urgent solicitations the Brethren sent them thither.

"The texts appointed for the day on which we began our housekeeping as missionaries," say they, "were remarkably suitable. 'He bringeth them unto their desired haven ; therefore let them exalt him in the congregation of the people.' 'He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.""

So are the children of God fed with Living Manna, until "their paths," though struck in a parched wilderness, "drop fatness."

Of the hindrances which stared them in the face they tell us: Between our house and the town is a plain along

DISCOURAGING OCCURRENCES.

39

the sea-coast, upon which all kinds of diversion are practised on a Sunday afternoon. All the negroes who would come to us from the town must pass close by this place; and thus it seems as if Satan had pitched his camp opposite to us, and would not suffer any one to pass to hear the gospel."

In spite of discouragements, the missionaries began their labors with unflinching zeal, visiting the plantations, preaching, instructing, counselling, as time and opportunity offered. Cabin and hall were alike opened to them.

But the season seems to have been attended with unusual disaster. In a few weeks one of those hurricanes broke over the island, which carry such swift and sudden desolation over land and sea. Vessels were driven ashore; sugar cane and sugar works melted before the blast; houses were levelled; and men, women, and children were more or less injured by the flying rafters and drenching rains. Mrs. Montgomery was ill at the time, and in consequence of exposure to the peltings of this pitiless storm her recovery was retarded; but of personal sufferings the husband makes little account in his letter home, summing up, at the date of September 6th, 1790, the results of his first quarter's labors on the island.

"I have not been able, hitherto, to gain the attention of the town negroes; I shall therefore direct myself more and more to the plantation negroes, and Mr. Hamilton has kindly offered to procure a house for this purpose. Though many gentlemen promised their aid in supporting the mission, yet I plainly perceive the burden will fall chiefly upon Mr. Hamilton. Some of those who subscribed to the paper sent to the Synod have left the island; others are dead. Some think that the Revolution in France has put an end to all success, and discontinue their subscriptions; others have become discouraged by the misfortunes that have