Introduction; Spoken at the Theatre in Sunderland

SPOKEN AT THE THEATRE IN SUNDERLAND ,

O N Widows — Orphans — left, alas! forlorn,
(From the rack'd heart its every comfort torn)
Humanity, to-night, confers relief,
And softens, though she can't remove their grief:
Blasted her hopes, her expectations kill'd,
The sons of sympathy (with sorrow chill'd)
Behold the wretched matron — madly weep,
And hear her cry — " My joys are in the deep! "
To the tremendous Power that rules mankind,
Lord of the seas — the calm and boisterous wind,
We bow, obedient, and with awe resign'd.
His ways, inscrutable, we can't explore,
No — we may wonder, but we must adore!
Happy, for ever, be the generous breast,
That feels compassion for the poor distrest;
Happy the hand that stops the sufferer's tear!
Such hands there are, and such, we find, are here.