Page:The West Indies, and Other Poems.djvu/86

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74

PART IV.

Note 1. Page 51, line 8.—His meek forerunners waned, and pass'd away, &c.—The context preceding and following this line alludes to the old Bohemian and Moravian Brethren, who flourished long before the reformation, but afterwards were almost lost among the protestants, till the beginning of the eighteenth century, when their ancient episcopal church was revived in Lusatia, by some refugees from Moravia.—See Crantz's Ancient and Modern History of the Brethren. Histories of the missions of the Brethren in Greenland, North America, and the West Indies, have been published in Germany: those of the two former have been translated into English.—See Crantz's History of Greenland, and Loskiel's History of the Brethren among the Indians in North America. It is only justice here to observe, that Christians of other denominations have exerted themselves with great success in the conversion of the negroes. No invidious preference is intended to be given to the Moravians; but, knowing them best, the author particularized this society.

Note 2. Page 54, lines 7, 8.

In secret agony devour'd the earth,
And while he spared his mother, cursed his birth.

See Notes 2 and 3 Part III.

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