OLD house, how long I've known thee,
     By high, historic fame,
By Thornton, Inglis, Wilberforce, *
     Each loved and sainted name;
And now, my pilgrim feet have trod
     Thy consecrated ground,
And underneath thy sacred roof,
     A pilgrim's rest, have found.

Home of each heart-attraction,
     Of manly piety,
Of lovely woman's gentleness,
     Of childhood's artless glee;
A tenderer tie, than history, now
     Shall hold thee, to my heart,
And make thy blessed memory,
     Of every pulse, a part.

My children shall be told of thee,
     And every dearest name,
In every murmured orison,
     Their lips, shall learn to frame;
And fervent prayers, shall daily rise,
     From far beyond the sea,
That God, His blessings, still may pour,
     Sweet Christian home, on thee!

BATTERSEA RISE, August 20, 1841.

* Battersea Rise, Clapham Common, a few miles from London, was the residence of the late Henry Thornton, Esq. M. P. At his death, it became the residence of his friend, and the faithful guardian of his children, Sir R. H. Inglis, Bart., M. P. It is now occupied by the eldest son, Henry Sykes Thornton, Esq., and his family. In this House, Mr. Wilberforce wrote his "Practical view." Sir Robert Inglis' edition of Mr. Thornton's Family Prayers, bears date from this house. It was the resort, besides these, of Hannah More, the Grants, the Bowdlers, Macaulay, Babington. The excellent Dr. Dealtry is the rector of Clapham. The late Rev. Charles Thornton, who translated S. Cyprian's Treatises, for the Library of the Fathers, at Oxford, was the son of Mr. Henry Thornton.

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