Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

During his Dudley ministry he twice preached at <strong>the</strong> Oldbury Double
Lecture ; in 1835 with William Bowen, <strong>of</strong> Cradley, and in 1848 with James
Cranbrook, <strong>of</strong> Birmingham. At <strong>the</strong> Monthly Meeting he preached on six
occasions.
He left Dudley and <strong>the</strong> ministry on his appointment as Her Majesty's
Treasurer <strong>of</strong> Dominica, which <strong>of</strong>fice he held until failing health-<strong>the</strong> result
<strong>of</strong> a sunstroke-compelled his retirement in 1866. His power <strong>of</strong> versifica-
tion, which had shewn itself early in his Caermar<strong>the</strong>n days, asserted itself
again in Dominica, when, on g March, 1861, <strong>the</strong>re was printed on blue
broadsides, " Prince Alfred's Welcome to <strong>the</strong> West Indies. " The Prince
sent his tutor, Sir John Cowell, to compliment Palmer on his " Welcome,"
and to say he would present <strong>the</strong> verses to <strong>the</strong> Queen.
PRINCE ALFRED'S WELCOAIIE*
To <strong>the</strong>
Welcon~e, young Prince-our second Hope-upon whose brow we trace
The fond familiar lineaments <strong>of</strong> England's Royal race.
Most welcome for thy Mo<strong>the</strong>r's sake-in whom each grace is seen,
In one combined-that best become-<strong>the</strong> Mo<strong>the</strong>r, Wife, and Queen.
And welcome for thy honour'd Sire-beneath whose fostering care
Science and arts approach <strong>the</strong> throne and find a Patron <strong>the</strong>re.
Welcome for him, Imperial Britain's foremost boast and pride,
The promise to a future age, by favoring Heaven supplied.
A thousand welcomes, gentle Prince,-not for <strong>the</strong>ir sakes alone,
Accept from Tropic hearts and tongues, thou'rt welcome for thy own.
Thy Ships hold converse with <strong>the</strong> sound <strong>of</strong> ocean's loudest cries,
Their meteor Pennants float al<strong>of</strong>t-communing with <strong>the</strong> skies.
Say, whi<strong>the</strong>r can <strong>the</strong>y bear <strong>the</strong>e, Son <strong>of</strong> England's Royal race,
Where <strong>the</strong> wild cry <strong>of</strong> joy is hushed and gratulations cease ?
Sail you thro' Britain's Tropic Isles, <strong>the</strong>se Cyclads <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth,
Ten thousand tongues salute <strong>the</strong>e <strong>the</strong>re, with shouts <strong>of</strong> loyal mirth.
Sail you thro' alien lands-e'en <strong>the</strong>re, no alien heart you find,
Your Mo<strong>the</strong>r's virtues <strong>the</strong>re are felt, and rule each willing mind.
In love and reverence for her, do all with <strong>the</strong>e combine,
And <strong>the</strong> great heart <strong>of</strong> nations throbs in syn~pathy with thine.
*From one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> original blue broadsides, petzes, G.E.E.
4
Born for thyself thou art not Prince,-thy faith thy Mo<strong>the</strong>r plights,
Thy energies, thy life, thy all-to man-to human rights ;
But still, thy lov'd, thy native land-her interests claini <strong>the</strong>e first,-
Where our heroic Sires <strong>of</strong> old, saw Infant Freedom nurs'd ;- a
Watched patient by her rugged couch,-till <strong>the</strong>y beheld arise-
An Angel Form-to earth espoused-tho' Gtted for <strong>the</strong> skies.
Aid her bright mission to mankind-<strong>the</strong> task is all divine-
A greatness looms before her path-0 ! be that greatness thine.
Glorious <strong>the</strong> Prince, who makes her cause his care, his boast, his pride ;
Glorious <strong>the</strong> Queen, who reigns o'er lands, by Freedom sanctified.
Alfred ! 0 Prince, a name is thine-<strong>the</strong> watchword <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> free-
Promise and pledge <strong>of</strong> future things, thy country seeks from <strong>the</strong>e.
Like <strong>the</strong> great Saxon, from thy mind cast <strong>of</strong>f successless sloth ;
Rival his patriot life and let one halo wrea<strong>the</strong> you both.
Shape thy young manhood to his type,-and may thy aims sublime
Prove that <strong>the</strong> greatness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> past survives <strong>the</strong> lapse <strong>of</strong> time.
Be Alfred, virtue's synonym-0 ! let <strong>the</strong> word express
The exalted soul-and deeds achieved for human happiness,-
Like him-let virtue's rugged path, be that alone to Fame,
Till our lov'd land beholds revived-<strong>the</strong> glory with <strong>the</strong> name.
JNO. PALMER.
Dominica, 9th March, 1861.
During his residence in <strong>the</strong> island, yellow fever carried <strong>of</strong>f his two
daughters, Aphra and Mary. On his return he settled at Waterford, where
he died in his house on <strong>the</strong> Mall on 8 March, 1869, having a short while
before become a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Protestant Church in Ireland, <strong>of</strong> which his
son is rector <strong>of</strong> Kilnaliue parish, CO. Wexford. Palmer was twice married,
his second wife, who still (1898) lives hale and hearty with her son at
Hollyfort rectory, being sister to <strong>the</strong> late Rev. John Gordon.
Samuel Coulter Davison was <strong>the</strong> eldest son <strong>of</strong> David Davison, M.A.
(d. 1858), <strong>the</strong> successor <strong>of</strong> Abraham Rees, D.D., as minister <strong>of</strong> Jewin
Street, or Old Jewry Chapel, London. From 1847 to 1856 he was Hebrew,
German and English tutor at <strong>the</strong> Presbyterian College, Caermar<strong>the</strong>n, <strong>the</strong>
annual examinations <strong>of</strong> which had been conducted by his fa<strong>the</strong>r for a
quarter <strong>of</strong> a century with great ability, and with marked advantage to <strong>the</strong>
College. On resigning his post at Caermar<strong>the</strong>n Dr. Davison entered <strong>the</strong>
ministry, received Presbyterian ordination in Ireland, and ministered at
Dudley from 1857 to 1860, when he resigned, and, without tak,ing active
charge again, died in London, on 23 January, 1874.