in quite a different strain. His political and religious veiws were what are called "extreme" and, in support of these, he often used his pen. Vigorous and daring as such pieces are, even people who could have no sympathy with their aim, could scarcely withhold a certain appreciation. Perhaps the most audacious and one of the cleverest is the "Lament of Jonah" in which are depicted the probable thoughts and feelings of that unfortunate prophet during his three days' dark imprisonment. Mr. Peacock was, however, by no means a reckless destroyer of the faith of others. It suited his nature much better to help men on to pure lives and honest actions than to dispute with them about creeds and doctrine. This is how he sums up his own faith:-"My God is Love, My Country is the World, and my Religion is Humanity"; a statement to which, as far as that goes, few could take serious exception, and from which we may infer that, had he understood Christianity more, he would have disliked it less. This statement is taken from some "Random Thoughts for Freethinkers" which he has left in manuscript. Of these very suggestive random notes I will quote a few. "The greatest conqueror that lives "A random word, e'en from a fool "Liberty-A boon that everyone loves but is loath to give to his neighbour." "He who dabbles in trifles will never be out of trouble." Mr. Peacock has also left behind him some glimpses" of his life for the use, as he says, of anyone who thinks it worth while to write his biography. Unfortunately this record stops short at a comparatively early period, so, unless living friends can supply the history of many recent years, a complete story of his life is impossible. This is much to be regretted, for the history of such a life would, beyond doubt, be of real value to the world. We could well exchange a score or two of gossipping memoirs for an insight into the life and into the moral and spiritual development of such men as John Macleay Peacock. Few men have met with more vicissitudes than Mr. Peacock. The son of a seaman, he seems to have inherited a roving disposition. In addition to many wanderings in this country and Ireland, he visited France and Spain. The record of his impressions of the latter country is contained in a poem entitled "Musings in Spain," too long it is feared for publication. Another manuscript poem on "War" suffers from the same disqualification; but it is to be hoped his shorter pieces will all of them, sooner or later, be given to the world. Another poet of humble origin is Joseph Skipsey, a coal miner in the North of England. He prove s himself, in the face of lack of education and a hard life in the pits, to be a capable man. I have been greatly pleased with a volume of verses which he has recently issued entitled "A Book of Mis cellaneous Lyrics." Perhaps these are, on the whole, a trifle too sentimental, but I do not know that they will be less popular on that account. Here is a charming little piece called "The Violet and the Rose": "The Violet invited my kiss, I kissed it and called it my bride; Was ever one slighted like this? Sighed the Rose as it stood by my side." "My heart, ever open to grief, To comfort the fair one I turned; Of fickle ones thou art the chief! Frown'd the Violet, and pouted and mourned." Then to end all dispute, I entwined The following genuine poetry : Stanzas," to are a bit of "Alas! the woe the high of heart "Their anguish, like a Samson, blind, It grasps the pillars of the mind, And dies a victim to its strengh.' I had selected for quotation two or three other pieces, but must leave it to my readers to prc cure them for themselves. They will find the handsome little volume worth the 3s. asked for it by the author and, as it has not been launched on that bottomless sea known as "the trade," they must write for their copies to Mr. Skipsey himself at Backworth Colliery, 20, Percy Street, near Newcastle on Tyne. In the realms of Prose, I have been examining a thoroughly prosaic work by Mr. Lownds entitled "John Searchman's Lantern." It is "a Guide to the Bible, Testament and Al Koran.” I can by no means assent to some of the deductions of the author, but the tables of references and the other information contained in this little work are certainly valuable. The labor and patient research which must have been given to their production are worth reflecting upon in these days when mere book-making is so much in vogue. NINETEENTH CENTURY PROPHETS. ENGLAND now, not less than Palestine in the days before Christ has its Prophets, and, as long as sin and falsehood abound, there will always be a succession of men who, with more or less power, try to show Divine Truth to the world. Whether our Prophets of the Nineteenth Century are greater or less than the Hebrew Prophets of old, or than the Prophets of any other age, is a question which has been sometimes asked. The answer can be determined when we know whether mankind, as a whole, has advanced or receded. If it has advanced, its great teachers must stand on a higher level or they could not teach; if it has receded, they must stand on a lower level or they would not be understood. But it is a matter of not much consequence. The relations of Prophets to their own age are more important. Do they speak the Truths most needed and do they speak them in the most telling fashion? Morally and Spiritually, are they an inch or two higher than their contemporaries or do they stand head and shoulders above them? If they are great in comparison with their own age it matters very little what their proportions are to any other. The need of Prophets in our own day can hardly be long questioned. It is true that a great many persons think that, for wisdom and virtue, there never was an age to compare with this; that the course of evolution always tends to the survival of the most excellent and that, excepting for Tory governments, mankind would now be standing much |