Page:Our Hymns.djvu/232

 212 OTJE HYMNS :

of the &quot; Kendal Hymn Book,&quot; we know that it is part of his piece of six stanzas given there, beginning

&quot; While my Jesus I m possessing.&quot;

The form in which it is given in the &quot;New Congregational Hymn Book &quot; is that in which it is given in the Countess of Huntingdon s collection. It is the work of the Hon. and Rev. Walter Shirley, the editor of an edition of that collection, a rela tive of the Countess, and himself a hymn-writer. He had poetic feeling enough to recognize a true hymn in the original. He saw the diamond in the rough, and he had taste to remove what was superfluous, and to give the needed polish to the precious gem that remained. So that we owe this valued hymn scarcely less to Shirley than to Allen. Unaltered, the hymn would have been rejected as objectionable ; wisely and tastefully altered, it takes its place among the best.

THOMAS HAWEIS, LL.B., M.D. 17341820.

THIS poet-preacher, to whom we are indebted for two of our favourite hymns, was born at Truro, Cornwall, and educated at Christ s College, Cambridge. He was afterwards assistant- preacher to the Rev. M. Maclan, at the Lock Hospital, London. Subsequently he became chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon and entered upon the rectorship of All Saints, Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire. The rectorship -nas undertaken for a definite period, but when the time came for relinquishing it, Dr. Haweis was unwilling to do so. This involved him in a paper war with Mr. Madan ; but the matter was compromised by the Countess of Huntingdon, and Dr. Haweis retained his living till his death. He died at Bath, where he had gone to reside. He was popular preacher, and one of the founders of the London Mis sionary Society. By reading Captain Cook s account of his

�� �