Life of Frances Power Cobbe, as told by herself / with additions by the author, and introduction by Blanche Atkinson

by Frances Power Cobbe

The next letter is in acknowledgment of the following verses which I had sent to him on his Eightieth Birthday. They were repeated by the late Chamberlain of the City of London, Sir Benjamin Scott, in his oration on the presentation of the Freedom of the City to Lord Shaftesbury. I print the letter, (though all too kind in its expression about my poor verses,) on account of the deeply interesting review of his own life which it contains:—

A BIRTHDAY ADDRESS

To Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G.

April 28th, 1881.

For eighty years! Many will count them over,

But none save He who knoweth all may guess

What those long years have held of high endeavour,

Of world-wide blessing and of blessedness.

For eighty years the champion of the right

Of hapless child neglected and forlorn;