The Works of William Cowper, Esq., Comprising His Poems
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com TheworksofWilliamCowper,esq.,comprisinghispoems,correspondenceandtranslations.Withalifetheauthorbyeditor,RobertSouthey... WilliamCowper,RobertSouthey SI > OF ' r ?: if. & k,■ :: h i* ji is , A "board laid aver the top of tlie Vheelbarraw, served us far a table; nor dinint'.room was a. roothouse lin. eo with moss and iv\," vLiow, PTBLISHKD lv BAl.iWIi■r * CK OSTER R0W.1B36. tVLISUJU) l^Y U.M.H^n! A CK.VHOfX.. I'ATF.IUTOSTKR 1 T Ml >'. n a ;!■ y. i\ n in w *» « % B * »j WILLIAM COW PER, MID liT, R'f „so(n.\:;< k y, j',.'iy,.(,.,(,,:i», V O L . I V . JMk. ■ IS ' WILLIAM dVJ^i. THE WORKS OP WILLIAM COWPER, Esq. COMPRISING HIS POEMS, CORRESPONDENCE, AND TRANSLATIONS. A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, BY THE EDITOR, ROBERT SOUTHEY, Esq. LL. D. POET LAUREATE, ETC. T0L..IV. LONDON : BALDWIN AND CRADOCK, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1830. CHISWICK PRESS: C. WHITTINGHAM, CoLLEGE HouSE. A ' I \totoO ADVERTISEMENT. Some progress had been made in printing the present Volume, when the Editor was favoured by the Executors of the late Mrs. Smith with the collection of Cowper's letters, which had descended to that lady, as Mr. Newton's niece ; an obligation for which he is principally indebted to the kindness of Mr. Bull. The originals have been carefully collated with the printed copies .in Hay ley's work, and in the (so called) Private Correspondence. Several letters from this col lection will now be published for the first time ; in many others passages are restored which IV ADVERTISEMENT. there was no longer any motive for suppress ing. Frequently it was found that one part of a letter had been published by Hayley, and another by Dr. J. Johnson ; and that Hayley had put together parts from different letters. These disjointed fragments are now assorted and reunited, the connecting paragraphs replaced, and the letters presented as they were written. The cause therefore which has delayed the pre sent volume in the press has very materially enhanced Mr. Newton's its value. collection contains many of his own letters to Cowper and to Mrs. Unwin, and of Mrs. Unwin and her son to him. From these and other documents, which have reached the Editor during his progress, some particulars have come to his knowledge which should have, been stated in the Life of Cowper, had he been acquainted with them in time ; and some letters have appeared which should have been inserted ADVERTISEMENT. V there : but where no diligence has been wanting, no apology can be needed for unavoidable de fects. The most convenient manner in which such defects can now be supplied, will be by introducing these materials in the Life of Mr. Newton, and in brief Memoirs of other persons more or less intimately connected with Cow- per; and for this a supplementary volume will beWhile Keswick, required. this May Advertisement 5, 1836. was in the press, May 14. the writer has received an additional proof of the interest with which the nearest friends and rela tions of Cowper regard this careful and faithful collection of his works. The Publishers have transmitted to him the following sanction, and which they are authorised to give publicity to, in any and in all ways that they may think most serviceable to their Edition. VI ADVERTISEMENT. As Administratrix to my cousin, William Cow- per, Esq. of Olney, and afterwards of Weston- Underwood, I freely authorise Messrs. Baldwin and Cradock to publish any of his Letters which may come into their possession, so far as their publication shall be sanctioned and approved by Robert Southey, Esq. the Editor of this Edition of Cowper's Signed Works. ANNE May BODHAM,10, 1836. For Messrs. Baldwin and Cradock. CONTENTS. VOL. IV. 1780. Page To the Rev. William Unwin. March 28. Presentation To to the Christ's same. Hospital. April 6. Keeping Pluralities. the Sabbath Cowper's .... amuse 1 ments 3 To the Rev. John Newton. April 16. A loquacious visitor 5 To the same. May 3. Variety of his topics. Rural To scenery. Joseph Hill, Amusement Esq. May in trifles 6. Cowper's reputation at 6 Olney as a lawyer. Thurlow's illness if To the Rev. William Unwin. Ardour in his employ ment. Expects a visit from his friend. Remarks on the To gTeat Mrs. Rebellion Cowper. May 10. On the loss of her brother, 9 To Frederick the Rev. Madan, John Newton. a soldier, May who 10. died inFalse America reading . of . 12 To Mr. the Newton's Rev. William in a former Unwin. letter. June Bentley 8. Pope's .... letters. 13 Question whether a clergyman can be compelled to take a parish apprentice. Translation of a simile in the Para To dise the Lost. Rev. John Versification Newton. of June a thought 12. Riots in London . 1417 To the Rev. William. Unwin. June 18. Report that French emissaries were concerned in the riots. Latin epigram on that subject . *. 19 To the same. June 22. Robertson. Summer idleness . 21 Vlll CONTENTS. Page To the Rev. John Newton. June 23. Prophecies unwit tingly made. Character of his own letters. Mr. New To ton the slandered. Rev. William Lace-makers' Unwin. July petition 2. Care in correct 23 To ing Joseph his verses. Hill, Esq. Latin July epitaph 8. Lace-makers' petition . 2725 To the Rev. William Unwin. July 11. Gardening. Epi ToToTo years.gramsLawsuit thethe Mrs. Rev.Rev. translated. Cowper. Riots. concerning John William Newton. His July Unwin.Thelyphthora Olney former 20. July Bridge taciturnityJuly On 30. his 27. own Why Breaking advancing he sends silence. his in 333228 trifles in verse to Mr. Unwin rather than to him. A riddle 35 To the Rev. William Unwin. Aug. 6. Writing upon any thing. Human nature continues the same, though fash ToTo ionsEffectshis the Mrs. hares changeRev. of Cowper. age. John Newton.Separation Aug. 31. Aug. from Lady 21.his kindred EscapeCowper's .... of onedeath. of 364038 ToToToTo tannica. thethethethe same.same.Rev. same. Commission William Sept.Sept. Oct. 7.17. 5. Unwin. forEarly Public Schools books educationSept. schools. 3. Biographia School friend Bri- 424446 ToTo shipsRamsgate theMrs. Rev. Newton. William Oct. Unwin. 5. On Nov. Mr. 9. Newton's Proposes going a pay to 4852 To ment the forsame. his verses Dec. 24. Declines writing upon certain 53 desired measures of reform. Mr. and Mrs. Powley. To Thelyphthora.not Joseph a Malthusite Hill, Esq. Mr. Dec. Riland, 25. of ' Sending Birmingham. his " Report Cowper of 54 an adjudged Case." 58 CONTENTS. IX Page To the Rev. William Unwin. Dec. — . With the same poem. Advantages of putting laws and law cases in To rhyme the Rev. William Unwin. 1781. Jan. 14. John Cross's 59 To rule. the Rev. Thelyphthora John Newton. Feb. 4. Concerning his 60 To poems. the Rev. Thelyphthora. William Unwin. Mr. Scott'sFeb. 6. arrival Advice as curate how to . 63 deal with the unjust and ungenerous. Poor at Olney. Lord George Gordon's acquittal. Pity for criminals. To Wigs Joseph Hill, Esq. Feb. 15. Metrical law-cases. Old 66 To age the Rev. John Newton. Feb. 18. Character of his 69 volume. Mr. Newton's objection to coarse epithets. Mr. (afterwards Sir Richard) Hill's answer to Mr. Ma- dan. Olney religious meetings. Reflections on his To past the life Rev. William Unwin. Feb. 27. Bond of resig 70 nation. Vestris and the public. Invitation to Stock To declined. the Rev. FishWilliam Unwin. April 2. His time fully 74 To employed. the Rev. John Rough Newton. manners April 8. Asking for a pre 76 To face. the same. Squint April at Thelyphthora. 23. Preface. A Futureriddle state of the 79 heathen. Solution of the riddle. Thelyphthora. 81 To the same. April 25. Contents of his volume. Pre To face the Rev. William Unwin. May 1. A woman's must. 85 To Intimation Joseph the Rev. Hill, that John Esq. he Newton. has May a volume 9. May The in same 13. the pressannouncement Martin .... Madan. 8689 To Epigram. the same. Political May 21. guesses Intention of correcting the proofs 90 X CONTENTS. Page himself. Martin Madan. Expected visit of the New- To tons the Rev. William Unwin. May 23. Delays in print 93 ing. Mischief of a careless or conceited corrector of the press. Request for franks. Vincent Bourne. Scanda ToTo lous thethe clergymensame.Rev. John May Newton. — . Franks. May 28. Cowper Johnson's no horseman. diligence. 101 99 To Warmth the Rev. of William the season. Unwin. Recollections June 5. on His a future motives state. for 102 To writing. the same. Providence June 24. Design of his poem upon Truth. 104 ToTo An the the Independent Rev. same. John July Newton. gardener. 22. Slow July Mr. progress 12. Unwin's On inrhyme diffidence the . press. .111. 107 To Excursion the Rev. to William the Spinnie Unwin. July 29. Whether it he 113 hetter to submit to injuries or seek legal redress. Party To in Mrs. the Newton.Spinnie Aug. Thanks for an account of his 116 family Ashley Cowper. Remarks on fashion. 119 To the Rev. John Newton. Aug. 25. Olney News. To Johnson's the Rev. useful William suggestions Unwin. Aug. 25. Congratula 122 tions on the birth of a son. Poem on Retirement in ToTo hand. the the same. Rev. Lady John Sept. Austen Newton. 26. The Oct. sea. 4. Lady Dr. Austen Johnson and. 124127 Watts. Willing that Mr. Newton's name should ap To pear the in Rev.