noticed had better be expunged or not. Those lines are gracefully introduced and well written; for which reasons I should be loth to part with them. On the other hand, how far it may be prudent to irritate a body of critics, who certainly much influence the public opinion, may deserve consideration. It may be added too, that they are not all equally worthy of the lash: there are among them men of real learning, judgment, and candour. I must leave it, therefore, to your own determination. I thank you for Thomson's Epitaph, on which I have only to remark (and I am sure that I do it not in a captious spirit) that, since the poet is himself the speaker, I cannot but question a little the propriety of the quotation subjoined. It is a prayer, and when the man is buried, the time of prayer is over. I know it may be answered, that it is placed there merely for the benefit of the reader; but all readers of tombstones are not wise enough to be trusted for such an interpretation. I was well pleased with your poem on * * and equally well pleased with your intention not to publish it. It proves two points of consequence to an author :—both that you have an exuberant fancy, and discretion enough to know how to deal with it. The man is as formidable for his ludicrous talent, as he has made himself contemptible by his use of it. To despise him therefore is natural, but it is wise to do it in secret. Since the juvenile poems of Milton were edited by Warton, you need not trouble yourself to send them. I have them of his edition already. I am, dear sir, affectionately yours, W. C. The marriage of Miss Stapleton, the Catharina of Cowper, to Sir John Throckmorton's brother, (now Mr. Courtenay,) was one of those events which the muse of Cowper had ventured to anticipate; and he had now the happiness of finding his cherished wish amply fulfilled, and of thereby securing them as neighbours at the Hall.* TO LADY HESKETH. Weston, May 20, 1792. My dearest Coz.-I rejoice, as thou reasonably supposest me to do, in the matrimonial news communicated in your last. Not that it was altogether * This wish is expressed in the following lines : "With her book, and her voice, and her lyre, To wing all her moments at home, And with scenes that new rapture inspire, As oft as it suits her to roam; She will have just the life she prefers, With little to hope or to fear, And ours would be pleasant as hers, Might we view her enjoying it here." See Verses addressed to Miss Stapleton, vol. iv, p. 230. news to me, for twice I had received broad hints of it from Lady Frog, by letter, and several times vivá voce while she was here. But she enjoined me secrecy as well as you, and you know that all secrets are safe with me; safer far than the winds in the bags of Æolus. I know not, in fact, the lady whom it would give me more pleasure to call Mrs. Courtenay, than the lady in question; partly because I know her, but especially because I know her to be all that I can wish in a neighbour. I have often observed, that there is a regular alternation of good and evil in the lot of men, so that a favourable incident may be considered as the harbinger of an unfavourable one, and vice verså. Dr. Madan's experience witnesses to the truth of this observation. One day he gets a broken head, and the next a mitre to heal it. I rejoice that he has met with so effectual a cure, though my joy is not unmingled with concern; for till now I had some hope of seeing him, but since I live in the north, and his episcopal call is in the west, that is a gratification, I suppose, which I must no longer look for. My sonnet, which I sent you, was printed in the Northampton paper, last week, and this week it produced me a complimentary one in the same paper, which served to convince me, at least by the matter of it, that my own was not published without occasion, and that it had answered its purpose.* * We have succeeded in obtaining these verses, and think them worthy of insertion: My correspondence with Hayley proceeds briskly, and is very affectionate on both sides. I expect him here in about a fortnight, and wish heartily, with Mrs. Unwin, that you would give him a meeting. I have promised him, indeed, that he shall find us alone, but you are one of the family. * I wish much to print the following lines in one of the daily papers. Lord S.'s vindication of the poor culprit in the affair of Cheit Sing, has confirmed me in the belief that he has been injuriously treated, and I think it an act merely of justice to take a little notice of him. TO WILLIAM COWPER, ESQ. ON READING HIS SONNET OF THE SIXTEENTH INSTANT ADDRESSED TO MR. WILBERFORCE. Desert the cause of liberty!-the cause Of human nature !-sacred flame that burn'd As soon the foes of Afric might expect April 25, 1792. S. M'CLELLAN. * Warren Hastings, at that time under impeachment, as Governor General of India. C TO WARREN HASTINGS, ESQ. BY AN OLD SCHOOL-FELLOW OF HIS AT WESTMINSTER. Hastings! I knew thee young, and of a mind If thou wilt take the pains to send them to thy news-monger, I hope thou wilt do well. Adieu ! W. C. TO JOHN JOHNSON, ESQ. Weston, May 20, 1792. you My dearest of all Johnnies-I am not sorry that your ordination is postponed. A year's learning and wisdom, added to your present stock, will not be more than enough to satisfy the demands of your function. Neither am I sorry that find it difficult to fix your thoughts to the serious point at all times. It proves, at least, that you attempt, and wish to do it, and these are good symptoms. Woe to those who enter on the ministry of the gospel without having previously asked, at least from God, a mind and spirit suited to their occupation, and whose experience never differs from itself, because they are always alike vain, light, and inconsiderate. It is, therefore, matter of great joy to me to hear you complain of levity, and such it is to Mrs. Unwin. She is, I thank God, tolerably well, and loves you. VOL. V. D |