BY WILLIAM COWPER, OF THE INNER TEMPLE, ESQ. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. THE SIXTH EDITION. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. 1795. ADVERTISEMENT. THE history of the following production is briefly this:-A lady, fond of blank verfe, demanded a poem of that kind from the author, and gave him the SOFA for a fubject. He obeyed; and, having much leifure, connected another subject with it; and, pursuing the train of thought to which his fituation and turn of mind led him, brought forth at length, instead of the trifle which he at first intended, a ferious affair-a Volume! In the Poem on the fubject of Education, he would be very forry to stand suspected of having aimed his cenfure at any particular school. His objections are fuch as naturally apply themselves to schools in general. If there were not, as for the moft part there is, wilful neglect in those who manage them, and an omiffion even of such discipline as they are fufceptible of, the objects are yet too numerous for minute attention; and the aching hearts of ten thoufand parents, mourning under the bittereft of all disappointments, atteft the truth of the allegation. His quarrel, therefore, is with the mifchief at large, and not with any particular inftance of it. |