The Life, and Posthumous Writings, of William Cowper, Esqr; With an Introductory Letter to the Right Honourable Earl Cowper Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1803 edition. Excerpt: ...I admire. You know perhaps that they are Catholics. It is a delighful bundle of praise, my Cousin, that you have sent me. All jasmine and lavender. Whoever the Lady is, she has evidently an admirable pen, and a cultivated mind. If a per-Vol. i. C c son son reads, it is no matter in what language, and if the mind be informed, it-is no matter whether that mind belongs to a man or a woman. The taste and the judgment will receive the benefit alike in both.--Long before the Task was published, I made an experiment one day, being in a frolicksome mood, upon my friend: --We were walking in the garden, and conversing on a subject similar to these lines.: --. i The few that pray at all, pray oft' amiss, And seeking grace fimprove the present good, Would urge a wiser suit than asking more. I repeated them, and said to him with an air of non-chalance, " Do you recollect those lines? I have seen them somewhere, where are they?" He put on a considering face, and after some deliberation replied--"Oh, I will tell you where they must be--in the Night-Thoughts." I was glad my trial turned out so well, and did not undeceive him. I mention this occurrence only in confirmation of the letter-writer's opinion; but at the same time I do assure you, on the faith of an. honest man, that I never in my life designed an imitation of Young, or of any other writer? for Wmicry is my abhorrence, at least in poetry-.1 Assure yourself, my dearest Cbusrn, that both for your sake, since you make a point of it, and for my own, I will be as philosophically careful as possible that these fine nerves of mine shall not be beyond measure agitated, when you arrive. In trifth; there is much greater probability that they will be benefitted, and greatly too. Joy of heart, from whatever...