the contemplation of his own faculties and powers TO THE REV. JOHN NEWTON. as a never-failing spring of comfort and content Feb. 16, 1782. He speaks even of the natural man as made in CARACCIOLI says, "There is something very the image of God, and supposes a resemblance bewitching in authorship, and that he who has of God to consist in a sort of independent selfonce written will write again." It may be so-I sufficing and self-complacent felicity, which can can subscribe to the former part of his assertion hardly be enjoyed without the forfeiture of all hufrom my own experience, having never found an mility, and a flat denial of some of the most imamusement, among the many I have been obliged portant truths in Scripture. to have recourse to, that so well answered the "As a philosopher he refines to an excess, and purpose for which I used it. The quieting and his arguments, instead of convincing others, if composing effect of it was such, and so totally ab- pushed as far as they would go, would convict him sorbed have I sometimes been in my rhyming oc- of absurdity himself. When for instance he would cupation, that neither the past nor the future depreciate earthly riches by telling us that gold (those themes which to me are so fruitful in re- and diamonds are only matter modified in a partigret at other times), had any longer a share in my cular way, and thence concludes them not more contemplation. For this reason I wish, and have valuable in themselves than the dust under our often wished, since the fit left me, that it would feet, his consequence is false, and his cause is hurt seize me again; but hitherto I have wished it in by the assertion. It is that very modification that vain. I see no want of subjects, but I feel a total gives them both a beauty and a value—a value disability to discuss them. Whether it is thus with and a beauty recognised in Scripture, and by the other writers or not, I am ignorant, but I should universal consent of all well informed and civilized suppose my case in this respect a little peculiar. nations. It is in vain to tell mankind, that gold The voluminous writers at least, whose vein of and dirt are equal, so long as their experience confancy seems always to have been rich in propor-vinces them of the contrary. It is necessary theretion to their occasions, can not have been so unlike, fore to distinguish between the thing itself and the and so unequal to themselves. There is this dif- abuse of it. Wealth is in fact a blessing, when ference between my poetship and the generality honestly acquired, and conscientiously employed; of them—they have been ignorant how much they and when otherwise, the man is to be blamed and have stood indebted to an Almighty power for the not his treasure. How does the Scripture combat exercise of those talents they have supposed their the vice of covetousness? not by asserting that own. Whereas I know, and know most perfectly, gold is only earth exhibiting itself to us under a and am perhaps to be taught it to the last, that my particular modification, and therefore not worth power to think, whatever it be, and consequently seeking; but by telling us that covetousness is my power to compose, is, as much as my outward idolatry, that the love of money is the root of all form, afforded to me by the same hand that makes evil, that it has occasioned in some even the shipme, in any respect, to differ from a brute. This wreck of their faith, and is always, in whomsoever lesson, if not constantly inculcated, might perhaps it obtains, an abomination. be forgotten, or at least too slightly remembered. W. C. A man might have said to Caraccioli, Give me your purse full of ducats, and I will give you my old wig; they are both composed of the same matter under different modifications. What could' "Caraccioli* appears to me to have been a wise the philosopher have replied? he must have made man, and I believe he was a good man in a reli- the exchange, or have denied his own principles. gious sense. But his wisdom and his goodness “Again, when speaking of sumptuous edifices, both savour more of the philosopher than the he calls a palace an assemblage of sticks and Christian. In the latter of these characters he stones, which a puff of wind may demolish, or a seems defective principally in this-that instead spark of fire consume; and thinks he has reduced of sending his reader to God as an inexhaustible a magnificent building and a cottage to the same source of happiness to his intelligent creatures, and exhorting him to cultivate communion with his Maker, he directs him to his own heart, and to ⚫ These cursory remarks of Cowper appear highly worthy of preservation. They were written on several scraps of paper, without any title, and find perhaps their most suitable place as a sequel to the letter in which he quoted the writer, whose character he has here sketched at full length, and with masterly hand. level, when he has told us that the latter viewed through an optic glass may be made to appear as large as the former, and that the former seen through the same glass inverted may be reduced to the pitiful dimensions of the latter; has he indeed carried his point? is he not rather imposing on the judgment of his readers, just as the glass would impose upon their senses? How is it possible to deduce a substantial argument in this case from an acknowledged deception of the sight? The objects continue what they were, the palace is printer to be punctual, I shall come forth on the still a palace, and the cottage is not at all ennobled first of March. I have ordered two copies to in reality, though we contemplate them ever so Stock; one for Mr. John Unwin. It is possible, long through an illusive medium. There is in after all, that my book may come forth without a fact a real difference between them, and such a Preface. Mr. Newton has written (he could inone as the Scripture itself takes very emphatical deed write no other) a very sensible as well as a notice of, assuring us that in the last day, much very friendly one; and it is printed. But the bookshall be required of him to whom much was given; seller, who knows him well, and esteems him highthat every man shall be then considered as a stew-ly, is anxious to have it cancelled, and, with my ard, and render a strict account of the things with consent first obtained, has offered to negociate that which he was intrusted. This consideration in-matter with the author.-He judges, that though deed may make the dwellers in palaces tremble, it would serve to recommend the volume to the who, living for the most part in the continued religious, it would disgust the profane, and that abuse of their talents, squandering and wasting there is in reality no need of any Preface at all. I and spending upon themselves their Master's trea- have found Johnson a very judicious man on other sure, will have reason enough to envy the cottager, occasions, and am therefore willing that he should whose accounts will be more easily settled. But determine for me upon this. to tell mankind, that a palace and a hovel are the There are but few persons to whom I present same thing; is to affront their senses, to contradict my book. The lord chancellor is one. I enclose their knowledge, and to disgust their understand-in a packet I send by this post to Johnson a letter ings. to his lordship which will accompany, the volume; "Herein seems to consist one of the principal and to you I enclose a copy of it, because I know differences between Philosophy and Scripture, or you will have a friendly curiosity to see it. An the Wisdom of Man and the Wisdom of God. author is an important character. Whatever his The former endeavours indeed to convince the merits may be, the mere circumstance of authorjudgment, but it frequently is obliged to have re-ship warrants his approach to persons, whom course to unlawful means, such as misrepresenta- otherwise perhaps he could hardly address withtion and the play of fancy. The latter addresses out being deemed impertinent. He can do me itself to the judgment likewise, but it carries its no good. If I should happen to do him a little, I point by awakening the conscience, by enlighten- shall be a greater man than he. I have ordered a ing the understanding, and by appealing to our copy likewise to Mr. S. own experience. As Philosophy therefore can not make a Christian, so a Christian ought to take care that he be not too much a Philosopher. It is mere folly instead of wisdom, to forego those arguments, and to shut our eyes upon those motives which Truth itself has pointed out to us, and which alone are adequate to the purpose, and to busy ourselves in making vain experiments on the strength of others of our own invention. In fact, the world which, however it has dared to controvert the authenticity of Scripture, has never been MY LORD, able to impeach the wisdom of its precepts, or the I MAKE no apology for what I account a duty. reasonableness of its exhortations, has sagacity I should offend against the cordiality of our forenough to see through the fallacy of such reason-mer friendship should I send a volume into the ings, and will rather laugh at the sage, who de- world, and forget how much I am bound to pay clares war against matter of fact, than become pro- my particular respects to your lordship upon that selytes to his opinion." I hope John continues to be pleased, and to give pleasure. If he loves instruction, he has a tutor who can give him plentifully of what he loves; and with his natural abilities his progress must be such as you would wish. Yours, W. C. TO LORD THURLOW. Olney, Bucks, Feb. 25, 1782. occasion. When we parted, you little thought of hearing from me again; and I as little that 1 should live to write to you, still less, that I should wait on you in the capacity of an author. Among the pieces I have the honour to send, there is one for which I must entreat your pardon. I mean that of which your lordship is the subject. The best excuse I can make is, that it flowed almost spontaneously from the affectionate remembrance of a connexion that did me so much honour As to the rest, their merits, if they have any, and their defects, which are probably more than I am aware of, will neither of them escape your is a strong resemblance between the two pieces in notice. But where there is much discernment, point of matter, and sometimes the very same exthere is generally much candour; and I commit myself into your lordship's hands with the less anxiety, being well acquainted with yours. If my first visit, after so long an interval, should prove neither a troublesome, nor a dull one, but especially, if not altogether an unprofitable one, omne tuli punctum. pressions are to be met with, yet I soon recollected that, on such a theme, a striking coincidence of both might happen without a wonder. I doubt not that it is the production of an honest man, it carries with it an air of sincerity and zeal, that is not easily counterfeited. But though I can see no reason why kings should not sometimes hear I have the honour to be, though with very dif- of their faults, as well as other men, I think I see ferent impressions of some subjects, yet with the many good ones why they should not be reproved same sentiments of affection and esteem as ever, so publicly. It can hardly be done with that reyour lordship's faithful, and most obedient, hum-spect which is due to their office, on the part of ble servant, W. C. TO THE REV. J. NEWTON. MY DEAR FRIEND, Feb. 1782. Your answer respecting Ætna is quite satisfac the author, or without encouraging a spirit of unmannerly censure in his readers. His majesty too perhaps might answer-my own personal feelings and offences I am ready to confess; but were I to follow your advice, and cashier the profligate from my service, where must I seek men of faith, I ENCLOSE Johnson's letter upon the subject of and true christian piety, qualified by nature and the Preface, and would send you my reply to it, by education to succeed them? Business must be if I had kept a copy. This however was the pur- done, men of business alone can do it, and good port of it. That Mr. whom I described as you men are rarely found under that description. described him to me, had made a similar objection, When Nathan reproved David, he did not embut that being willing to hope, that two or three ploy a herald, or ́accompany his charge with the pages of sensible matter, well expressed, might sound of the trumpet; nor can I think the writer possibly go down, though of a religious cast, I of this sermon quite justifiable in exposing the was resolved to believe him mistaken, and to pay king's faults in the sight of the people. no regard to it. That his judgment, however, who by his occupation is bound to understand tory, and gives me much pleasure. I hate alterwhat will promote the sale of a book, and what ing, though I never refuse the task when propriety will hinder it, seemed to deserve more attention. seems to enjoin it; and an alteration in this inThat therefore, according to his own offer written stance, if I am not mistaken, would have been sinon a small slip of paper now lost, I should be gularly difficult. Indeed, when a piece has been obliged to him if he would state his difficulties to finished two or three years, and an author finds you; adding, that I need not inform him, who is occasion to amend, or make an addition to it, it is so well acquainted with you, that he would find not easy to fall upon the very vein from which he you easy to be persuaded to sacrifice, if necessary, drew his ideas in the first instance; but either a what you had written, to the interests of the book. different turn of thought, or expression, will beI find he has had an interview with you upon the tray the patch, and convince a reader of discernoccasion, and your behaviour has verified my pre- ment that it has been cobbled and varnished. diction. What course he determines upon I do not know, nor am I at all anxious about it. It is impossible for me however to be so insensible of your kindness in writing the preface, as not to be desirous of defying all contingencies rather than entertain a wish to suppress it. It will do me honour in the eyes of those whose good opinion is indeed an honour, and if it hurts me in the estimation of others, I can not help it; the fault is neither yours nor mine, but theirs. If a minister's is a more splendid character than a poet's, and I think nobody that understands their value can hesitate in deciding that question, then undoubtedly the advantage of having our names united in the same volume is all on my side. Our love to you both, and to the young Euphrosyne, the old lady of that name being long since dead; if she pleases she shall fill her vacant office, and be my muse hereafter. Yours, my dear sir, W. C TO THE REV. JOHN NEWTON./ March 6, 1782. Is peace the nearer because our patriots have resolved that it is desirable? Will the victory they have gained in the House of Commons be attended with any other? Do they expect the same success on other occasions, and having once gained a ma We thank you for the Fast-sermon. I had not jority are they to be the majority for ever?read two pages before I exclaimed the These are the questions we agitate by the fireside mar. has read Expostulation. But though there in an evening, without being able to come to an certain conclusion, partly I suppose because the ter delays so long to gratify your expectation. It subject is in itself uncertain, and partly because we is a state of mind that is apt to tire and disconcert are not furnished with the means of understand- us; and there are but few pleasures that make ing it. I find the politics of times past far more us amends for the pain of repeated disappointment. intelligible than those of the present. Time has I take it for granted you have not received thrown light upon what was obscure, and decided the volume, not having received it myself, nor what was ambiguous. The characters of great indeed heard from Johnson, since he fixed the men, which are always mysterious while they first of the month for its publication. live, are ascertained by the faithful historian, and What a medley are our public prints, half the sooner or later receive their wages of fame or in- page filled with the ruin of the country, and the famy, according to their true deserts. How have I other half filled with the vices and pleasures of seen sensible and learned men burn incense to the it here an island taken, and there a new comedy memory of Oliver Cromwell, ascribing to him, as—here an empire lost, and there an Italian opera, the greatest hero in the world, the dignity of the or a Lord's rout on a Sunday! kingdom emerging again from her ruins, pay more respect to an ordinance that deserves the deepest ! I do not say pardon this short remonstrance !The concern I feel for my country, and the interest I have in its prosperity, give me a right to make it. I am, &c." Thus one might write to his lordship, and (I suppose) might be as profitably employed in whistling the tune of an old ballad. British empire during the interregnum. A cen- May it please your lordship! I am an Englishtury passed before that idol, which seemed to be man, and must stand or fall with the nation. Reof gold, was proved to be a wooden one. The ligion, its true palladium, has been stolen away; fallacy however was at length detected, and the and it is crumbling into dust. Sin ruins us, the honour of that detection has fallen to the share sins of the great especially, and of their sins espeof a woman. I do not know whether you have cially the violation of the Sabbath, because it is read Mrs. Macaulay's history of that period. She naturally productive of all the rest. If you wish has handled him more roughly than the Scots did well to our arms, and would be glad to see the at the battle of Dunbar. He would have thought it little worth his while to have broken through all obligations divine and human, to have wept crocodile tears, and wrapped himself up in the obscurity of speeches that nobody could understand, could he have foreseen that in the ensuing centutury a lady's scissars would clip his laurels close, and expose his naked villany to the scorn of all posterity. This however has been accomplished, and so effectually, that I suppose it is not in the power of the most artificial management to make them grow again. Even the sagacious of mankind are blind when Providence leaves them to be deluded; so blind, that a tyrant shall be mistaken for a true patriot, true patriots (such were the Long Parliament) shall be abhorred as tyrants, and almost a whole nation shall dream, that they have the full enjoyment of liberty, for years after such a complete knave as Oliver shall have stolen it completely from them. I am indebted for all this show of historical knowledge to Mr. Bull, who has lent me five volumes of the work I mention. I was willing to display it while I have it; in a twelve-month's time I shall remember almost nothing of the matter. W. C. TO THE REV. WILLIAM UNWIN. MY DEAR FRIEND, I have no copy of the preface, nor do I know at present how Johnson and Mr. Newton have settled it. In the matter of it there was nothing offensively peculiar; but it was thought too pious. Yours, my dear friend, W. C.* TO THE REV. JOHN NEWTON. I CAN only repeat what I said sometime since, that the world is grown more foolish and careless than it was when I had the honour of knowing it. Though your preface was of a serious cast, it was yet free from every thing that might, with propriety, expose it to the charge of Methodism, being guilty of no offensive peculiarities, nor containing any of those obnoxious doctrines at which the world is so apt to be angry, and which we must give her leave to be angry at, because we know she can not help it. It asserted nothing more than every rational creature must admit to be true— "that divine and earthly things can no longer stand in competition with each other, in the judg March 7, 1782. WE have great pleasure in the contemplation of your Northern journey, as it promises us a sight of you and yours by the way, and are only sorry Miss Shuttleworth can not be of the party. A line ment of any man, than while he continues igno to ascertain the hour when we may expect you, by the next preceding post, will be welcome. It is not much for my advantage that the prin U * At this period, the first volume of the writer's poems issued from the press. worse. rant of their respective value; and that the mo- to London. No sooner was he gone, than the ment the eyes are opened, the latter are always Chateau, being left without a garrison, was becheerfully relinquished for the sake of the former." sieged as regularly as the night came on. VilNow I do most certainly remember the time when lains were both heard and seen in the garden, and such a proposition as this would have been at least at the doors and windows. The kitchen window supportable, and when it would not have spoiled in particular was attempted, from which they took the market of any volume, to which it had been a complete pane of glass, exactly opposite to the prefixed, ergo-the times are altered for the iron by which it was fastened; but providentially the window had been nailed to the woodwork, in I have reason to be very much satisfied with my order to keep it close, and that the air might be publisher-he marked such lines as did not please excluded; thus they were disappointed, and being him, and as often as I could, I paid all possible discovered by the maid, withdrew. The ladies respect to his animadversions. You will accord-being worn out with continual watching, and ingly find, at least if you recollect how they stood repeated alarms, were at last prevailed upon to in the MS., that several passages are better for take refuge with us. Men furnished with firehaving undergone his critical notice. Indeed I do arms were put into the house, and the rascals, not know where I could have found a bookseller having intelligence of this circumstance, beat a who could have pointed out to me my defects with retreat. Mr. Jones returned; Mrs. Jones and more discernment; and as I find it is a fashion for Miss Green, her daughter, left us, but Lady Ausmodern bards to publish the names of the literati, ten's spirits having been too much disturbed, to be who have favoured their works with a revisal, able to repose in a place where she had been so would myself most willingly have acknowledged much terrified, she was left behind. She remains my obligations to Johnson, and so I told him. I am to thank you likewise, and ought to have done it in the first place, for having recommended to me the suppression of some lines, which I am now more than ever convinced would at least have done me no honour. W. C. with us till her lodgings at the vicarage can be made ready for her reception. I have now sent you what has occurred of moment in our history since my last. I say amen, with all my heart, to your observation on religious characters. Men who profess themselves adepts in mathematical knowledge, in astronomy, or jurisprudence, are generally as well TO THE REV. WILLIAM UNWIN. qualified as they would appear. The reason may be, that they are always liable to detection, should MY DEAR WILLIAM, they attempt to impose upon mankind, and thereTHE modest terms in which you express your-fore take care to be what they pretend. In reliself on the subject of lady Austen's commendation gion alone, a profession is often slightly taken up, embolden me to add my suffrage to hers, and to and slovenly carried on, because forsooth candor confirm it by assuring you I think her just and and charity require us to hope the best, and to well founded in her opinion of you. The compli- judge favourably of our neighbour, and because ment indeed glances at myself; for were you less it is easy to deceive the ignorant, who are a great than she accounts you, I ought not to afford you majority, upon this subject. Let a man attach that place in my esteem which you have held so himself to a particular party, contend furiously long. My own sagacity therefore and discern- for what are properly called evangelical doctrines, ment are not a little concerned upon the occasion, and enlist himself under the banner of some pofor either you resemble the picture, or I have pular preacher, and the business is done. Behold strangely mistaken my man, and formed an erro- a Christian! a Saint! a Phoenix!-In the mean neous judgment of his character. With respect to time perhaps his heart, and his temper, and even your face and figure indeed, there I leave the ladies his conduct, are unsanctified; possibly less exemto determine, as being naturally best qualified to plary than those of some avowed infidels. No decide the point; but whether you are perfectly the matter-he can talk—he has the Shibboleth of the man of sense, and the gentleman, is a question in true church—the Bible in his pocket, and a which I am as much interested as they, and which, head well stored with notions. But the quiet, you being my friend, I am of course prepared to humble, modest, and peaceable person, who is in settle in your favour. The lady (whom, when his practice what the other is only in his profesyou know her as well, you will love as much as sion, who hates a noise, and therefore makes we do) is, and has been during the last fortnight, none, who knowing the snares that are in the a part of our family. Before she was perfectly world, keeps himself as much out of it as he can, restored to health, she returned to Clifton. Soon and never enters it, but when duty calls, and even after she came back, Mr. Jones had occasion to go then with fear and trembling-is the Christian |