These tender and confidential Letters describe, in the clearest light, the singularly peaceful and devout life of this amiable Writer, during his residence at Huntingdon, and the melancholy accident which occasioned his removal to a distant county. Time and chance now introduced to the notice of Cowper, the zealous and venerable friend, who became his intimate associate for many years, after having advised and assisted him in the important concern of fixing his future residence. Mr. Newton, then Curate of Olney, in Buckinghamshire, had been requested by the late Dr. Conyers (who in taking his degree in Divinity at Cambridge, had formed a friendship with young Mr. Unwin, and learned from him the religious character of his Mother) to seize an opportunity, as he was passing thro' Huntingdon, of making a visit to an exemplary lady. This visit, (so important in its consequences to the destiny of Cowper!) happened to take place within a few days after the calamitous death of Mr. Unwin. As a change of scene appeared desirable, both to Mrs. Unwin, and to the interesting Recluse, whom she had generously requested to continue under her care, Mr. Newton offered to assist them in removing to the pleasant and picturesque county in which he resided. They were willing to enter into the flock of a benevolent and animated pastor, whose religious ideas were so much in harmony with their own.-He engaged for them a house at Olney, where they arrived on the 14th of October, 1767. The time of Cowper, in his new situation, seems to have been chiefly devoted to religious contemplation, to social prayer, and to active charity. To this first of Christian virtues, his heart was eminently inclined, and Providence very graciously enabled him to exercise and enjoy it to an extent far superior to what his own scanty fortune appeared to allow. He was very far from inheriting opulence on the death of his Father in 1756; and the singular cast of of his own mind was such, that nature seemed to have rendered it impossible for him either to covet or to acquire riches. His perfect exemption from worldly passions is forcibly displayed in the two following Letters. LETTER XV. To JOSEPH HILL, Esqr. DEAR JOE, I thank you Olney, June 16, 1768. for so full an answer to so empty an epistle. If Olney furnished any thing for your amusement you should have it in return, but occurrences here as scarce as Cucumbers at Christmas. I visited St. Albans about a fortnight since in person, and I visit it every day in thought. The recollection of what passed there, and the consequences that followed it, fill my mind continually, and make the circumstances of a poor transient half spent life, so insipid and unaffecting, that I have no heart to think or write much about about them. Whether the Nation are worshipping Mr. Wilkes, or any other Idol, is of little moment to one who hopes and believes that he shall shortly stand in the presence of the of the great and blessed God. I thank him that he has given me such a deep impressed persuasion of this awful truth, as a thousand worlds would not purchase from me. It gives a relish to every blessing, and makes every trouble light. Affectionately yours, W. C. LETTER XVI. To JOSEPH HILL, Esqr. DEAR JOE, 1769. Sir Thomas crosses the Alps, and Sir Cowper, for that is his title at Olney, prefers his home to any other spot of earth in the world. Horace observing this difference of temper in different persons, cried out a good many years ago, in the true spirit of Poetry, "How much one man differs from another! This does not seem a very sublime exclamation in English, but I remember we were taught to admire it in the original. My dear Friend I am obliged to you for your invitation: but being long accustomed to retirement, which I was always fond of, I am now more than ever unwilling to revisit those noisy and crowded scenes which I never loved, and which I now abhor. I remember you with all the friendship I ever professed, which is as much as I ever entertained for any man. But the strange and uncommon incidents of my life, have given an intire new turn to my whole character and conduct, and rendered me incapable of receiving pleasure from the same employments and amusements of which I could readily partake in former days. I love you, and yours, I thank you for your continued remembrance of me, and shall not cease to be their and your Affectionate Friend and Servant, W: COWPER. His retirement was ennobled by many private acts of beneficence, and his exemplary virtue was such, that the opulent sometimes delighted to make him their almoner. In his sequestered life at Olney, he ministered abundantly to the wants of the poor, from a fund, with which he was supplied by that model of extensive and unostentatious philanthropy, the late John Thornton, Esqr. whose name he has immortalized in his Poem on Charity, still honouring his memory by an additional tribute to his virtues, in the following unpublished Poem, written immediately on his decease, in the year 1790. Poets attempt the noblest task they can, Thee Thee therefore of commercial fame, but more I mourn; or since thrice happy thou must be, What pleasure can the miser's fondled hoard, Or spendthrift's prodigal excess afford, That privilege was thine; Heaven gave thee means Thine had a value in the scales of Heaven, And |