lives to the last, which even religion itself does not extinguish.

When we objected to your coming for a single night, it was only in the way of argument, and in hopes to prevail on you to contrive a longer abode with us. But rather than not see you at all, we should be glad of you though but for an hour. If the paths should be clean enough, and we are able to walk (for you know we cannot ride) we will endeavour to meet you in Weston park. But I mention no particular hour, that I may not lay you under a supposed obligation to be punctual, which might be difficult at the end of so long a journey. Only if the weather be favourable, you shall find us there in the evening. It is winter in the south, perhaps therefore it may be spring at least, if not summer, in the north. For I have read that it is warmest in Greenland when it is coldest here. Be that as it may, we may hope at the latter end of such an April, that the first change of wind will improve the season.

The curate's simile Latinized

Sors adversa gerit stimulum, sed tendit et alas:
Pungit, api similis, sed, velut ista, fugit.
C

VOL. 2.

What a dignity there is in the Roman language; and what an idea it gives us of the good sense, and masculine mind, of the people that spoke it! The same thought, which, clothed in English, seems childish, and even foolish, assumes a different air in Latin, and makes at least as good an epigram as some of Martial's.

I remember your making an observation, when here, on the subject of Parenthesis, to which I acceded without limitation; but a little attention will convince us both, that they are not to be universally condemned. When they abound, and when they are long, they both embarrass the sense, and are a proof that the writer's head is cloudy, that he has not properly arranged his matter; or is not well skilled in the graces of expression. But as parenthesis is ranked by grammarians among the figures of rhetoric, we may suppose they had a reason for conferring that honour upon it. Accordingly we shall find, that in the use of some of our finest writers, as well as in the hands of the antient poets, and orators, it has a peculiar elegance, and imparts a beauty, which the period would want without it.

"Hoc nemus, hunc, inquit, frondoso vertice collem
"(Quis deus incertum est) habitat deus."

Vir. Æn. 8.

In this instance, the first that occurred, it is graceful. I have not time to seek for more, nor room to insert them. But your own observation, I believe, will confirm my opinion.

Rather ashamed of having been

at all dejected by the censure of the Critical Reviewers, who certainly could not read, without prejudice, a book replete with opinions and doctrines, to which they cannot subscribe, I have at present no little occasion to keep a strict guard upon my vanity lest it should be too much flattered by the following eulo

gium. I send it you for the reasons I gave, when I imparted to you some other anecdotes of a similar kind, while we were together. Our interests in the success of this same volume are so closely united, that you must share with me in the praise or blame that attends it; and sympathizing with me under the burthen of injurious treatment, have a right to enjoy with me the cordials I now and then receive, as I happen to meet with more favourable and candid judges.

A merchant, a friend of ours, (you will soon guess him) sent my Poems to one of the first philosophers, one of the most eminent literary characters, as well as one of the most important in the political world, that the present age can boast of. Now perhaps your conjecturing faculties are puzzled, and you begin to ask "who, where, and what is he? speak out, for I am all impatience." I will not say a word more, the Letter in which he returned his thanks for the present, shall speak for him.*

We may now treat the critics as the archbishop of Toledo treated Gil Blas, when he found fault with one of his sermons. -His him a kick and

grace gave

* Here Cowper transcribed the Letter written from Passy, by the American Ambassador Franklin, in praise of his book.

said, "begone for a jackanapes, and furnish yourself with a better taste, if you know where to find it.”

We are glad that you are safe at home again. Could we see at one glance of the eye, what is passing every day upon all the roads in the kingdom, how many are terrified, and hurt, how many plundered and abused, we should indeed find reason enough to be thankful for journies performed in safety, and for deliverance from dangers, we are not perhaps even permitted to see. When in some of the high southern latitudes, and in a dark tempestuous night, a flash of lightning discovered to Captain Cook a vessel, which glanced along close by his side, and which but for the lightning, he must have run foul of, both the danger and the transient light that showed it, were undoubtedly designed to convey to him this wholesome instruction, that a particular Providence attended him, and that he was not only preserved from evils, of which he had notice, but from many more, of which he had no information, or even the least suspicion. What unlikely contingencies may nevertheless take place! How improbable that two ships should dash against each other, in the midst of the vast Pacific ocean, and that steering contrary courses, from parts of the world so immensely distant from