might expose him to an extraordinary portion of juvenile discomfort, he undoubtedly acquired the accomplishment, and the reputation of scholarship; with the advantage of being known and esteemed by some aspiring youths, of his own age, who were destined to become conspicuous, and powerful, in the splendid scenes of the world. With these acquisitions, he left Westminster, at the age of eighteen, in 1749; and as if destiny had determined, that all his early situations in life should be peculiarly irksome to his delicate feelings, and tend rather to promote, than to counteract a constitutional tendency to a morbid sensibility in his frame, he was removed from a public school to the office of an attorney. He resided three years in the house of a Mr. Chapman, to whom he was engaged by articles for that time. Here he was placed for the study of a profession, which nature seemed resolved, that he never should practice. The law is a kind of soldiership, and like the profession of arms, it be said to require for the constitution of its heroes may "A frame of adamant, a soul of fire." The soul of Cowper had indeed its fire, but fire so refined and ætherial, that it could not be expected to shine in the gross atmosphere of worldly contention. Perhaps there never existed a mortal, who possessing, with a good person, intellectual powers naturally strong, and highly cultivated, was so utterly unfit to encounter the bustle and C 2 and perplexities of public life. But the extreme modesty and shyness of his nature, which disqualified him for scenes of business and ambition, endeared him inexpressibly to those, who had opportunities to enjoy his society, and faculties to appretiate the uncommon excellence of his interesting character. Reserved as he was, to an extraordinary and painful degree, his heart and mind were yet admirably fashioned by nature for all the refined intercourse, and confidential delights both of friendship and of love but tho' apparently formed to possess, and to communicate an extraordinary portion of mortal felicity, the incidents of his life were such, that, conspiring with the peculiarities of his nature, they rendered him, at different times, the most unhappy of mankind. The variety and depth of his sufferings, in early life, from extreme tenderness of heart, are very forcibly displayed in the following verses, which formed part of a letter to one of his female relations at the time they were composed. The letter has perished; and the verses owe their preservation to the affectionate memory of the lady, to whom they were addressed. Doom'd, as I am, in solitude to waste The present moments, and regret the past; My Friend torn from me, and my Mistress lost; miserable years of increasing timidity and depression, which, in the most cheerful hours of his advanced life, he could hardly describe to an intimate friend, without shuddering at the recollection of his early wretchedness. Yet to this perhaps the world is indebted for the pathetic and moral eloquence of those forcible admonitions to parents, which give interest and beauty to his admirable Poem on public schools. Poets may be said to realize, in some measure, the poetical idea of the Nightingale's singing with a thorn at her breast, as their most exquisite songs have often originated in the acuteness of their personal sufferings. Of this obvious truth, the Poem, I have just mentioned, is a very memorable example, and if any Readers have thought the Poet too severe in his strictures on that system of education, to which we owe some of the most accomplished characters, that ever gave celebrity to a civilized nation, such Readers will be candidly reconciled to that moral severity of reproof, in recollecting, that it flowed from severe personal experience, united to the purest spirit of philanthropy and patriotism. Cowper's exhortation to fathers, to educate their own sons, is a model of persuasive eloquence, and not inferior to similar exhortations in the eloquent Rousseau, or in the accomplished translator of Tansillo's poem, the Nurse, by which these enchanting writers have induced, and will continue to induce, so many mothers in polished life to suckle their own children. Yet similar as these exhortations may be esteemed, in their benevolent design, and in their graceful expression, there are two powerful reasons, which must, in all probability, prevent their being attended with similar success. In the first place, woman has, in general, much stronger propensity than man to the perfect discharge of parental duties; and secondly the avocations of men are so imperious, in their different lines of life, that few fathers could command sufficient leisure (if nature furnished them with talents and inclination) to fulfill the arduous office of preceptor to their own children; yet arduous and irksome as the office is generally thought, there is perhaps no species of mental labour so perfectly sweet in its success; and the Poet justly exclaims : O'tis a sight to be with joy perus'd, A sight surpass'd by none that we can shew! A Father blest with an ingenuous Son; Had the constitutional shyness and timidity of Cowper been gradually dispelled by the rare advantage, that he describes in these verses, his early years would certainly have been happier; but men, who are partial to public schools, will probably doubt, if any system of private tuition could have proved more favorable to the future display of his genius, than such an education, as he received at Westminster, where, however, the peculiar delicacy of his nature might expose him to an extraordinary portion of juvenile discomfort, he undoubtedly acquired the accomplishment, and the reputation of scholarship; with the advantage of being known and esteemed by some aspiring youths, of his own age, who were destined to become conspicuous, and powerful, in the splendid scenes of the world. With these acquisitions, he left Westminster, at the age of eighteen, in 1749; and as if destiny had determined, that all his early situations in life should be peculiarly irksome to his delicate feelings, and tend rather to promote, than to counteract a constitutional tendency to a morbid sensibility in his frame, he was removed from a public school to the office of an attorney. He resided three years in the house of a Mr. Chapman, to whom he was engaged by articles for that time. Here he was placed for the study of a profession, which nature seemed resolved, that he never should practice. arms, The law is a kind of soldiership, and like the profession of it may be said to require for the constitution of its heroes "A frame of adamant, a soul of fire." The soul of Cowper had indeed its fire, but fire so refined and ætherial, that it could not be expected to shine in the gross atmosphere of worldly contention. Perhaps there never existed a mortal, who possessing, with a good person, intellectual powers naturally strong, and highly cultivated, was so utterly unfit to encounter the bustle and C 2 |