OF

WILLIAM COWPER

HIS

LIFE AND LETTERS

BY WILLIAM HAYLEY, ESQ.

NOW FIRST COMPLETED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF

COWPER'S PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.

EDITED BY

THE REV. T. S. GRIMSHAWE, A.M.

RECTOR OF BURTON, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, AND VICAR OF

BIDDENHAM, BEDFORDSHIRE, AUTHOR OF THE LIFE OF THE REV. LEGH RICHMOND,

Letters, such as are written from wise men, are, of all the words of men, in my
judgment the best.
LORD BACON.

VOL. IV.

LONDON

SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET.

MDCCCXXXV.

4

The Negro's Complaint

The question why Great Britain should be the first to
sacrifice interest to humanity answered by Cowper

Lines from Goldsmith's 66

Traveller," on the English

Exposition of the cruelty and injustice of the slave-trade,

by Granville Sharp

Proof of the slow progress of truth

Extracts from Cowper's poems on Negro slavery

Case of Somerset, a slave, and Lord Mansfield's judg-

10

ment

Final abolition of slavery by Great Britain, and efforts

making for the religious instruction of the Negroes

Probability that Africa may be enlightened by their

11

14

Cowper's lines on the blessings of spiritual liberty

Letter to Mrs. Hill, March 17, 1788. Thanks for a pre-

sent of a turkey and ham; Mr. Hill's indisposition;

inquiry concerning Cowper's library

16

With a

17

To the Rev. John Newton, March 17, 1788.
song, written at Mr. N.'s request, for Lady Balgonie

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, March 19, 1788. Coldness

of the spring; remarks on "The Manners of the

Great;" progress of his Homer

19

To Samuel Rose, Esq., March 29, 1788. He expresses
his wonder that his company should be desirable to
Mr. R.; Mrs. Unwin's character; acknowledges the
receipt of some books; Clarke's notes on Homer; al-
lusion to his own ballads on Negro slavery

PAGE

23

24

To Lady Hesketh, March 31, 1788. He makes mention

of his song,

"The Morning Dream :" allusion to Han-

nah More on "The Manners of the Great"

Character of and extracts from Mrs. More's work

To Mrs. King, April 11, 1788. Allusion to his melan-

choly, and necessity for constant employment; impro-

bability of their meeting

26

To the Rev. John Newton, April 19, 1788. Remarks

on the conduct of government in regard to the Slavery

Abolition question

28

To Lady Hesketh, May 6, 1788. Smollett's Don Quix-
otte; he thanks her for the intended present of a box
for letters and papers; renewal of his correspondence
with Mr. Rowley; remarks on the expression, "As
great as two ink!e-weavers"

To Joseph Hill, Esq., May 8, 1788. Lament for the loss
of his library; progress of his Homer

To Lady Hesketh, May 12, 1788. Mrs. Montagu and
the Blue Stocking Club; his late feats in walking

To Joseph Hill, Esq., May 24, 1788. Thanks for the

present of prints of the Lacemaker and Crazy Kate;

family of Mr. Chester; progress of Homer; antique

36

bust of Paris

To the Rev. William Bull, May 25, 1788. He declines
the composition of hymns, which Mr. B. had urged
him to undertake

To Lady Hesketh, May 27, 1788. His lines on Mr.
Henry Cowper; remarks on Mrs. Montagu's Essay
on the Genius of Shakspeare; antique bead of Paris;
remarks on the two prints sent him by Mr. Hill

To the same, June 3, 1788. Sudden change of the

weather; remarks on the advertisement of a dancing-

master of Newport-Pagnel