sympathy between the body and the mind is pe-win, to which he was indebted for so much of culiarly exquisite; where the slightest change in the comfort of his later years. Wherever he the temperament of the frame conimunicates itself felt at ease, bis manners were said to be singuto the imagination and the feelings, and the breath larly attractive: and this family seem to have and pulsation seem in return to be regulated by the had a simplicity and warmhearted kindness, thoughts it is almost impossible to depend upon which offered himn precisely the social resources a person's own account of the origin of his emo- which he wanted, besides having the advantage tions. There can be no doubt, that the presence of being able to sympathize with him in all his of fever is the real cause of much that passes religious feelings. After residing with them two for religious transport in the prospect of dissolu- years, the circumstances of the family were tion, and that despondency is not less frequently changed by the death of Mr. Unwin, and, at the the mere effect of the bodily langour, consequent suggestion of Mr. Newton, they went to reside upon the exhaustion." But he contends that near him in Olney, the scene of his pastoral lathese emotions, though they may originate in bours. In Mrs. Unwin, a woman of intelligence physical changes, are not to be viewed as physi- as well as excellence, who was seven years cal phenomena ; impressions may be made in older than himself, he found a counsellor as well dreams which are true; and convictions may as friend, who was so much interested in his come over the mind in sickness, which are not the welfare, that after her children, who were both less just because partly attributable to the state of of mature years, left her, she made it her duty the system. The way to ascertain whether they and pleasure to devote her life to him. Beside are delusive or not, is to learn whether there is the all-engrossing subject of which his heart was any ground for them; meaning, we suppose, that full, he spent his time in exercise, conversation, the question is, whether the mind creates un- and music, in which he always delighted. It does natural or only exaggerates natural emotions. not appear that he engaged seriously in writing His inference, if we understand him, is that any thing more than the Olney Hymns, which Cowper was an example of the latter state of he undertook in conjunction with bis friend Mr. mind; and of course, that disordered as he was, Newton: but as he wrote with great facility, he may be considered as a moral agent, and his these were trifles which made but small deconversion quoted as a genuine instance of the mands upon his mind. By external circumeffect of the influences of religion.

stances he was little troubled, with the exception One would think, however, that admitting the of the loss of his brother, a learned and exceljustness of this distinction, it would be unsafe lent member of the University, whose death he and undesirable to present a mind, which has deeply deplored; but he found consolation for lost the power of judging and comparing, as an sorrows like this more easily than for the perillustration of the effect of religion upon a plexing evils of the world, and this will not healthy understanding. When the man in deli- furnish us with a reason for his relapsing into rium sees spectres about him, it will not do to gloom. Hayley ascribed it to his excessive relipoint out objects in the chamber, which his mind gious feeling, not discriminating between the feeldistorts and enlarges into shapes of terror; they ing itself and the means which he took to cherish may furnish a starting-point for the imagination, it. In true religious feeling there can be no exbut they will not prove that the patient's obser- cess; since the feeling, as it grows, will spend vations are any more to be trusted. Neither itself in works of active duty; but in his reliwill it do to say, that the subject of religion is gious exercises, possibly there may have been a infinite, and that no amount of devotion to the cause for his returning disorder. subject can therefore be excessive. This will be But though Cowper may have been in error readily admitted by all, if by religion we under- in giving, not too much of his feeling, but too stand religious duty. The question is, whether much of his time to religion, this period of his there is no such thing as excessive remorse for life seems to have been more tranquil and serene neglect of some particular obligation. On the than any other. There are not many letters, whole, we think, that the friend of religion, in- but those are on the subject nearest his heart, stead of endeavouring to find order in the con- and are written in a cheerful spirit, which seems fusion which prevailed at that time in Cowper's to show that there was nothing morbid in his mind, will consult the honour of Christianity devotion. There is nothing in the least premore by pointing to the healthy action of his sumptuous or intrusive in his manner: he powerful intellect and the daily beauty of his speaks of himself in terms of unfeigned humilunclouded lise, as a fine and attractive example ity, stating his own sentiments with manly freeof the spirit and power of religion. His regret dom, but never complaining of others because for lost and wasted years, was best manifested their feelings did not keep pace with his own. by the earnestness with which he redeemed the This way of life seems much more favourable to rest; his gratitude for the divine goodness, the health of his mind, than the more brilliant which restored him from suffering, was display- period when he stood out before the gaze of ed by his beginning life anew. These facts are men: for however much he endeavoured to undoubted; and they afford volumes of testi- guard himself against excessive sensibility to mony in favour of Christian truth.

the world's opinion, it is manifestly impossible When Cowper, at the age of thirty-three, had that any man should be indifferent to censure recovered so far as to be able to leave the care or praise, and he of all mankind was least likely of the physician, and retreat into the country, to present a breast of steel to the critic's blow, he became acquainted with the family of Un- He succeeded much better in guarding himself against the temptations of flattery, than against farlist of the pieces which compose his first the depressing effect of censure. His letters je VOLP, aki ter were written at the sug. tray the consternation with which he looked for osion of the Or. 51,jects which happened the critical sentence of Johnson, and the alaosis strikerision. Original and powerbodily fear in which he waited for the signai i'ii as temperre, they were very slow in from the Doctor's heavy gun, which shouid gire williy tr. ir way to the public farour; the sale notice whether the poet was to live or die. He was far fro rapid and ire critical verdicts of was delighted with a line from Franklin, which, literary tripuas d Lot tend to increase their though it betrayed no great poetic enthusiasm, circulation. De or the reviews declared, that showed that he had discernment to see the sub- they were esilentiy tte production of a very stantial excellence of the new candidate for pious gentenan, without one spark of genius. fame. Throughout Cowper's life, he seems to But considering ail circumstances, this was not have been deeply wounded by neglect and scorn, surprising: the rersification of the day was such whether as a poet or a man. When he first as Pope Lad left it, and ears accustomed to the went to Huntingdon as an invalid stranger, some even tiow of his numbers, were startied by the one had spoken of him as “that fellow Cow-bolder grace of Cowper's lines; it seemed like per;" and he does not disguise the satisfaction absurd presumption, in one unknown to fanie, which it gave him to prove that he was by birth- to step so widely from the beaten path; and, as right a gentleman. He never was reconciled to everyone knows, literary independence is not the neglect which he experienced at the hands easily forgiren. Then, too, the preface by Mr. of Thurlow, who was once his intimate friend. Newton was of a nature to alarm light readers: He had once playfully engaged to provide for it was written with more solemnity than was callCowper if he ever had the power; but when he ed for by the occasion; he does not seem to have became Lord Chancellor, he followed the exam- admired the play of Cowper's humour, though ple of Pharaoh's chief butler, a person who has it was one of his most remarkable powers; found more imitators than most others recorded the poet studiously apologizes for it in his letters in the Scripture. It was not to be expected, to Newton, assuring him that it was introduced that a coarse and somewhat savage individual in order to gain a hearing from the thoughtless, like Thurlow could sympathize much with one on the same principle that induces parents, in so gentle and refined; nor would it have been giving physic to their children, to touch the brim easy to provide for him except by a pension ; of the cup with honey. This language is one of but all that Cowper wished from him was an as- those instances of bad taste, of which Cowper surance that he was not forgotten, and it is a was not often guilty. It must be manifest to disgrace to Thurlow that this small measure of every one, that he indulged his humour simply attention to his feelings was never paid. because he could not help it. It was much more

After eight years of health, in the year 1773 natural to him to give way to this sportive wit, Cowper's depression returned, and soon deepen- than to launch anathemas at the head of Charles ed into an impenetrable gloom. No enjoyments, Wesley, for amusing himself with sacred music no cares nor duties could find the lest access to on Sunday evening, and was at least as likely his mind; he did not show the least interest in to have a good effect upon the world. The tone the society of his friends, nor gratitude for their of severity with which he cannonades follies and kindness, though they were unwearied in their sins alike, does not seem like Cowper's choice, exertions to rescue him from his distress. Mr. but has the appearance of being borrowed from Newton though he was sometimes injudicious some one who exerted a powerful influence over in his treatment of Cowper, proved himself a bim. It is in direct opposition to sentiments faithful friend on this occasion ; and Mrs. Un- which he sometimes expresses, particularly in a win attended him with a kindness and self-devo-letter where he disapproves a certain clergytion, which were requited by bis lasting grati- man's preaching, or rather his constant endea. tue and affection. But nothing would avail; vour to scold men out of their sins. He says, he remained in a state of belpless despondency“ the heart, corrupt as it is, and because it is so, for five yenu's, all the while in utter despair of grows angry if it be not treated with good mansalvation ; and when he began to recover, it was ners, and scolds again. There is no grace, that five years more before he regained sufficient the spirit of self can counterfeit more successfully tirmness to throw off his anxiety, and return to than a religious zeal.” “A man that loves me, the world again. It was at this period that he if he sees me in an error, will pity me, and calmly helped forward his restoration by taking care of endeavour to convince me of it, and persuade the tante lunes which he has made so celebrated. me to forsake it: if he has great and good news

When he was so far restored as to be able to to tell me, he will not do it angrily, nor in heat write, Mrs. Unwin, with a judgment which does and discomposure of spirit.”. We fear that her honour, urged him to employ his mind upon Cowper was guilty of some violations of his own poetical subjects; and as this had always been excellent rule, and he was ready afterwards to N livvourite pursuit, without his being aware of acknowledge it: when a friend applied the phrase the richness and variety of his powers, he was "multa cum bile" to the tone of +} .np noems, he punily induced to make the exertion. He made confessed that in some respect

ANI a beginning early in life, and one or two speci-this only serves to prove wh: mens, preserved by Hayley, show the same by an old English divine vigour of thought and expression which distin-though a sweet Christian guind his later writings. Table Talk was the "exceedingly apt to sow.

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Though the immediate success of his first His literary undertakings, thus far, had not volume was not great, it was sufficient to en- been of a kind which exacted severe labour ; courage one who never had a very exalted they were sufficient to engage and interest, but opinion of his own powers; and having at this not to tax and exhaust his mind. But when he time a new and animated companion, Lady found tlie benefit of being employed, he seems Austen, who had much influence over him, and to have thought, that it would be well to put used it to induce him to write, he commenced a himself under a necessity for exertion; he therenew poem, The Task, which was completed and fore undertook the gigantic enterprise of transgiven to the world in 1105. This work was at lating Homer, and thus, in avoiding the danger once successful, and placed hiin at the head of of doing too little, ran headlong into the danger all the poets of the day. But all the while that of doing too much. He thought, like the rest of he was thus fortunate in gaining reputation, he the world, that Pope had not succeeded; but he was a prey to his constitutional melancholy, be- ascribed his failure to his moving in the fetters lieving himself unfit to engage in religious exer- of rhyme; and it does not seem to have occurred cises, and entirely cut off from the hope of sal- to him, that no translation, however exact and vation. A domestic incident, too, tended to de- worthy of the original, could ever equal the destroy the happiness which he might have re- mands of scholars or the imaginations of the ceived from his literary fame. He was obliged unlearned. This enterprise was not fortunate to give up the society of Lady Austen, in de- in any point of view. It rather wearied than ference to the feelings of Mrs. Unwin, who felt employed him; it added nothing to his literary herself eclipsed by this new companion. Mrs. fame, and when it was completed it left a vacancy Unwin has been generally condemned for this of mind, in which, having neither strength for jealousy, as if it proceeded from a narrow mind; labour nor power to live without it, he was open but there are several circumstances to be taken at once to the attacks of his depression. These into view. It does not appear, that she ever were deferred for a time by various literary plans complained of the ascendency of Lady Austen. which he formed; but in 1794, the cloud settled Cowper perceived that she was dispirited, and upon his mind, and it remained in eclipse to the for this there was suíficient reason. She felt last. that she was the person on whose care and kind- The fact seems to have been, that the distincness he had leaned for years. She had devoted tion which his genius gave him, though it was her life to secure the happiness of his; and in in some respects gratifying, was not favourable his seasons of melancholy he had required a self- to the health of his mind. Though no man was devotion to his welfare, which very few were less vain or assuming, he was very much anable or willing to give. While she had done all noyed by the critical remarks to which he was this for him, Lady Austen had only amused him, constantly exposed. His eminence also made and it was not in human nature to behold the him a subject of public curiosity, which, however interest, to which she was entitled by years of Nattering, was necessarily oppressive to his rehardship, thus transferred to a more entertaining tiring disposition. The friends of his later years companion, without regret. Cowper knew that do not appear to have sympathised with him in there was cause for her uneasiness, and at once his peculiar views of religion. The subject dismade the sacrifice which he felt was her due. appears from his letters, and though it never lost The loss was soon after supplied by Lady Hes- its hold upon his mind, still, if those about him keth, his cousin, said to have been a woman of had no feelings in common with his, he would fine understanding and remarkable social pow- not force it upon them, and therefore folded it ers, who was often an inmate in the same house-up in the depths of his own heart. But since he hold, and faithful to him till the last. Soon after needed free conversation with judicious friends his renewal of personal intercourse with her, to correct his own diseased inaginations, it is and about a year after the separation from Lady evident that the water of life itself, like the maAusten, he went to reside at Weston, at the in-/terial element in a sealed fountain, might genestance of the Throckmortons, a wealthy family, rate an atmosphere fatal to light and life. His who spent the summer in that village. It was history, throughout his life, cannot be contemtime to leave Olney, if we may judge from re- plated without deep feelings of pity for his misports circulated concerning them, which accused fortunes, and admiration of his moral excellence them of fushionable dissipation. These foolish and intellectual power. But that history is yet reports reached Mr. Newion in London, and he, to be written. In all cultivated minds it still exwith a singular want of good sense, transmitted cites an unabated interest, and should it fall into them to Cowper; and this, at the time when the the hands of one sufficiently enlarged and enpoor invalid was “miserable," as he himself lightened to do justice to it, he will find an ample says, " on account of God's departure from him, reward for his labour. which he believed to be final, and was sreking We have already alluded to the success of his his return, in the path of duty and by continual earlier poems, and explained the reasons why it prayer.” The Throckmortons were Catholics, was so small

. But his change in the style of and his intercourse with them, which began English versification, though it seemed wild and while he was still in Olney, might have occa- lawless at the time, was a great improvement .!!!.is rumour to his disadvantage. Cowper upon his predecessors. There was an artificial

thosa miserable prejudices against elegance in the measure of Pope, which, however ", sentiments, which are sometimes pleasing to the musical ear, was a restraint upon duty.

the flow of sentiment, and sometimes wearied with its sweetness. Cowper's bold freedom, jexcludes nothing above or beneath the moon; it though it seemed at first like uncouth rough-requires no unity of thought, or manner, and ness, gained much in variety of expression, permits the poet to pass from the serious to the without losing much in point of sound. It of- playful, at his pleasure, without formal apology fended, because it seemed careless, and as if he or preparation. Cowper certainly availed himrespected little the prevailing taste of his readers; self of the privilege, and made his readers acbut it was far from being unpolished as it seemed. quainted with all his feelings, circumstances, and He tells us, that the lines of his earlier poems opinions, affording a curious example of a man, were touched and retouched, with fastidious reserved to excess in social life, and almost errdelicacy: his ear was not easily pleased ; and ing on the side of frankness in his writings, if we yet, if we may judge from one or two specimens can possibly call that frankness excessive, which of alterations, his corrections very often injured simply tells what all the world was burning to what they were meant to repair. As to the kind know. For we must consider that his previous of zeal which abounded in those poems, and works had made him known sufficiently to gain which, as we have said, was one obstacle to their him the reputation of a genius, at a time when success, it was not the earrestness which gave such stars were not common in the British sky. He oítence, so much as the manner in which it was made his first appearance, too, in the maturity displayed. And it is true, that fierce and angry of his years and powers-no one had beheld his sarcasın is a very injudicious way of expressing rising—no one had marked him till he suddenly generous emotions. We see very little of it in emerged from the cloud. There was a natural the letters of Cowper, where he pours out his desire to know who and what he was—and all soul without reserve, and we hardly know how such questions were answered in the poem, in a to account for his adopting it in those poems. manner which rendered his readers familiar with But whatever his motive may have been, the his powerful mind and amiable heart. They public could not be persuaded that bitterness found much to respect in the vigour of his unwas any proof of deep conviction; or that those derstanding, which refused to be enslaved by inwho were most severe upon offences and of- herited prejudices, and manifested every where fenders, were the most likely to attempt their a manly love of freedom and of truth: nor could reform. We occasionally witness similar dis- any one help admiring his singleness of heart, plays of feeling, and it is easy to see that, while and the openness with which he declared its they are hailed with acclamations by all who emotions. The effect of the work was greater agree in opinion with the writer, they are of-than can now be imagined: it conducted many fensive and disgusting to those whose hearts it to the pure fountains of happiness which are is most important to reach. It was truly said found by those who commune with nature, and of these poems, in the words of the younger many to those sources of religious peace, which Pliny, translated, “ many passages are delicate, keep on flowing when all earthly springs are dry. many sublime, many beautiful, many tender, It tended to make man feel an interest in man, many sweet, many acrimonious.” “ Yes, yes,” and opened the eyes of thousands to those trasaid Cowper, “the latter part is very true in- ditional abuses, which are detested as soon as deed: there are many acrimonious." The truth the attention of the world is directed full upon was probably, that, as often happens in men of them: and in a literary point of view, it gladretired habits, his words outran his feelings. dened the hearts of all who felt an interest in

Those of the earlier poems which are written English poetry, by reviving its own glories at in this spirit, are quite inferior to the others. the moment when the last beam of inspiration Expostulation, which treats the sins of his coun- seemed to have faded from the sky. try in a solemn tone of remonstrance and warn- As a poet, Cowper was a man of great genius, ing, is an admirable poem; it breathes a spirit and in a day when poetry was more read than at resembling that of one of the ancient prophets present, enjoyed a popularity almost unexampled. -grave, dignified, and stern. Its sound is that The strain of his writing was familiar even to of a trumpet blown to warn the people—a sound, homeliness. He drew from his own resources which wakes no angry passion, but before which only; throwing off all affectation and reserve, he the heart stands still and listens with a shudder-made his reader acquainted with all his sentiments ing chill of dread. Conversation is next in ex- and feelings, and did not disguise his weaknesses cellence; it is written in a fine strain of humour, and sorrows. There is always something atnot with the “ droll sobriety” of Swift, nor the tractive in this personal strain, where it does not grave irony of Fielding, but with a wit pecu- amount to egotism, and he thus gained many liarly his own, such as makes his letters the best admirers, who never would have been interestEnglish specimen of that kind of writing, and at ed by poetry alone. The religious character of times affords a singular contrast with his gloom. bis writings was also a recommendation to many,

The Task is a work of more pretension than besides those who favoured views of that subhis other writings, we mean in its form; for it ject similar to his own. There were those who has no singleness of subject, and is in fact a col- felt, like Burns, that “bating some scraps of lection of poems, in each of which the topic Calvanistic divinity, the Task was a noble which affords the name serves only as a text, to poem." There was a wide sympathy, a gene which the images and sentiments of the writer rous regard for all the human race expressed in are attached by the most capricious and acci- it, which gave his readers a respect for his heart. dental associations. One advantage of this free-Then, too, his views of nature were drawn from dom is, that it affords an agreeable variety; it spersonal observation; all his readers could re

member or at any time see those which pre- was besides not a novice in such enterprises. cisely resembled the subjects of his description. He had previously visited the fine island of Cuba, He associated no unusual trains of thought, no and was in the United States, where he had been feelings of peculiar refinement, with the grand long waiting for letters from Europe, which enaand beautiful of nature, while at the same time bled him to set out on his intended voyage to the strain of his sentiment was pure, manly, South America.

From the Foreign Quarterly Review.

and exalted. By addressing himself to the This plan originated with a few zealous friends heart universal, and using language such as of natural history in Germany, who confided the could be understood by the humble as well as execution of it to our author, and supplied him the high, he influenced a wider circle than any with funds for the purpose. The immediate poet who went before him; and by inspiring a object was to collect specimens of natural hiskind of domestic confidence in his readers, he tory in as great a number as possible; and the made his works "household words," and all result, as stated by Dr. Poeppig, is highly creditawho shared his feelings became interested in his ble to his industry. Seventeen thousand specifame. mens of dried plants, many hundred stuffed animals, and a great number of other natural productions, which were distributed among the patrons of the expedition; the introduction into our gardens of many very interesting plants before Reise in Chile, Peru, und auf dem Amazonens-unknown; three thousand descriptions of plants trome während der Jahre, 1827-1832. Von made on the spot, especially with regard to such Edward Poeppig. (Travels in Chili and Peru, parts of the flowers as it would be more difficult and on the River Amazons, in the years 1827 to examine subsequently; thirty finished draw-1832.) 2 Vol. 4to. with Atlas of 16 plates. ings of landscape scenery; forty drawings of Aroideæ, on the largest scale; thirty drawings AFTER the numerous volumes which have been of Orchidea; numerous sketches; and a private published within these few years relative to the botanical collection of extraordinary extent, several countries of South America, the appear-are a portion of the fruits of that journey. Yet ance of two quartos, containing between 900 it may be affirmed that the sum allotted for it was: and 1000 closely printed pages, might justly ex- the smallest with which such an undertaking cite some doubts of the propriety of drawing ever was commenced and happily completed. so largely on the time and patience of the But this narrowness of his means necessarily reader, perhaps we should say of the reviewer, subjected the traveller to great hardships and as the reader may, but the reviewer must, peruse privations; it did not allow him to take with the books set before him. It is certainly true him an attendant into the inmost recesses of the that, since those vast regions threw off their al- forest. Even this was less painful to him than legiance to the mother country, numerous Eu- the want of instruments for observation, after ropean visiters have resorted to them, a few at- his own were lost at the commencement of his tracted by curiosity and love of science, and journey, and his pecuniary means would not almore by hope of gain; and that many of them low him to purchase others. But, says he, have published reports of their observations and "what personal industry and good will could discoveries. But, without discussing the greater contribute to success was done, when, in some or less degree of merit of these works, it may remote Indian village of the primeval forests, be observed that none of the authors made a month after month pased over the head of the long residence in the countries visited by Dr. lonely wanderer, who had not even a native serPoeppig, in a purely scientific view, and that vant with him, and often depended for his presome, having passed only a few weeks there, carious subsistence on his own skill or good forcould neither penetrate into the interior and the tune in fishing or with his gun: who sometimes less frequented parts, nor even acquire a suffi- had to pass the night alone on the summits of cient insight into what came more immediately the Andes, sometimes to steer his little bark on under their notice. But longer experience, as the gigantic streams of the New World, through our author justly remarks, often causes us to see the silent and solitary wilderness: and, at length, things in a different point of view, and at the as a recompense for many dangers, happily reend of the year we might, perhaps, gladly disa- turned to his native land, richly laden with the vow the opinion which we suffered to escape us natural treasures of remote regions." at its commencement. Dr. Poeppig, therefore, Dr. Poeppig was at Philadelphia in August having spent five successive years in those in- 1826, when he received the letters from Europe, teresting countries, we felt that we could de-which determined him to set out; and he impend at least on his having given us the result mediately proceeded to Baltimore, where it was of mature consideration, and accordingly open-thought much easier to meet with a vessel bound ed his volumes with a tolerable degree of confi-to the South Seas than any other port. He had dence that we should find them deserving of at-however to wait six weeks for the sailing of the tention. Nor have we been disappointed. We Gulnare, of 300 tons, which happily proved to be have found the work replete with new and inter- a very strong ship and an excellent sailer. The esting information communicated in an agreea-description of long voyages, observes Dr. Poepble manner, and calculated to give a very fa-pig, is an equally difficult and ungrateful task, vourable idea of the acquirements, perseverance, especially in our times, when so great a number and impartiality of the author. Dr. Poeppig of them have been described, and some in a VOL. XXIX, JULY, 1836.-3.