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of sentiment, they must be the Letters of Racine to his friend Boileau, and those addressed to his own son.

If among the popular authors of other nations, we should seek for the individual, who may be mentioned as a parallel to Cowper, in the simplicity, the sweetness, and the sanctity of his character, both as a man, and a poet, perhaps we might most properly fix on the amiable Gellert, the favorite of Germany! Though not equal to the author of the Task, in the energy of his poetical powers, he excited in his countrymen, of all ranks, that enthusiastic regard, which England, to her own honour, has felt for the character of Cowper.

The Letters of Gellert display an uncommon share of that tender melancholy, that religious fervor, that innocent playfulness of fancy, and that spirit of genuine friendship, which give such attraction to the correspondence of Cowper, who in these qualities, and in the elegant simplicity of his style, has hardly an equal, and certainly not a superior, among the most celebrated Letter-writers of England.

It is remarkable, though I do not recollect to have seen it observed by those, who have lately enumerated our early epistolary writers, that Bishop Hall, who spoke of himself, with complacency, as the first of English satirists, has taken a laudable pride in declaring himself the first publisher of English Epistles.

There is a little volume neatly printed in 1608, containing four decads of Epistles, by this patriotic and memorable divine. To these he added two decads more in 1611.

says:

In dedicating his book to Prince Henry, the author "Further, (which these times account not the least praise) your grace shall herein perceive a new fashion of discourse, by Epistles, new to our language, usual to others; and (as novelty is never without some plea of use) more free, more familiar. Thus we do but talk with our friends by our pen, and express ourselves no whit less easily, somewhat more digestedly."

Many of Hall's Epistles may be considered as brief, and excellent sermons, being full of religious admonition: there are however a few of them, that seem fairly entitled to the name of familiar Letters; particularly the fifth Epistle of the first decad -to Sir Thomas Challoner," a report of some observations in my travell." Sir Edmund Bacon was Hall's fellow-traveller. The eighth Epistle in the same decad: to the young Earl of Essex," advice for his travels." And the second Epistle of the second decad: "of the benefit of retirednesse, and secrecy," to Sir Edmund Bacon.

In a passion for retirement, in vivacity of imagination, and purity of heart, this exemplary prelate seems to have resembled the more illustrious poetical recluse of Weston; and considering the age in which the Bishop wrote, it is paying a very high, and a just compliment to his epistolary language, to say, it has several passages, which might be almost mistaken for the language of Cowper.

This remark leads me to return to the Letters of my friend. -I have so warmly expressed my opinion of their singular excellence, that it is unnecessary to add any words in their praise. The peculiar ease, harmony, and grace of Cowper's

epistolary style, must be obvious to every intelligent reader; nor is a comment required to prove, that the universal delight, with which his Letters are perused, arises particularly from their dis playing

"That lovely sight, a guileless human heart."

To parody a verse of Young, which it is hardly possible to pronounce, in its original state, without shuddering at the dark, and distressful idea it exhibits.

The Letters of a recluse are naturally full of egotismbut egotism, which may be a disgrace indeed to some compositions, is rather a merit, and a charm in the Letters of persons, whom we love and esteem. Gibbon says happily, on this subject, in writing to his excellent mother-in-law:- "We all delight to talk of ourselves, and it is only in Letters, in writing to a friend, that we can enjoy that conversation, not only without reproach or interruption, but with the highest propriety and mutual satisfaction."

The lovers of genius and virtue, must peruse the correspondence of Cowper with the eyes of a friend; and in doing so, they will feel gratified in being enabled to read,

dently written for the eyes of friendship alone.

what was evi

They will not

think, that he talks too much of himself; for what man, so worthy of being intimately known, could be thought to do so, in talking to a friend, without vanity or affectation.

If in selecting his Letters for the press, I should alarm the volatile reader by admitting several of a devotional spirit, I

will ingenuously confess my reason for imparting them to the public. There is such tender simplicity, such attractive sweetness, in these serious Letters, that I am confident few professed. works of devotion can equal their efficacy in awakening and confirming sincere and simple piety, in persons of various persuasions. His Letters and his Poetry will, in this respect, alternately extend, and strengthen the influence of each other. He wrote occasionally to clerical friends of the established church, and to others among the dissenters. His heart made no difference between them, for it felt towards both the fraternal sensations of true Christianity.

The cordial admirers of the poet, may exult to reflect, that after perusing both his deliberate productions, and the casual effusions of his pen, they may justly say of each, what Prior said in verse to Sherlock, on his practical discourse concerning death.

"Of heavenly manna 'tis a second feast,

"A nation's food, and all to every taste:"

In continuing to commend the compositions of Cowper, I am perfectly aware, that I have been censured as too lavish in `the praise of my friend. My only reply to such censure shall be to close these Desultory Remarks on epistolary writers, with a brief and sweet epistle of Pliny, which expresses most happily all my own feelings on the censure, to which I allude. I am gratified in observing, that I share the discredit, or the honour, arising from such a charge, with one of the most estimable writers of

the antient world, and to justify my perseverance in sentiments, which no adversary could induce me to renounce, I have a pleasure in adopting the very apposite vindication of an advocate so illustrious, and so amiable.

"Ais quosdam apud te reprehendisse tanquam amicos meos ex omni occasione ultra modum laudem. Agnosco crimen, amplector etiam. Quid enim honestius culpâ benignitatis? Qui sunt tamen isti, qui amicos meos melius norint ? Sed ut norint, quid invident mihi felicissimum errorem? Ut enim non sint tales, quales á me prædicantur, ego tamen beatus quod mihi videntur.-Igitur ad alios hanc sinistram diligentian conferant: nec sunt parum multi, qui carpere amicos suos judicium vocant: mihi nunquam persuadebunt, ut meos amari à me nimium putem-Vale."- -Plin. Lib. 7-Epist. 28.

Soon after these Remarks were first sent to the press, a young friend, extensively acquainted with German literature, obligingly sent me a work of Gellert, which I had never seen, and which my friend had kindly translated into English, that I might peruse it with the greater rapidity. It is entitled-" A practical Essay on good Taste in Epistolary Writing." Its chief purpose was, to caution the author's young disciples against the false taste that had prevailed in some admired Letter-writers of his own country, but it contains many judicious observations, on various authors of universal celebrity.

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