LETTER CLIV. To JOHN JOHNSON, Esqr. MY DEAR JOHNNY, Weston, March 11, 1792, You talk of primroses that you pulled on Candlemas day; but what think you of me who heard a nightingale on New-year's day? Perhaps I am the only man in England who can boast of such good fortune; good indeed, for if it was at all an omen it could not be an unfavourable one. The winter however is now making himself amends, and seems the more peevish for having been encroached on at so undue a season. Nothing less than a large slice out of the spring will satisfy him. Lady Hesketh left us yesterday. She intended to have left us four days sooner; but in the evening before the day fixed for her departure, snow enough fell to occasion just so much delay of it. We have faint hopes that in the month of May we shall see her again. I know that you have had a letter from her, and you will no doubt have the grace not to make her wait long for an answer. We expect Mr. Rose on Tuesday; but he stays with us only till the Saturday following. With him I shall have some conferences on the subject of Homer, respecting a new edition I mean, and some perhaps on the subject of Milton; on him I have not yet begun to comment, or even fix the time when I shall. Forget not your promised visit! W. C. To the NIGHTINGALE, WHICH THE AUTHOR HEARD SING ON NEW-YEAR'S DAY, I annex to this Letter the stanzas which Cowper composed on the wonderful incident here mentioned. And why, since thousands would be proud, Of such a favour shewn, Am I selected from the crowd, To witness it alone? Sing'st thou, sweet Philomel, to me, For that I also long Have practised in the groves like thee, Or sing'st thou rather under force Commission'd to presage a course Thrice welcome then! for many a long As thou today, put forth my song But thee no wintry skies can harm, Who only need'st to sing, To make e'en January charm, And ev'ry season spring. LETTER CLV. To the Revd. Mr. HURDIS. MY DEAR SIR, Weston, March 23, 1792. I have read your play care fully, and with great pleasure; it seems now to be a performance that cannot fail to do you much credit. Yet, unless my memory deceives me, the scene between Cecilia and Heron in the garden, has lost something that pleased me much, when I saw it first; and I am not sure that you have not likewise obliterated an account of Sir Thomas's execution, that I found very pathetic. It would be strange if in these two particulars, I should seem to miss what never existed; you will presently know whether I am as good at remembering what I never saw, as I am at forgetting what I have seen. But if I am right, I cannot help recommending the omitted passages to your reconsideration. If the play were designed for representation, I should be apt to think Cecilia's first speech rather too long, and should prefer to have it broken into dialogue, by an interposition now and then from one of her Sisters. But since it is designed as I understand for the closet only, that objection seems of no importance; at no rate, however, would I expunge it; because it is both prettily imagined, and elegantly written. I have read your cursory remarks, and am much pleased both with the style and the argument. Whether the latter be new, or not, I am not competent to judge; if it be, you are entitled to much praise for the invention of it. Where other data are wanting to ascertain the time, when an author of many pieces wrote each in particular, there can be no better crite rion by which to determine the point, than the more or less proficiency manifested in the composition. Of this proficiency, where it appears, and of those plays in which it appears not, you seem to have judged well and truly; and consequently I approve of your arrangement. I attended, as you desired me, in reading the character of Cecilia to the hint you gave me concerning your Sister Sally, and give you joy of such a Sis ter. This, however, not exclusively of the rest, for though they may not all be Cecilias, I have a strong persuasion, that they are all very amiable. W. C. |