Perhaps thou gav'st me, though unseen, a kiss; After his mother's death, young Cowper was placed in a boarding school a few miles from home, where he continued two years. Here, although still only a child, was commenced his acquaintance with the rudeness of the world, which his exquisitely nervous and susceptible nature, was poorly fitted to endure. As an illustration, Thomas Taylor, one of his biographers, presents the following narrative: "His chief sorrow arose from the cruel treatment he met from a boy in the same school, about fifteen years of age, who on all occasions persecuted him with the most unrelenting barbarity; and who never seemed pleased except when he was tormenting him. This savage treatment impressed such a dread upon Cowper's tender mind, of this boy, that he was afraid to lift up his eyes upon him higher than his knees; and knew him better by his shoe buckles than by any other part of his dress." He was next sent to a school at Westminster, where he says he served a seven years' apprenticeship to the classics. Here he had likewise room to complain of the unkind manner of schoolfellows towards him. His experience at these places filled his mind with that disgust of such schools, which he many years afterwards so forcibly expressed in the poem of Tyrocinium. At the age of eighteen, young Cowper was bound for three years to an attorney; but, as a great mistake was committed in selecting a profession for which he had no relish, and so entirely uncongenial with his whole constitution, it need not awaken much surprise that he applied himself very little to reading in this line. At the expiration of the indenture he was, however, admitted to the bar, when he took rooms 66 in the Inner Temple, for the purpose of pursuing the law. In this situation he continued about ten years, but without making any considerable advance in what was to him a mere profession. While here, as has been remarked, there was more of rambling in the primrose paths of literature," than in "the thorny road of jurisprudence." He associated with several young men who had the reputation of being wits, at the same time wrote gay verses, and contributed several articles to the Connoiseur and the St. James' Chronicle, both of which publications were conducted by personal friends. About the time of attaining to his thirtyfirst year, a number of his friends, considering that his patrimony was nearly exhausted, and that his income was small, used their influence to secure for him the profitable situation of clerk of the Journals to the House of Lords. But the dread of occupying so conspicuous a position, and the thought of appearing before the House to undergo an examination, so wrought upon a system strung to feminine delicacy, that each succeeding attempt at a preparation for the occasion only proved a greater failure, until finally the premonitions of insanity, which had for several years cast their occasional shadow over his mind, were fulfilled in a decided prostration of the intellect. His friends now removed him to St. Albans, where he was placed under the Christian care and skillful treatment of Dr. Cotton, (who was also a poet,) in whose house he remained over a year and a half. In the course of the first eight months he was fully restored to the possession of his reason. But there was a deeper shadow still resting on his heart. The serious impressions of the nature and guilt of sin, which he had already at times experienced before the derangement of his mind, and which had still more particularly filled his soul with alarm during the lucid seasons of recovering intellect, now weighed down his spirit with increasing force. While enjoying a visit from his brother at this time, the state of his heart became | been wonderfully led by a way which they the subject of conversation. He now for knew not, were brought together and the first time in a long season, opened the united in the happiest of friendships. At Bible, which he found lying before him. Olney, amidst the delightful scenery on The first passage that caught his eye was the banks of the Ouse, Cowper seemed for that striking verse in the third chapter of a time almost to forget the busy world beRomans: "Whom God hath set forth to be yond. He greatly curtailed his corresponda propitiation, through faith in his blood, ence with friends, and confined himself to to declare his righteousness for the remis- the society of Mrs. Unwin and Mr. Newsion of sins that are past, through the for- ton. bearance of God." The precious declaration was sufficient. The Saviour was at once apprehended by a living faith. His language is: "I saw the sufficiency of the atonement he had made, my pardon sealed in his blood, and all the fulness and completeness of his justification. In a moment I believed and received the Gospel." By a divine power he was delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." Of this holy emancipation, he many years after-perpetuate remembrance of an intimate wards sung in the fifth book of the Task: "The liberty of heart derived from heaven, Bought with His blood, who gave it for mankind, And sealed with the same token." In 1765 Mr. Cowper's friends secured boarding for him at Huntingdon, with the Rev. Morley Unwin. With this Christian family, who adopted him as one of its members, he found one of the most congenial homes for nearly all the remainder of his life. "Death only could sever a tie so strongly knit-cemented by mutual faith and friendship, and by sorrows of which the world knew nothing." Cowper now gave his time to devotion and literature. When nearly two years of quiet Christian enjoyment and growth in grace had passed in the bosom of this dear family, a sudden grief overwhelmed them in the removal of Mr. Unwin by death. The Rev. John Newton's attention having been directed by a friend to the affliction of the family, he visited them to administer spiritual consolation. Soon after this he succeeded in inducing them to settle in his parish, at Olney, in Northamptonshire. Thus, by this providence, Cowper and Newton, both of whom had Newton, having conceived the idea of preparing an improved hymn book, by uniting Cowper's labors with his own, gained the approval and co-operation of his friend. In his preface to the volume of the Olney Hymns, as it ultimately appeared, Newton remarked, "A desire of promoting the comfort and faith of sincere Christians, though the principal, was not the only motive to this undertaking. It was likewise intended as a monument to and endeared friendship." But before they had proceeded far with this joint labor of love, Cowper's morbid melancholy gaining ground, his terrible malady returned, and the work was thenceforth left in the hands of the projector. This second period of Cowper's insanity, beclouded the five years of his life between 1773 and 1778. During the whole course of these years, Mrs. Unwin nursed him with the unwearying attention and tenderness of a mother. The grief experienced on the death of his be loved brother, 1770, may have been among the influences contributing to confirm the disease. As the eclipse gradually passed from his mind, of which his friends observed increasing signs after a scarcely varying gloom of more than a year's continuance, he diverted his attention,. first, by taking care of his hares, making boxes for them, and constructing bird cages; and next, by writing to his friends. When his mind had well regained its clearness, he added to his employments the writing of poetry, and subsequently applied himself with great interest to the drawing of landscapes, although he had never had any instructions In the summer of 1781 the poet added to his list of most valuable friends, Lady Austen, who came to reside in the vicinity. For three years he enjoyed her uninterrupt in the art of the pencil. He still further added to his pursuits the healthful exercise of gardening. At a still later date, having received as a present a portable printing press, from the hands of Lady Austen, heed kindness. She brought all the energy multiplied copies of his shorter poems, to distribute among his friends. In the composition of poetry he happily found his most genial exercise. A talent to which he had, up to his fiftieth year, given but limited attention, was yet to be developed to dispense light and joy to untold millions of his race. The first volume of Cowper's poems, containing Table Talk, The Progress of Error, Truth, and Expostulation, together with some minor pieces, made its appearance in the early part of 1782. Although the whole rank of small critics united in frowning down the book on its appearance, yet the appreciating Dr. Johnson gave it his commendation, while our own Dr. Franklin, who could scarcely be enticed to read poetry, was so highly pleased with it that he wrote the author a characteristic letter of applause. To this book, Newton, who had removed to London in 1779, wrote the preface, in which we read this sentence, in testimony of the sincerely Christian attachment between the two friends: "The good hand of God, unknown to me, was providing for me one of the principal blessings of my life; a friend and a counselor, in whose company for almost seven years, though we were seldom seven successive hours separated, I always found new pleasures; a friend who was not only a comfort to myself, but a blessing to the affectionate poor people among whom I then lived." In the same strain he again speaks after Cowper's death, while attempting a memoir of the departed friend, which was never completed: "For nearly twelve years we were seldom separated for twelve hours at a time, when we were awake and at home: the first six I passed in daily admiring and attempting to imitate him; during the second six, I walked pensively with him in the valley of the shadow of death." of her sprightly and well-stored mind to bear, for the diversion and pleasure of her amiable and delicate friend. Southey remarks; "Lady Austen's conversation had as happy an effect upon the melancholy spirit of Cowper as the harp of David upon Saul." In proof of his sincere esteem toward her it is sufficient to notice that he applied to her the endearing title of "Sister Anne." It is to her that we are indebted for that admirable poem, The Task, which was written at her suggestion. Aware of the happy effect on her friend's mind resulting from the exercise of writing poetry, and being herself, as an admirer of Milton, very fond of blank-verse, she urged him repeatedly to write a poem of this species. To this he finally agreed if she, would name a subject. Her reply was, "O, you can never be in want of a subject, you can write upon this sofa,”pointing to the seat they were then together occupying. "The poet," says Mr. Hayley, "obeyed her command, and from that lively repartee of familiar conversation, arose a poem of many thousand verses, unexampled perhaps both in its origin and excellence. A poem of such infinite variety, that it seems to include every subject, and every style, without any dissonance or disorder; and to have flowed without effort, from inspired philanthropy, eager to impress upon the hearts of all readers whatever may lead them most happily to the full enjoyment of human life, and to the final attainment of heaven." The book, thus commenced in 1783, appeared in 1785, and immediately rose into popularity. The musical as well as conversational talents of the entertaining Lady Austen were often exercised to raise Cowper from his melancholy. The following beautiful poem which, among others, he composed at her request for her to play on the harpsichord, cannot but be admired: "No longer I follow a sound, No longer a dream I pursue; O, happiness! not to be found, Unattainable treasure, adieu! I have sought thee in splendor and dress, I have sought thee, and seemed to possess, The voice of true wisdom inspires; That seeks it in weakness and love, To the glorified spirits above." By the way, it is proper to remark that if words of a kindred spirit with these were, in this day of growing interest in social music, substituted for the nonsensical and vicious doggerel that so often finds way even into Christian families, the effect could not but be salutary. Music may be expected to become more and more patronized as an educator of artistic taste; but there can be no good reason assigned why the accompanying words should not be such as to prove healthful food for the mind and heart. Let Christians only exercise a vigilance in this respect in their families, and the demand in this, as in other things, will create the supply. The Rev. Mr. Bull, an excellent dissenting clergyman, also put Madame Guyon's poetry into Cowper's hands, and prevailed on him to translate a number of her spiritual songs from the French into the English language. Immediately after completing The Task, the poet chose to undertake the translation of Homer. The work was published in 1791, in two quarto volumes. In 1786, Lady Hesketh, Cowper's cousin, a person of great kindness, prevailed on him and Mrs. Unwin to remove near her, in the beautiful village of Weston, a mile from Olney. Here they continued until their removal, in 1795, to Dereham in Norfolk. At this last place Mrs. Unwin died in the following year. During her long illness the poet, though himself again the victim of insanity, watched over her with the tenderest solicitude; and after her departure he was never heard to repeat her name. Cowper's malady returned in 1794, and continued with very little variation, to the close of his life, which occurred on the 25th day of April, 1800. By the intercession of Pitt, the crown, in 1794, granted him a pension of three hundred pounds. But the kindness came too late to be fully appreciated. During these last years of his life, especially, the gloom upon his mind assumed a distressing hue of darkness—“ even darkness which may be felt." He conceived the idea that God had forsaken him, and that the decree of his own eternal destruction was fixed. Thus one of the most humble Christians-one who during many years of his earthly pilgrimage had rested on God in "a peace which passeth all understanding," and had rejoiced in his Redeemer with a "joy unspeakable and full of glory," was passing through a land of darkness, guided indeed by a Hand unseen to a state at infinite contrast with this. Yet it is probable that during the temporary lighting upon him of a ray from heaven, amidst some season of gloom, his heart threw off the following strain like a spark upon the starless midnight: "I see, or think I see, A glimmering from afar A beam of day that shines for me To save me from despair. Forerunner of the sun, It marks the pilgrim's way: I'll gaze upon it while I run, And watch the rising day." Who can tell or conceive of the raptuchild of grace, as the doubly-woven veil of rous joy that was reserved for this afflicted earth at last fell from his eyes! How blessed must it have been to pass from his deep gloom into that glory to which he refers in the last stanza of the hymn, "The Spirit breathes upon the word!" "My soul rejoices to pursue The steps of Him I love, The poet's body was entombed in the church at Dereham. His amiable relative, to his memory. A part of the inscription is an epitaph by Mr. Hayley, which we here present: Lady Hesketh, raised a tablet monument | to him a very honorable position. While, in the sphere which his poetic mind explored, he has gained lasting honor to himself, it must also be admitted that, like men generally, he was not a universal genius. He seldom shocks or startles with the bold or the awful; but in those elements in which he seemed to live and move few have surpassed him. Nature, in its rural phase, as it lay, or rather, lived-around him, never found a heart more in sympathy with itself. Even Thomson, whose "Ye who with warmth the public triumph feel Ranks with her dearest sons his favorite name! Every one will feel thankful for the in-flights were more grand, as he traced the troduction here of at least two stanzas of "It is a place where poets crowned It is a place where happy saints He shall be strong to sanctify The poet's high vocation, And bow the meekest Christian down Nor ever shall he be in praise By wise or good forsaken; Of one whom God hath taken !" Owing to the peculiar circumstances of Cowper's life, the social qualities were particularly developed. He delighted much in the society of his friends. With those at a distance it was a source of great pleasure to hold correspondence. In his letters, as well as in his personal interviews, he usually displayed a strong natural tendency to be humorous. In reference to this, the Rev. Dr. Cheever, in his lectures on Cowper, remarks: "Deliver us from men who cannot relish pleasantry, and, if need be, even in the midst of misery; such men cannot have your entire confidence, but are to be held as Shakspeare or Luther would have regarded men who hated music." Although men may differ in respect to the precise rank which Cowper should hold as a poet, yet all unite in according "Seasons" round, could not give more "Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds, The tone of languid nature." Some one has ventured to intimate that our author as a poet was wanting in warmth of heart. It is difficult to conceive how such an impression could have been formed. History points to very few men whose minds were more under the influence of feeling hearts. The scenes, the employments, the pleasures, the virtues, and affections of home often gave inspiration to his pen. The spirit of piety had, moreover, strung his heart to universal benevolence. Cowper's prose writings are almost wholly limited to his letters, which are regarded as being of unsurpassed excellence in epistolary literature. His poetry did very much in giving a healthful turn to this species of composition. Some of the brightest names that have appeared since his day, it must be clearly seen, have caught much of their lustre from his. James Montgomery says, "In the course of a few years, he produced those singularly original poems, which, though written in direct opposition to the taste of the times, and imbued with sentiments, hateful alike to the scorner and the self-righteous, effected a greater change in the character of contemporary literature, than |