book 167

To the same, April 25, 1784. Lines to the memory of a halybutt 167

To the Rev. John Newton, April 26, 1784. Remarks on Beattie and on Blair's "Lectures;" economy of the county candidates, and its consequences 168

To the Rev. William Unwin, May 3, 1784. Reflections on face-painting; innocent in Frenchwomen, but immoral in English 168

To the same, May 8, 1784. Cowper's reasons for not writing a sequel to John Gilpin, and not wishing that ballad to appear with his Poems; progress made in printing them 170

To the Rev. John Newton, May 10, 1784. Conversion of Dr. Johnson; unsuccessful attempt with a balloon at Throckmorton's 170

Circumstances attending Dr. Johnson's conversion 171

To the Rev. John Newton, May 22, 1784. On Dr. Johnson's opinion of Cowper's "Poems;" Mr. Bull and his refractory pupils 171

To the same, June 5, 1784. On the opinion of Cowper's "Poems" attributed to Dr. Johnson 171

To the Rev. John Newton, June 21, 1784. Commemoration of Handel; unpleasant summer; character of Mr. and Mrs. Unwin 172

To the Rev. William Unwin, July 3, 1784. Severity of the weather; its effects on vegetation 172

To the Rev. John Newton, July 5, 1784. Reference to a passage in Homer; could the wise men of antiquity have believed in the fables of the heathen mythology? Cowper's neglect of politics; his hostility to the tax on candles 173

To the Rev. William Unwin, July 12, 1784. Remarks on a line in Vincent Bourne's Latin poems; drawing of Mr. Unwin's house; Hume's "Essay on Suicide" 174

To the same, July 13, 1784. Latin Dictionary; animadversions on the tax on candles; musical ass 174

To the Rev. John Newton, July 14, 1784. Commemoration of Handel 175

Mr. Newton's sermon on that subject 175

To the Rev. John Newton, July 19, 1784. The world compared with Bedlam 176

To the same, July 28, 1784. On Mr. Newton's intended visit to the Rev. Mr. Gilpin at Lymington; his literary adversaries 176

To the Rev. William Unwin, Aug. 14, 1784. Reflections on travelling; Cowper's visits to Weston; difference of character in the inhabitants of the South Sea islands; cork supplements; franks 177

Original mode of franking, and reason for the adoption of the present method 178

To the Rev. John Newton, August 16, 1784. Pleasures of Olney; ascent of a balloon; excellence of the Friendly islanders in dancing 178

To the Rev. William Unwin, Sept. 11, 1784. Cowper's progress in his new volume of poems; opinions of a visitor on his first volume 178

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Sept. 11, 1784. Character of Dr. Cotton 179

To the Rev. John Newton, Sept. 18, 1784. Alteration of franks; Cowper's green-house; his enjoyment of natural sounds 179

To the Rev. William Unwin, Oct. 2, 1784. Punctuation of poetry; visit to Mr. Throckmorton 180

To the Rev. John Newton, Oct. 9, 1784. Cowper maintains not only that his thoughts are unconnected, but that frequently he does not think at all; remarks on the character and death of Captain Cook 181

To the Rev. William Unwin, Oct. 10, 1784. With the manuscript of the new volume of his Poems, and remarks on them 182

To the same, Oct. 20, 1784. Instructions respecting a publisher, and corrections in his Poems 182

To the Rev. John Newton, Oct. 22, 1784. Remarks on Knox's Essays 183

To the same. Oct. 30, 1784. Heroism of the Sandwich islanders; Cowper informs Mr Newton of his intention to publish a new volume 184

To the Rev. William Unwin, Nov. 1, 1784. Cowper's reasons for not earlier acquainting Mr. Newton with his intention of publishing again; he resolves to include "John Gilpin" 184

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Nov. 1784. On the death of Mr. Hill's mother; Cowper's recollections of his own mother; departure of Lady Austen; his new volume of Poems 185

To the Rev. John Newton, Nov. 27, 1784. Sketch of the contents and purpose of his new volume 185

To the Rev. William Unwin, Olney, 1784. On the transmission of his Poems; effect of medicines on the composition of poetry 185

To the Rev. William Unwin, Nov. 29, 1784. Substance of his last letter to Mr. Newton 186

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Dec. 4, 1784. Aërial voyages 188

To the Rev. John Newton, Dec. 13, 1784. On the versification and titles of his new Poems; propriety of using the word worm for serpent 188

Passages in Milton and Shakespeare in which worm is so used 189

To the Rev. William Unwin, Dec. 18, 1784. Balloon travellers; inscription to his new poem; reasons for complimenting Bishop Bagot 189

To the Rev, John Newton, Christmas-eve, 1784. Cowper declines giving a new title to his new volume of Poems; remarks on a person lately deceased 190

General remarks on the particulars of Cowper's personal history 190

Remarks on the completion of the second volume of Cowper's Poems 190

Gibbon's record of his feelings on the conclusion of his History 191

Moral drawn from the evanescence of life 191

To the Rev. John Newton, Jan. 5, 1785. On the renouncement of the Christian character; epitaph on Dr. Johnson 191

To the Rev. William Unwin, Jan. 15, 1785. On delay in letter-writing; sentiments of Rev. Mr. Newton; Cowper's contributions to the Gentleman's Magazine; Lunardi's narrative 192

Explanations respecting Cowper's poem, entitled "The Poplar Field" 192

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Jan. 22, 1785. Breaking up of the Frost; anticipations of proceedings in Parliament 193

To the Rev. William Unwin, Feb. 7, 1785. Progress of Cowper's second volume of Poems; his pieces in the Gentleman's Magazine; sentiments of a neighbouring nobleman and gentleman respecting Cowper 193

To the Rev. John Newton, Feb. 19, 1785. An ingenious bookbinder; poverty at Olney; severity of the late winter 194

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Feb. 27, 1785. Inquiry concerning his health, and account of his own 195

To the Rev. John Newton, March 19, 1785. Uses and description of an old card table; want of exercise during the winter; petition against concessions to Ireland 195

To the Rev. William Unwin, March 20, 1785. Remarks on a Nobleman's eye; progress of his new volume; political reflections; celebrity of "John Gilpin" 196

To the Rev. John Newton, April 9, 1785. On the prediction of a destructive earthquake, by a German ecclesiastic 197

To the Rev. John Newton, April 22, 1785. On the popularity of "John Gilpin" 197

To the Rev. William Unwin, April 30, 1785. On the celebrity of "John Gilpin;" progress of Cowper's new volume; Mr. Newton's sentiments in regard to him; mention of some old acquaintances; discovery of a bird's nest in a gate-post 198

To the Rev. John Newton, May, 1785. Sudden death of Mr. Ashburner; remarks on the state of Cowper's mind; reference to his first acquaintance with Newton 199

To the Rev. John Newton, June 4, 1785. Character of the Rev. Mr. Greatheed; completion of Cowper's new volume; Bacon's monument to Lord Chatham 200

To Joseph Hill, Esq., June 25, 1785. Cowper's summer-house; dilatoriness of his bookseller 200

To the Rev. John Newton, June 25, 1785. Allusion to the mental depression under which Cowper laboured; Nathan's last moments; complaint of Johnson's delay; effects of drought; tax on gloves 201

To the Rev. John Newton, July 9, 1785. Mention of letters in praise of his Poems; conduct of the Lord Chancellor and G. Colman; reference to the commemoration of Handel; cutting down of the spinney 202

To the Rev. William Unwin, July 27, 1785. Violent thunder-storm; courage of a dog; on the love of Christ 203

To the Rev. John Newton, Aug. 6, 1785. Feelings on the subject of authorship; reasons for introducing John Gilpin in his new volume 204

To the Rev. John Newton, Aug. 17, 1785. Reasons for not writing to Mr. Bacon; Dr. Johnson's Diary; illness of Mr. Perry 205

Character of Dr. Johnson's Diary 206

Extracts from it 207

Arguments for the necessity of conversion 207

Johnson's neglect of the Sabbath 207

Testimony of Sir William Jones respecting the Holy Scriptures 208

To the Rev. William Unwin, Aug. 27, 1785. Thanks for presents; his second volume of Poems; remarks on Dr. Johnson's Journal; claims of _who_ and _that_ 208

To the Rev. John Newton, Sept. 24, 1785. Recollections of Southampton; recovery of Mr. Perry; proposed Sunday School 209

Origin of Sunday Schools 210

Their utility 210

Sentiments of the late Rev. Andrew Fuller on the Bible Society and on Sunday Schools 210

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Oct. 11, 1785. Cowper excuses himself for not visiting Wargrave; on his printed epistle to Mr. Hill 210

Renewal of Cowper's intimacy with his cousin, Lady Hesketh 211

To Lady Hesketh, Oct. 12, 1785. Recollections revived by her letter; account of his own situation; allusion to his uncle's health; necessity of mental employment for himself 211

To the Rev. John Newton, Oct. 16, 1785. On the death of Miss Cunningham; expected removal of the Rev. Mr. Scott from Olney; Mr. Jones, steward of Lord Peterborough, burned in effigy 212

To the Rev. William Unwin, Oct. 22, 1785. Progress of his translation of Homer; course of reading recommended for Mr. Unwin's son 213

To the Rev. John Newton, Nov. 5, 1785. On his tardiness in writing; remarks on Mr. N.'s narrative of his life; strictures on Mr. Heron's critical opinions of Virgil and the Bible; lines addressed by Cowper to Heron 214

Remarks on Heron's "Letters on Literature" 215

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Nov. 7, 1785. On the interruptions experienced by men of business from the idle 215

To Lady Hesketh, Nov. 9, 1785. Reference to his poems; he signifies his acceptance of her offer of pecuniary aid; his translation of Homer; description of his person 215

To the same, without date. His feelings towards her allusion to his translation of Homer 217

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Nov. 9, 1785. On Bishop Bagot's Charge 217

To the Rev. John Newton, Dec. 3, 1785. Causes which led him to undertake the translation of Homer; visit from Mr. Bagot; renewal of his correspondence with Lady Hesketh; complains of indigestion 217

To the same, Dec. 10, 1785. On the favourable reports of his last volume of poems; censure of Pope's Homer 218

To the Rev. William Unwin, Dec. 24, 1785. On his translation of Homer 219

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Dec. 24, 1785. On his translation of Homer 219

To the Rev. William Unwin, Dec. 31, 1785. On his negotiation with Johnson respecting the Translation of Homer; want of bedding among the poor of Olney 220

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 10, 1786. His consciousness of defects in his poems; on his Translation of Homer 221

To the Rev. William Unwin, Jan. 14, 1786. On Mr. Unwin's introduction to Lady Hesketh; specimen of Cowper's translation of Homer, sent to General Cowper; James's powder; what is a friend good for? unreasonable censures 221

To the Rev. John Newton, Jan. 14, 1786. On his translation of Homer 222

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Jan. 15, 1786. Explanation of the delay in the publication of his proposals; allusion to Bishop Bagot 222

To the same, Jan. 23, 1786. Dr. Maty's intended review of "The Task;" Dr. Cyril Jackson's opinion of Pope's Homer 223

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 31, 1786. Acknowledgment of presents from Anonymous; state of his health; progress of his translation of Homer; correspondence with General Cowper 223

To the same, Feb. 9, 1786. Anticipations of a visit from her; description of the vestibule of his residence 224

To the same, Feb. 11, 1786. He announces that he has sent off to her a portion of his translation of Homer; effect of criticisms on his health; promise of Thurlow to Cowper 225

To the Rev. John Newton, Feb. 18, 1786. On their correspondence; his translation of Homer; proposed mottoes 226

To Lady Hesketh, Feb. 19, 1786. Preparations for her expected visit; character of Homer; criticism on Cowper's specimen 226

To the Walter Bagot, Feb. 27, 1786. Condolence on the death of his wife 227

To Lady Hesketh, March 6, 1786. On elisions in his Homer; progress of the work 227

To the Rev. W. Unwin, March 13, 1786. Character of the critic to whom he had submitted his Homer 229

To the Rev. John Newton, April 1, 1786. Expected visitors 229

To Joseph Hill, Esq., April 5, 1786. Reasons for declining to make any apology for his translation of Homer 229

Motives which induced Cowper to undertake a new version 230

To Lady Hesketh, April 17, 1786. Description of the vicarage at Olney, where lodgings had been taken for her; Mrs. Unwin's sentiments towards her; letter from Anonymous; his early acquaintance with Lord Thurlow 230

To Lady Hesketh, April 24, 1786. On her letters; anticipations of her coming; General Cowper 231

To the same, May 8, 1786. On Dr. Maty's censure of Cowper's translation of Homer; Colman's opinion of it; Cowper's stanzas on Lord Thurlow; invitation to Olney; specimen of Maty's animadversions; recommendation of a house at Weston; blunder of Mr. Throckmorton's bailiff; recovery of General Cowper 232

To the same, May 15, 1786. Anticipations of her arrival at Olney; proposed arrangements for the occasion; presumed motive of Maty's censures; confession of ambition 233

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, May 20, 1786. His translation of Homer; reasons for not adopting Horace's maxim about publishing, to the letter 235

Secret sorrows of Cowper 235

To the Rev. John Newton, May 20, 1786. Cowper's unhappy state of mind; his connexions 236

Remarks on Cowper's depression of spirit 237

Delusion of supposing himself excluded from the mercy of God 237

Religious consolation recommended in cases of disordered intellect 237

To Lady Hesketh, May 25, 1786. Delay of her coming; visit to a house at Weston; the Throckmortons; anecdote of a quotation from "The Task;" nervous affections 238

To the same, May 29, 1786. Delay of her coming; preparations for it; allusion to his fits of dejection 239

To the same, June 4 and 5, 1786. Cowper rallies her on her fears of their expected meeting; dinner at Mr. Throckmorton's 240

To Joseph Hill, Esq., June 9, 1786. Relapse of the Lord Chancellor; renewal of correspondence with Colman; the Nonsense Club; expectation of Lady Hesketh's arrival 241

Arrival of Lady Hesketh at Olney 241

Influence of that event on Cowper 241

Extract from a letter from him to Mr. Bull 241

Description of a thunder-storm, from a letter to the same 242

Cowper's House at Olney 242

His intimacy with Mr. Newton 242

His pious and benevolent habits 242

He removes from Olney to the Lodge at Weston 242

His acquaintance with Samuel Rose, Esq. and the late Rev. Dr. Johnson 242

To Joseph Hill, Esq., June 19, 1786. His intended removal from Olney 242

To the Rev. John Newton, June 22, 1786. His employments; interruption given to them by Lady Hesketh's arrival; Newton's Sermons 243

To the Rev. Wm. Unwin, July 3, 1786. Lady Hesketh's arrival and character; state of his old abode and description of the new one at Weston; books recommended for Mr. Unwin's son 243

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, July 4, 1786. Particulars relative to the translation of Homer 244

To the Rev. John Newton, Aug. 5, 1786. His intended removal from Olney; its unhealthy situation; his unhappy state of mind; comfort of Lady Hesketh's presence 245

Cowper's spirits not affected apparently by his mental malady 246

To the Rev. William Unwin, Aug. 24, 1786. Progress of his Translation; the Throckmortons 246

To the same, (without date.) His lyric productions; recollections of boyhood 246

Extract of a letter to the Rev. Mr. Unwin 247

Lines addressed to a young lady on her birth-day 247

Proposed plan of Mr. Unwin for checking sabbath-breaking and drunkenness 247

To the Rev. Wm. Unwin, (no date.) Cowper's opinion of the inutility of Mr. Unwin's efforts 247

Exhortation to perseverance in a good cause 248

Hopes of present improvement 248

To the Rev. William Unwin, (no date.) State of the national affairs 248

To the Rev. William Unwin, (no date.) Character of Churchill's poetry 249

To the same, (no date.) Cowper's discovery in the Register of poems long composed and forgotten by him 250

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Aug. 31, 1786. Defence of elisions; intended removal to Weston 250

To the Rev. John Newton, Sept. 30, 1786. Defence of his and Mrs. Unwin's conduct 251

Explanatory remarks on the preceding letter 251

Amiable spirit and temper of Newton 251

To Joseph Hill, Esq. Oct. 6, 1786. Loss of the MS. of part of his translation 251

Cowper's removal to Weston 251

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Nov. 17, 1786. On his removal from Olney; invitation to Weston 253

To the Rev. John Newton, Nov. 17, 1786. Excuse for delay in writing; his new residence; affection for his old abode 253

To Lady Hesketh, Nov. 26, 1786. Comforts of his new residence; the cliffs; his rambles 254

Unexpected death of the Rev. Mr. Unwin 254

To Lady Hesketh, Dec. 4, 1786. On the death of Mr. Unwin 255

To the same, Dec. 9, 1786. On a singular circumstance relating to an intended pupil of Mr. Unwin's 255

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Dec. 9, 1786. Death of Mr. Unwin; Cowper's new situation at Weston 256

To the Rev. John Newton, Dec. 16, 1786. Death of Mr. Unwin; forlorn state of his old dwelling 256

To Lady Hesketh, Dec. 21, 1786. Cowper's opinion of praise; Mr. Throckmorton's chaplain 257

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Jan. 3, 1787. Reason why a translator of Homer should not be calm; praises of his works; death of Mr. Unwin 257

Cowper has a severe attack of nervous fever 258

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 8, 1787. State of his health; proposal of General Cowper respecting his Homer; letter from Mr. Smith, M.P. for Nottingham; Cowper's song of "The Rose" reclaimed by him 258

To the Rev. John Newton, Jan. 13, 1787. Inscription for Mr. Unwin's tomb; government of Providence in his poetical labours 258

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 18, 1787. Suspension of his translation by fever; his sentiments respecting dreams; visit of Mr. Rose 259

To Samuel Rose, Esq., July 24, 1787. On Burns' poems 260

Remarks on Burns and his poetry 260

Passages from his poems 261

To Samuel Rose, Esq., Aug. 27, 1787. Invitation to Weston; state of Cowper's health; remarks on Barclay's "Argenis," and on Burns 261

To Lady Hesketh, August 30, 1787. Improvement in his health; kindness of the Throckmortons 262

To the same, Sept. 4, 1787. Delay of her coming; Mrs. Throckmorton's uncle; books read by Cowper 262

To the same, Sept. 15, 1787. His meeting with her friend, Miss J----; new gravel-walk 263

To the same, Sept. 29, 1787. Remarks on the relative situation of Russia and Turkey 263

To the Rev. John Newton, Oct. 2, 1787. Cowper confesses that for thirteen years he doubted Mr. N.'s identity; acknowledgments for the kind offers of the Newtons; preparations for Lady Hesketh's coming 263

To Samuel Rose, Esq., Oct. 19, 1787. State of his health; strength of local attachments 264

To the Rev. John Newton, Oct. 20, 1787. His miserable state during his recent indisposition; petition to Lord Dartmouth in behalf of the Rev. Mr. Postlethwaite 264

To Lady Hesketh, Nov. 10, 1787. On the delay of her coming; Cowper's kitten; changes of weather foretold by a leech 265

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Nov. 16, 1787. On his own present occupation 266

To Lady Hesketh, Nov. 27, 1787. Walks and scenes about Weston; application from a parish clerk for a copy of verses; papers in "The Lounger;" anecdote of a beggar and vermicelli soup 266

To Lady Hesketh, Dec. 4, 1787. Character of the Throckmortons 267

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Dec. 6, 1787. Visit to Mr. B.'s sister at Chichely; Bishop Bagot; a case of ridiculous distress 267

To Lady Hesketh, Dec. 10, 1787. Progress of his Homer; changes in life 268

To Samuel Rose, Esq., Dec. 13, 1787. Requisites in a translator of Homer 268

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 1, 1788. Extraordinary coincidence between a piece of his own and one of Mr. Merry's; "The Poet's New Year's Gift;" compulsory inoculation for small-pox 269

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Jan. 5, 1788. Translation of the commencing lines of the Iliad, by Lord Bagot; revisal of Cowper's translation; the clerk's verses 270

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 19, 1788. His engagement with Homer prevents the production of occasional poems; remarks on a new print of Bunbury's 270

To the Rev. John Newton, Jan. 21, 1788. Reasons for not writing to him; expected arrival of the Rev. Mr. Bean; changes of neighbouring ministers; narrow escape of Mrs. Unwin from being burned 271

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 30, 1788. His anxiety on account of her silence 272

To the same, Feb. 1, 1788. Excuse for his melancholy; his Homer; visit from Mr. Greatheed 272

Causes of Cowper's correspondence with Mrs. King 273

To Mrs. King, Feb. 12, 1788. Reference to his deceased brother; he ascribes the effect produced by his poems to God 273

To Samuel Rose, Esq., Feb. 14, 1788. A sense of the value of time the best security for its improvement; Mr. C----; brevity of human life illustrated by Homer 273

Commencement of the efforts for the abolition of the slave trade 274

To Lady Hesketh, Feb. 16, 1788. On negro slavery; Hannah More's poem on the Slave Trade; extract from it; advocates of the abolition of slavery; trial of Warren Hastings 274

To Lady Hesketh, Feb. 22, 1788. Remarks on Burke's speech impeaching Warren Hastings, and on the duty of public accusers 276

To the Rev. John Newton, March 1, 1788. Excuse for a lapse of memory in regard to a letter of Mr. Bean's 276

To the same, March 3, 1788. Arrival of Mr. Bean at Olney; Cowper's correspondence with Mrs. King 276

To Mrs. King, March 3, 1788. Brief history of his own life 277

To Lady Hesketh, March 3, 1788. Catastrophe of a fox-chace; Cowper in at the death 278

To the same, March 12, 1788. Remarks on Hannah More's works, and on Wilberforce's book; the Throckmortons 278

Cowper is solicited to write in behalf of the negroes 279

To General Cowper. 1788. Songs written by him on the condition of negro slaves 279

"The Morning Dream," a ballad 279

Efforts for the abolition of the Slave Trade 280

Wilberforce, the Liberator of Africa 280

Cowper's ballads on Negro slavery 280

The Negro's Complaint 280

The question why Great Britain should be the first to sacrifice interest to humanity answered by Cowper 280

Lines from Goldsmith's "Traveller," on the English character 281

Exposition of the cruelty and injustice of the slave trade, by Granville Sharp 281

Proof of the slow progress of truth 281

Extracts from Cowper's poems on Negro slavery 282

Case of Somerset, a slave, and Lord Mansfield's judgment 282

Final abolition of slavery by Great Britain, and efforts making for the religious instruction of the Negroes 282

Probability that Africa may be enlightened by their means 283

Cowper's lines on the blessings of spiritual liberty 283

Letter to Mrs. Hill, March 17, 1788. Thanks for a present of a turkey and ham; Mr. Hill's indisposition; inquiry concerning Cowper's library 284

To the Rev. John Newton, March 17, 1788. With a Song, written at Mr. N.'s request, for Lady Balgonie 284

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, March 19, 1788. Coldness of the spring; remarks on "The Manners of the Great;" progress of his Homer 284

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; allusion to his own ballads on Negro slavery 285

To Lady Hesketh, March 31, 1788. He makes mention of his song, "The Morning Dream;" allusion to Hannah More on the "Manners of Great" 286

Character of and extracts from Mrs. More's work 286

To Mrs. King, April 11, 1788. Allusion to his melancholy, and necessity for constant employment; improbability of their meeting 286

To the Rev. John Newton, April 19, 1788. Remarks on the conduct of government in regard to the Slavery Abolition question 287

To Lady Hesketh, May 6, 1788. Smollett's Don Quixote; 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 inkle weavers" 288

To Joseph Hill, Esq., May 8, 1788. Lament for the loss of his library; progress of his Homer 288

To Lady Hesketh, May 12, 1788. Mrs. Montagu and the Blue-Stocking Club; his late feats in walking 288

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 bust of Paris 289

To the Rev. William Bull, May 25, 1788. He declines the composition of hymns, which Mr. B. had urged him to undertake 290

To Lady Hesketh, May 27, 1788. His lines on Mr. Henry Cowper; remarks on Mrs. Montagu's Essay on the Genius of Shakespeare; antique head of Paris; remarks on the two prints sent him by Mr. Hill 290

To the same, June 3, 1788. Sudden change of the weather; remarks on the advertisement of a dancing-master of Newport-Pagnell 291

To the Rev. John Newton, June 5, 1788. His writing engagements; effect of the sudden change of the weather on his health; character of Mr. Bean; visit from the Powleys; he declines writing further on the slave-trade; invitation to Weston; verses on Mrs. Montagu 291

To Joseph Hill, Esq., June 8, 1788. On the death of his uncle, Ashley Cowper 292

To Lady Hesketh, June 10, 1788. On the death of her father, Ashley Cowper 292

To the same, June 15, 1788. Recollections of her father 293

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, June 17, 1788. Coldness of the season; reasons for declining to write on slavery; contrast between the awful scenes of nature and the horrors produced by human passions 293

To Mrs. King, June 19, 1788. He excuses his silence on account of inflammation of the eyes; sudden change of weather; reasons why we are not so hardy as our forefathers; his opinion of Thomson, the poet 294

To Samuel Rose, Esq., June 23, 1788. Apology for an unanswered letter; providence of God in regard to the weather; visitors at Weston; brevity of human life 294

To the Rev. John Newton, June 24, 1788. Difficulties experienced by Mr. Bean in enforcing a stricter observance of the Sabbath at Olney; remarks on the slave trade 295

To Lady Hesketh, June 27, 1788. Anticipations of her next visit; allusion to Lord Thurlow's promise to provide for him; anecdote of his dog Beau; remarks on his ballads on slavery 296

The Dog and the Water Lily 297

To Joseph Hill, Esq, July 6, 1788. He gives Mr. H. notice that he has drawn on him; allusion to an engagement of Mr. H.'s 297

To Lady Hesketh, July 28, 1788. Her talent at description; the lime-walk at Weston; remarks on the "Account of Five Hundred Living Authors" 297

To the same, August 9, 1788. Visitors at Weston; motto composed by Cowper for the king's clock 298

To Samuel Rose, Esq., August 18, 1788. Circumstances of their parting; he recommends Mr. R. to take due care of himself in his pedestrian journeys; strictures on Lavater's Aphorisms 298

Remarks on physiognomy, and on the merits of Lavater as the founder of the Orphan House at Zurich. _Note_ 299

To Mrs. King, August 28, 1788. He playfully guesses at Mrs. King's figure and features 299

To the Rev. John Newton, Sept. 2, 1788. Reference to Mr. N.'s late visit; his own melancholy state of mind; Mr. Bean's exertions for suppressing public houses 300

To Samuel Rose, Esq., Sept. 11, 1788. Remarkable oak; lines suggested by it; exhortation against bashfulness 300

To Mrs. King, Sept. 25, 1788. Thanks for presents; invitation to Weston 301

To Samuel Rose, Esq., Sept. 25, 1788. A riddle; superior talents no security for propriety of conduct; progress of Homer; Mrs. Throckmorton's bullfinch 302

To Mrs. King, Oct. 11, 1788. Account of his occupations at different periods of his life 302

To the Rev. John Newton, Nov. 29, 1788. Declining state of Jenny Raban; Mr. Greatheed 303

To Samuel Rose, Esq., Nov. 30, 1788. Vincent Bourne; invitation to Weston 303

To Mrs. King, Dec. 6, 1788. Excuse for not being punctual in writing; succession of generations; Cumberland's "Observer" 304

To the Rev. John Newton, Dec. 9, 1788. Mr. Van Lier's Latin MS.; Lady Hesketh and the Throckmortons; popularity of Mr. C. as a preacher 304

To Samuel Rose, Esq., Jan. 19, 1789. Local helps to memory; Sir John Hawkins'