His affecting situation at this period Dissatisfaction of Lord Thurlow with a passage in Cow- To William Hayley, Esq. Dec. 17, 1793. With a new version of the passage above mentioned; criticisms Jan. 5, 1794. New translation of the before-mentioned passage; remarks on translation, To William Hayley, Esq., from the Rev. William Great- heed. April 8, 1794. He acquaints Mr. H. with the Lady Hesketh obtains the advice of Dr. Willis Grant of a pension of 300l. per annum, by his Majesty to Plan for the removal of Cowper and Mrs. Unwin to Cowper's sensations on leaving Weston ib. Journey from Weston to North Tuddenham, in Norfolk Stay at Tuddenham Cowper's malady renders him insensible to her loss 242 Successful effort of Mr. Johnson to engage him to return to the revisal of Homer, which he had discontinued 244 Hayley's testimony to the affectionate offices rendered to Trial of the effect of frequent change of place Visit from Dowager Lady Spencer Attempts of Mr. Johnson to amuse him Letter from Cowper to Lady Hesketh, referring to his melancholy situation He finishes the revisal of his Homer "The Cast-away," his last original production His removal to Dereham His translations of Latin and Greek epigrams, and of some of Gay's Fables into Latin New version of a passage in his Homer, being the last effort of his pen ib. Nervous attacks, and their presumed causes Distinguishing features in his malady His depression did not prevent the free exercise of his mental powers It was not perceptible to others It was not inconsistent with a rich vein of humour ib. His religious views not the occasion of his wretchedness, Sketch of the character, and account of the last illness of PAGE 321 Particulars concerning the person and character of Cowper 365 Cowper's personal character illustrated by extracts from Original poem on the subject, by the late Samuel Whit- Cowper's moderation amidst literary fame Anecdote of Dr. Parr Cowper's sensibility to unjust censure Letter to John Thornton, Esq. on a severe criticism of his ib. ib. • 395 C THE LIFE OF COWPER. Part the Third-Continued. IN detailing the incidents that occur in the life of Cowper, we recorded, in the close of the last volume, a malevolent report highly injurious to his integrity and honour. In order to recall the fact to the memory of the reader, we insert the statement itself, in the words of Cowper: "A report is, and has been some time current, in this and the neighbouring counties, that, though I have given myself the air of declaiming against the slave trade, in 'The Task,' I am in reality a friend to it; and last night I received a letter from Joe Rye, to inform me, that I have been much traduced and calumniated on this account." That the author of "The Task," a poem distinguished by its tone of pure and elevated morality, and breathing a spirit of most uncompromising hostility against the slave trade—that such a man, at that time in the very zenith of his fame, should be VOL. V. B |