Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-07-16


the command thereto was not confined to the Jews
sos in.ended 10 he general and perpetual and tba
it was virtually recognized AS such by our blessed
'sviour. A CORRESPONDENT.
EoR THE PoRTL AND GAZETTE.
COWPEk.
Some observa ations We're lately inserted in the
.'azette on the character and writings of Henry
rke White. they were an elegant and adec
ionate tribute Of deserved praise. 1t was graft
;ying to hnd tavor,te poet receiving mcrited eu
ogium. 1t has suggested a few reflections OH the
,foductoQs VI poet, OF a character in some res
ects, res..lncling Kiske White. Cowper's poetry
sas marked win a peculiar purity and delicacy OF
feeling. His heart VAS refined BY celestial Gre.
ven before reig,oa became the particular subjec,
q, hu thoughts, he was NnsGiariy free from tho..
ces and errvrs to which here is a strong putuis
tendency in all men. Dut from the period, IA.
sh,ch he experienced grand renov at,on of nature
ne exhibited temper Of angelic sweetness ard
benesolence. The tale OF Cowper is as .nelan
chollv ami affecting tnat Of White. 4 he latter
was an early victim to Intense application .hs
.ie OF Cowper was protracted the age oi seventy
years. But be often iaboured under the pressure
of most distressing disorder, hich his exquisite
sensibiiity rendered douby affecting. Both,
could indulge the most delightful ap,icpa;srs ~
prospect OF death for heaven was thes home.
They sung their saviour's praise on earth, they
will sing il I" in nobier, sweeter stTs,as" above.
Cowper is rarely quoted by English authors of fine
moral feelings, but with such epiihets the in
imitabie Cowper," Christian poet" In the po-
etry of kirks Write, - Fancy soals on the bodest
wing"--his genius was lofty, and there rs often q
wonderful sublimty 10 his conceptions. wemay
adduce single instance
Once more. aud yet once more,
give unto my harp durk woven lay;
heard the waters rosr,
I heard the Good of ages pass away.
O thou, stern spirit, who dost dwell
In thine eternal cell.
Noting, grey chronicler ! the silent years,
saw thee rise, ~ saw the scroll complete,
Thou spakest, aud At thy feet,
The universe gave way.
This, one writer has declared, is sufficient, ifhe
wrote nothing else to give his name immortality.
Cowper has less vigour, but more ease and artless
simplicity than White, his numbers dow without
the least impediment and ne does not to be at
all .Lackled by hs rhyme. He had If possible more
tenderness aud delicate sensisii.tt than Whit,
though his affections for his friends could not be
stronger. he feelings OF Sowper were too ex-
quisile they overwhelmed his reason. He shruuk
rom the difficulties he met with in an employ mepf
his friends procured for him. fhe shock was toe
great for him. Ii diso,dered his mind, and though
he recovered fres, attsek his distressing maa-
dy returned upon him int, rvals and rendered the
remainder of his dsys sprsoaful and afflicted. To
this circumstance perha ps much Of the tenderness
Of Cowper's poetry Is oaiBg. At an advanced
age, during temporary retei from bis affecting
malady be wrote those beautiful l,es addressed tn
Mrs. Unwin -
Mary. want Tyre with other strings"
No Poet could be put into the hands of the
young so safely as Cowper; his simplicity renders
him iuteitivahie his teaderneSs infereStiuz and
affecting; there is nothing 10 corrupt the heart,
and lead the mind astray no false and distorted
views of the world. He excites no expectations OF
unaiioyed happiness nor does ne psiat every thing
10 mslancholiy aud gloosy selors. He was ga-
ded BY the word Of truth. Instead Of leading us to
the alteration Of tho god Of nature. as a distinct
Lord from the God Of the scriptures, he guides us
to HIN who alone has made the heavens and the
earth. His religion, 10 the religion Of the Gospel
He has not perpetual illusions to heathen mythol-
ogy /; he has needed no recourse to absurd fables.
He has shewn that on the simple religion of Chris
tianity, beautiful poetry may be written, without
the use of ridiculous fctions. He has dressed di-
vine truth in the most pleasing and aluring coiors.
lie has displayed it in its own native charms
I" Not harsh and grabbed ~ dull fools suppose"
Cowper is distinguished for purity AZ morals, for
simplicity Of language and manner. for correctness
Of taste, for freedom from ovsrstraincd sentiment
ana for s0undness OF principles; aud with these
qualities true genius for Poetry. How valuable
these qualities are, we can easily perceive by =
survey .: English Poets Of the present day and y
review Of the whole range Of English Poetry. You
win search throughout, almost in vain for the
christian religion, or indeed for any consistent
scheme Of religion. The Poets Of Greece and Rene
wove their religion into their verse, and why
should not christian poets pay the same respect TO
their ova religion But very few English Post@
have done this. but they who have ventured it, have
succeeded remarkably. Milton, Young and Cow
per are certainly among the 6rst Of English Poets,
and their genius, il We may such language, has
taken its 6rs from the altar of our religion.
Hare to devoton's bard devouily Just,
Pay your fond tribute due to Cow per's dust.
England. exulting in his spotiess fame.
Ranks with her dearest sons, his fav'rits name.
His highest honours to the heart belong,
His virtues form'd the magic Of his song.
The pencil Of memory stops not with the repre-
seutation Of ourselves traces also the companions
and friends VI our early days. aud marks the changes
which they have undergone. Ii is dizzy sort OF
recollection TO think over the sf school
fellows and to consider how very few of them the