AIKIN’S LETTERS TO A YOUNG LADY ON ENGLISH POETRY-« 
»** These observations are meant to be in- 
troductory, not only to the burlesque poem 
before us, but to other pieces, in which the 
female sex is mentioned in a more serious 
manner.” 
Every mother will feel her obligations 
to Dr. Aikin for the care with which he 
has excluded every thing absolutely unfit 
for the eye of her daughters, and the 
skill he has here employed in extracting 
an excellent moral from a piece of a du- 
bious kind, which its celebrity did not 
allow him to omit. Every woman ought 
to express her thanks for the merited 
stigma which he has affixed on the con- 
temptuous insulters of her sex. 
With his observations on the first vo- 
lume of Cowper’s poems, which may 
serve to shew our author’s power feel- 
ingly to appreciate, and accurately to 
discriminate the peculiar beauties and 
characteristic features of a real poet, we 
conclude our extracts and our article. 
«« The great popularity which the name of 
Cowper has obtained is a sufficient testimony 
to the merit of his productions, which were 
so far from appearing with any peculiar ad- 
vantages, that his first publication had nearly 
sunk under the dislike attached to a uarrow 
and gloomy system of religion. ‘I'he lament- 
ed author passed his life in an obscure re- 
treat from the world, doubly darkened by the 
_ shades of a morbid melancholy ; and nothing 
could have forced him upon the public view 
_ but a blaze of genius not to be repressed by 
unfortunate circumstances. His works are 
now become an inseparable part of the mass 
of approved English poetry, and they could 
not fail to engage your notice without any 
care of mine to point them out. I cannot 
hesitate, therefore, to inclnde among the sub- 
jeets of my observations, an author who 
sooner or later must come into your hands, 
‘and has so good a claim to the reputation he 
has acquired. 
© The pieces principally composing the 
firstvolume of Cowper's poeins are arranged 
under the heads of Error, Trath, Expos- 
tulation, Hope, Charity; Conversation, and 
Retirement. ‘These topics are treated in 
a familiar and desultory manner, with a con- 
_ tinual reference to those religious principles 
‘which are commonly terméd methodistical ; 
a vein of severe rebuke runs through 
®: ,which the author himself afterwards 
admitted to be too acrimonious. Yet in the 
yolent heart is perpetually displaying itself, 
4 midst of his doctrinal austerity, a truly bene- 
me joined with a noble spirit of freedom and in- 
ape: ta 2 aed 
we 
653 
dependence. Keen ‘and sagacious reflections 
upon life and manners, and frequent sallies 
of genuine humour, are interspersed, which 
must be rélished by readers who are no friends 
to his system of divinity : yet even the latter 
in many instances stands apart from peculiar 
doctrines, and presents only sentiments of 
pure and exalted piety. 
«« The verse is heroic couplet, generally of 
aloose and'cateless structure, and the diction 
is for the most part simple and prosaic. 
There are, however, strains of poetry wrought 
with care, and glowing with the fervour of 
genius. An air of originality pervades the 
whole; and though well acquainted with 
classical literature, no writer is less of a bor- 
rower. All the pieces under the enumerated 
heads will amply repay the perusal: but you 
will perhaps find most to please you in those 
of Charity, Conversation, and Retirement. 
In the first of these are some admirably ener- 
getic lines against the slave trade, which was 
an object of his rooted abhorrence. The 
* Altar of Liberty’ is a fine fancy-piece; and 
the idea of venerating the Power by what 
may be-ealled the anti-sacrifice of letting fly . 
« A captive bird into the boundless sky,’ is a 
most happy conception. 
«« Conversation’ abounds with excellent 
sense and humour. You will be diverted 
with the picture of the formal visiting party, 
where, 
© The circle formed, we sit in silent state, 
Like figures drawn upon a dial-plate ;’ 
and from which, 
‘ The visit paid, with ecstasy we come, 
As from a seven years’ transportation, home.” 
«< Of the serious parts, you will, doubt- 
less, distinguish the, Disciples at Emmaus, 
as a story told with the grace of true simpli- 
city. ; 
«« The exquisite representations of the Me- 
lancholy Man, in ‘ Retirement,’. were too 
faithful copies of what the writer saw and 
felt in himself: How poetical, and how 
touching, are the following lines ! 
«'Then, neither heathy wilds, nor scenes as 
fair , 
As ever recompensed the peasant’s care, 
Not soft declivities with tufted hills, 
Nor view of waters turning busy mills; 
Parks in which art preceptress nature weds,” 
Nor gardens interspersd with flow’ry beds, 
Nor gales that catch the scent of blooming 
» groves,» 
And waft it'tothe mourners he roves, 
Can call up life into his faded eye, 
That passes all he sees dyilaeedediy 
No wound like those a wounded spirit feels, 
No cure for such, till God who makes them, 
' heals.” : 
airy \ Ti eads - wi Tee 
