C II A R A C T E R S. 



331 



Home Particulars of the Life of the 

 late William Cowper, Esq. * ^?<- 

 thorof" The Tusk," Syc. Extract- 

 ed from a Sermon preached at 01- 

 neij, Bucks, May 18, 1800, on 

 Occasion qfhisDeaih, by the Rev. 

 Samuel Greatheed. t 



THE entrance of our late friend 

 upon the transient scenes of 

 this life, apparently led to a kind 

 of eminence very different from that 

 to which he attained. Born of ami- 

 able and respectable parents, of no- 

 ble aflBnity, and connected with 

 persons of great worldly influence, his 

 advancement in temporal affluence 

 and honour seemed to demand no 

 extraordinary mental endowments. 

 His opening genius discovered, 

 however, a capacity for elegant 

 literature; and he enjoyed the best 

 advantages for improvement in so 

 pleasing a pursuit. With uncom- 

 mon abilities, he possessed a most 

 amiable temper; and he became not 

 only the darling of his relations, 

 but beloved and admired by his asso- 

 ciates in education; some of whom. 



with inferior prospects, have since 

 risen to distinguished reputation, 

 and even to the highest professional 

 rank. But the towering hopes that 

 were naturally built on so flattering 

 a ground, were undermined at an 

 early period. From childhood, 

 during which our late friend lost a 

 much-loved parent, his spirits were 

 always very tender, and often great- 

 ly dejected. His natural diffidence 

 and depression of mind were in- 

 creased to a most distressing degree 

 by the turbulence of his elder com- 

 rades at the most celebrated public 

 school in the kingdom. And when, ■ 

 at mature age, he was appointed to 

 a lucrative and honourable station 

 in the law, he shrunk with the 

 greatest terror, from the appearance 

 which it required him to make be- 

 fore the upper house of parliament. 

 Several affecting circumstances con- 

 curred to increase the agony of his 

 mind, while revolving the conse- 

 quences of relinquishing the post 

 to which he had been nominated ; 

 and he wished for madness, as the 

 onlyapparent meansby which his per- 



• This delightful poet and truly original genius, whose works will engage the at- 

 tention of posterity equally as they have done the present times was born at Berk- 

 harnpstead, in Hertfordshire, in November, 1731, as the diurnal writers inform us. 

 His father, John Cowpe.-, rector of Berkhampstead, and chaplain in ordinary to his 

 majesty, was second son of Spencer Cowper, esq. one of the judges of the common 

 pleas, brother of lord chancellor Cowper. Our author is said to have received his 

 education atWestminster; from whence, we believe, he was transferred to Cambridge, 

 which he left without taking any degree : his plan at that time was to study the law ; 

 lie therefore quitted the university, and entered himself of the Inner-temple. Atthis 

 period of his life he was celebrated for the vivacity and sprightliness of his conver- 

 Eation, and the brilliancy of his wit. He associated with those who were most emi- 

 nent in the literary woi 1(1 ;and though we do not know that he employed the press on 

 any work, he was well known to possess tlie powers of composition, and was not the 

 least distinguished of the group which then dictated the laws of taste. An office of 

 considerable value, which had been secured for a term to his family, it is supposed 

 he \vas intended to fill ; and in the mean time he engaged in the study of the law 

 with some application, but with little success. His temper and disposition were not 

 in unison with the bustle of business ; his health became precarious, and some events 

 alluded to in his poems, but not sufticicntly explained, compelled him to seek that 

 country retirement, the charms of which he has so beautifully descanted on. 



t The many interesting anecdotes in this affecting narrative will, we tixist, more 

 than compensate for the vein of fanaticism which pervades it. 



