232 



couragement of the virtuous and noble ; and metamor- 

 phose nutritious aliment into poison. I think the Muses 

 are degraded when they are made the handmaids of 

 sensuality, and the bawds of a brothel. 



Perhaps it may be the opinion of a young man, but I 

 think, too, the old system of heroic attachment, with all 

 its attendant notions of honour and spotlessness, was, in 

 the end, calculated to promote the interest of the human 

 race ; for though it produced a temporary alienation of 

 mind, perhaps bordering on insanity, yet with the very 

 extravagance and madness of the sentiments there were 

 inwoven certain imperious principles of virtue and 

 generosity, which would probably remain after time had 

 evaporated the heat of passion, and sobered the luxu- 

 riance of a romantic imagination. I think, therefore, a 

 man of song is rendering the community a service when 

 he displays the ardour of manly alFections in a pleasing 

 light ; but certainly we need no incentives to the irregu- 

 lar gratification of our appetites, and I should think it a 

 proper punishment for the poet who holds forth the 

 allurements of illicit pleasures in amiable and seductive 

 colours, should his wife, his sister, or his child, fall a 

 victim to the licentiousness he has been instrumental in 

 diffusing. 



TO MR B. MADDOCK. 



Winteringham, 3d August 1804. 

 Mt dear Ben, 



I am all anxiety to learn the issue of your proposal 

 to your father. Surely it will proceed ; surely a plan 

 laid out with such fair prospects of happiness to you, as 

 well as me, will not be frustrated. Write to me the 

 moment you have any information on the subject. 



I thin Is; we shall be happy together at Cambridge ; and 

 in the ardent pursuit of Christian knowledge, and Chris- 

 tian liilue, we shall be doubly united. We were be- 



