Retrofped? of Domeftic Literature.—Voyages, Travels, Se, 623 
gloommwhich overfpread his life was z- 
mediately »roduced by his diftrefling ex- 
cefs of diffidence, ywhich it was neceffary 
to overcome on occafion of his appoint- 
nent to the office of clerk of the journals in 
the Houfe of Lords. When this place was 
obtained forhim, his perfonal attendance at 
the bar was deemed uaneceflary: in confe- 
quence ofa parliamentary dilpute, however, 
it became requisite, and ‘‘ his terrors on 
this occafion arofe to fuch an altonifhing 
height, that they utterly overwhelmed his 
reafon.’”? But it is moft probable that a 
mind fo exquilitely fenfitive as Cowper’s, 
received from the object of its early un- 
requited attachment that fhock which de- 
ftroyed its manhood, and laid proftrate 
all its ftrength. ‘* Nature (fays Mr. Hay- 
ley) had given him a warm conftitution, 
and had he been profperous-in early love, 
it is. probable that he might have enjoyed 
amore uniformand happy train of health. 
But a difappointment of the heart, arifing 
trom the cruelty of fortune, threw a cloud 
on his juvenile fpirit. Thwarted in love, 
the native fire of his temperament turned 
impetuoufly into the kindred charnel of 
devotion. The fmothered flames of defire 
uniting with the vapours of conftitu- 
tional melancholy, and the fervency 
of religious zeal, produced aitogether 
that isvegularity of corporeal fenlation 
and of mental health, which gave fuch 
extraordinary viciflitudes of {plendor and 
of darknefs to his mortal career, and 
made Cowper at times an idol of the pu- 
re(ft admiration, and at times an object of 
the fincereft pity.” A happy fpecimen of 
the fimplicity and artleffnefs of Mr. Hay- 
ley’s ftyle! Smothered flames uniting 
with vapours, producing by the addition 
of religious fervency, certain irregulari- 
ties of corporeal fenfation and mental 
health !! A chemift would be puzzled,to 
analyze the compound.—Cowper then 
{peaks of his propenfity to rhyme, in one‘ 
of his letters, where he is referring to the 
publication of his firft volume: ‘ My la- 
bours (lays he) are principally the pro- 
duction of the laft winter ; all indeed, ex- 
cept a few of the minor pieces.. When I 
can find no other occupation, I think ; 
and when I think I am very apt to do it 
inrhyme. Hence it comes to pafs that 
the feafon of the year which generally 
pinches off the flowe:s of poetry, uniolds 
mine, fuch as they are, and crowns me with 
a.wioter garland. In this refpeét, there- 
fore, Tand my cotemporary bards are by 
no means upon a par. “They write when 
the delightful influences of fine weather, 
fine profpetts, and a brifk motion of the 
animal f{pirits make poetry almoft the 
language of nature; and I, when icicles 
depend from all the leaves of the, Par- 
naffian laurel, and when a reafonable 
man Would as little expect to fucceed in 
verfe, as to hear a blackbird whiftle. 
This mut be my apology. for whatever 
want of fire and animation you. may ob-. 
ferve in what you will fhortly. have the 
perufal of. As to the public, if they like 
ine not, there is no remedy.” 
We have not forgotten the obligations 
we are under to Mr. Hayley for his noble 
defence of Milton; and although the 
work before us is not precifely {uch as 
we could have wifhed, it would be un- 
grateful not to return him thanks for 
it. Many of the letters of Cowper 
are exceedingly elegant, and prefent 
a delineation to the very life of his cha- 
racter and feelings. . But Mr. Hayley 
has not made his feleétion with fufficient. 
judgment: it appears to us that there are 
many letters which it would have been 
more delicate to have fupprefled. 
VDYAGES, TRAVELS, AND TOURS. 
It is a fa& well known tothe generality 
of our readers, that in the progre{s of the 
late war, when the Turks were preparing 
to oppofe a refiltance to the French ar- 
mies, by which their Egyptian territory 
had been invaded, a plan was formed 
by our minifers, to fend out a detach- 
ment of artillerifts and engineers, to co- 
operate with the army of the Grand Vi- 
zier, and to afford it all the aid which a 
very fuperior {kill in military taftics could 
fupply. Tothis military miffion Dr. WitTt- 
MaN was attached in his profeflional capa- 
city; and to this circumftance the public, 
are indebted for his 
“<< Travels in Turkey, Afia Minor, Sy- 
ria, and acrofs the Defert into Egypt.” 
He had before him {uch a field of ob- 
fervation and fuch opportunities as has 
feldom, if ever, fallen to the lot of any 
Britifh individual. And as he allowed 
nothing to efcape his notice which might 
intereft or inftruét; his travels form a 
rich mifcellany, in which the fubjects are 
conftantly and moft agreeably varied. 
The {cene of his travels is not only fa- 
cred and claflic ground, but it is rendered 
immediately interefting to us by recent 
events. Many of thote events which re- 
fleé&t honour on our country are recorded 
in this work; and the picture which it 
exhibits of the manners, cuitoms, reli- 
gion, laws, and fcience (if fuch it may 
be called) of the Turks, is more ftriking 
than any that has been preiented to us 
4L2 {ince 
