The Works of William Cowper

To the Rev. John Newton, Nov. 5, 1785. On his tar-
diness in writing; remarks on Mr. N.'s narrative of his
life; strictures on Mr. Heron's critical opinions of
Virgil and the Bible; lines addressed by Cowper to
Heron

Remarks on Heron's "Letters on Literature"

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Nov. 7, 1785. On the interruptions

experienced by men of business from the idle

To Lady Hesketh, Nov. 9, 1785. Reference to his poems;

he signifies his acceptance of her offer of pecuniary aid;

his translation of Homer; description of his person 91

To the same, without date. His feelings towards her;
allusion to his translation of Homer

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Nov. 9, 1785. On Bishop

Bagot's Charge

To the Rev. John Newton, Dec. 3, 1785. Causes which

led him to undertake the translation of Homer; visit

from Mr. Bagot; renewal of his correspondence with

Lady Hesketh; complains of indigestion

To the same, Dec. 10, 1785. On the favourable reports

of his last volume of poems; censure of Pope's Homer 101

To the Rev. William Unwin, Dec. 24, 1785. On his

translation of Homer

104

To Joseph Hill, Esq., Dec. 24, 1785. On his translation
of Homer

105

To the Rev. William Unwin, Dec. 31, 1785. On his

negociation with Johnson respecting the Translation

of Homer; want of bedding among the poor of Olney. 106

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 10, 1786. His consciousness of

defects in his poems; on his Translation of Homer 109

To the Rev. William Unwin, Jan. 14, 1786. On Mr.
Unwin's introduction to Lady Hesketh; specimen of
Cowper's translation of Homer, sent to General Cowper;
James's powder; what is a friend good for? unrea-
sonable censures

To the Rev. John Newton, Jan. 14, 1786. On his

Translation of Homer.

112

114

To the Rev Walter Bagot, Jan. 15, 1786. Explanation
of the delay in the publication of his proposals; al-
lusion to Bishop Bagot

To the same, Jan. 23, 1786. Dr. Maty's intended re-

view of "The Task;" Dr. Cyril Jackson's opinion of

Pope's Homer

To Lady Hesketh, Jan. 31, 1786. Acknowledgment of

presents from Anonymous; state of his health; pro-

gress of his translation of Homer; correspondence

with General Cowper

To the same, Feb. 9, 1786. Anticipations of a visit from
her; description of the vestibule of his residence
To the same, Feb. 11, 1786. He announces that he
has sent off to her a portion of his translation of
Homer; effect of criticisms on his health; promise
of Thurlow to Cowper

To the Rev. John Newton, Feb. 18, 1786. On their
correspondence; his translation of Homer; proposed

mottoes

PAGE

Preparations for her
criticism on

To Lady Hesketh, Feb. 19, 1786.

expected visit; character of Homer;

Cowper's specimen .

130

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Feb. 27, 1786.

on the death of his wife

To Lady Hesketh, March 6, 1786. On elisions in his

Homer; progress of the work

To the Rev. W. Unwin, March 13, 1786. Character of
the critic to whom he had submitted his Homer

To the Rev. John Newton, April 1, 1786. Expected

visitors

139

To Joseph Hill, Esq, April 5, 1786. Reasons for declin-

ing to make any apology for his translation of Homer. 141

Motives which induced Cowper to undertake a new version 142

To Lady Hesketh, April 17, 1786. Description of the

Vicarage at Olney, where lodgings had been taken for

her; Mrs. Unwin's sentiments towards her; letter

from Anonymous; his early acquaintance with Lord

To Lady Hesketh, April 24, 1786. On her letters; anti-
cipations of her coming; General Cowper

To the same, May 8, 1786. On Dr. Maty's censure of

Cowper's translation of Homer; Colman's opinion of

it; Cowper's stanzas on Lord Thurlow; invitation to

Olney; specimen of Maty's animadversions; recom-

mendation of a house at Weston; blunder of Mr.

Throckmorton's bailiff; recovery of General Cowper 150

To the same, May 15, 1786. Anticipations of her ar-
rival at Olney; proposed arrangements for the occa-
sion; presumed motive of Maty's censures; confession
of ambition

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, May 20, 1786. His transla-
tion of Homer; reasons for not adopting Horace's
maxim about publishing, to the letter
Secret sorrows of Cowper

To the Rev. John Newton, May 20, 1786. Cowper's
unhappy state of mind; his connexions
Remarks on Cowper's depression of spirit

Delusion of supposing himself excluded from the mercy
of God

Religious consolation recommended in cases of disordered

ib.

To Lady Hesketh, May 25, 1786. Delay of her coming;
visit to a house at Weston; the Throckmortons; anec-
dote of a quotation from "The Task;" nervous affections 171
To the same, May 29, 1786. Delay of her coming;
preparations for it; allusion to his fits of dejection
To the same, June 4 and 5, 1786. Cowper rallies her
on her fears of their expected meeting; dinner at Mr.
Throckmorton's
To Joseph Hill, Esq., June 9, 1786. Relapse of the
Lord Chancellor; renewal of correspondence with
Colman; the Nonsense Club; expectation of Lady Hes-
keth's arrival

Arrival of Lady Hesketh at Olney

Influence of that event on Cowper

Extract from a letter from bim to Mr. Bull

PAGE

Description of a thunder-storm, from a letter to the same 184

He removes from Olney to the Lodge at Weston

His acquaintance with Samuel Rose, Esq. and the late

187

To Joseph Hill, Esq. June 19, 1786. His intended removal

from Olney

188

To the Rev. John Newton, June 22, 1786. His em-
ployments; interruption given to them by Lady Hes-
keth's arrival; Newton's Sermons .
To the Rev. William Unwin, July 3, 1786. Lady Hes-
keth's arrival and character; state of his old abode and
description of the new one at Weston; books recom-
mended for Mr. Unwin's son

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, July 4, 1786. Particulars re-
lative to the translation of Homer
To the Rev. John Newton, Aug. 5, 1786. His intended
removal from Olney; its unhealthy situation; his un-
happy state of mind; comfort of Lady Hesketh's pre-

To the Rev. William Unwin, Aug. 24, 1786. Progress

of his Translation; the Throckmortons

To the same, (without date.) His lyric productions;
recollections of boyhood

Extract of a letter to the Rev. Mr. Unwin

Lines addressed to a young lady on her birth-day
Proposed plan of Mr. Unwin for checking sabbath-
breaking and drunkenness

To the Rev. William Unwin, (no date.) Cowper's
opinion of the inutility of Mr. Unwin's efforts
Exhortation to perseverance in a good cause
Hopes of present improvement

ib.

To the Rev. William Unwin, (no date.) State of the

national affairs

209

PAGE

To the Rev. William Unwin, (no date.) Character of
Churchill's poetry

211

To the same, (no date.) Cowper's discovery in the Re-
gister of poems long composed and forgotten by him 213
To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Aug. 31, 1786. Defence of
elisions; intended removal to Weston

To the Rev. John Newton, Sept. 30, 1786. Defence
of his and Mrs. Unwin's conduct.
Explanatory Remarks on the preceding letter
Amiable spirit and temper of Newton

To Joseph Hill, Esq. Oct. 6, 1786. Loss of the MS. of

To the Rev. Walter Bagot, Nov. 17, 1786.

moval from Olney; invitation to Weston

ib.

To the Rev. John Newton, Nov. 17, 1786. Excuse for
delay in writing; his new residence; affection for his
old abode

To Lady Hesketh, Nov. 26, 1786. Comforts of his new
residence; the cliffs; his rambles
Unexpected death of the Rev. Mr. Unwin

229

To Lady Hesketh, Dec. 4, 1786. On the death of Mr. Unwin 230

To the same, Dec. 9, 1786. On a singular circumstance
relating to an intended pupil of Mr. Unwin's
To Joseph Hill, Esq., Dec. 9, 1786. Death of Mr.
Unwin; Cowper's new situation at Weston
To the Rev. John Newton, Dec. 16, 1786. Death of Mr.
Unwin; forlorn state of his old dwelling

To Lady Hesketh, Dec. 21, 1786. Cowper's opinion of

praise; Mr. Throckmorton's chaplain