ADVERTISEMENT. THE present volume concludes an edition of Cowper's Works, which the sanction of his still surviving administratrix, Mrs. BODHAM, and the access which the Editor has obtained to every collection of the Poet's letters, has enabled him to render as complete as it can be made from any known materials. He is obliged to the Rev. Egerton Bagot for permitting him to inspect the letters addressed to his father, Cowper's earliest correspondent, and the only one of his early friends who sought him in his retirement. To Mr. Jekyll he is obliged for access to those addressed to Mr. Hill. Mrs. Charlotte Smith favoured him with the letter to her mother, who in her own generation was not surpassed as a novelist, nor equalled as a poetess. From his old friend Mr. Cottle the two letters to Mr. Churchey, were obtained, the Welch attorney', who sent Cowper his verses to revise, and obligingly asked, Say, shall my little bark attendant sail, Pursue the triumph and partake the gale?” He has also to thank Mr. Meek for entrusting him with Cowper's interleaved and annotated copy of the Paradise Lost, purchased by that gentleman at the sale of Hayley's Library. But the Editor has not yet completed a task which 1 Vol. ii. p. 282. Vol. vi. p. 45. has become to him a labour of love. Lives of Mr. Newton and of Madam Guyon were proposed in the Prospectus of this Edition, when the great accession of unpublished letters could not be foreseen. In some of those contained in the present volume, either now first printed, or in which passages have been restored, circumstances appear that should have been noticed in the poet's life, had his biographer been acquainted with them in time. It is his intention therefore, in two volumes under the title of Cowperiana to supply what has been left undone, to comprise whatever additional information he has collected from papers now in his possession, to include the literary history of Cowper's family, and to complete that of the literary friends with whom he was connected in early, or in declining life. The volumes, though distinct from this complete edition of Cowper's Works, will be printed in the same form, and embellished in the same manner. One mistake however which Hayley has made, and which Mr. Grimshawe has repeated, it is proper to correct in this place. They have stated that Cowper died intestate,—whereas he left a will,—and such a one, that, though its provisions had been nullified by the lapse of time, and the death of the principal legatee, it certainly would not have been withheld, either from, or by his first biographer, had not Lady Hesketh wished as much as possible to withhold every thing relating to his narrow circumstances, or his malady, both which it will be seen are alluded to with much feeling in this affecting document. KESWICK, Aug. 12, 1837. EXTRACTED FROM THE REGISTER OF THE PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY. I W. Cowper, of Olney, in the county of Bucks, do make this my last Will and Testament. I give to Mrs. Mary Unwin the sum of three hundred pounds, or whatever sum shall be standing in my name in the books of the Bank of England at the time of my decease. I give to Mr. Joseph Hill, of Great Queen Street, whatever money of mine he may have in his hands, arising from the bond of my Chambers in the Temple, or may be due for the same at the time of my decease and my desire is, that such money as he may have received on my account in the way of contribution, and not remitted to me, may be returned to those who gave it, with the best acknowledgements I have it in my power to render them for their kindness. I have written this with my own hand, and the contents may sufficiently prove that I am in my senses. MAY 20, 1777. WM. COWPER. EIGHTEENTH AUG. 1800. ON which day appeared personally Theodosia Hill and Frances Hill, both of Reading in the county of Berks, spinsters, and jointly and severally made oath that they knew and were well acquainted with William Cowper, formerly of the Temple, London, afterwards of Olney in the county of Bucks, but late of East Dereham in the county of Norfolk, Esquire, deceased, and having frequently seen him write and subscribe his name, are thereby become well acquainted with his manner and character of hand-writing and subscription; and having now carefully viewed and perused the paper writing hereto annexed, purporting to be and containing the last Will and Testament of the said deceased, beginning thus, "I Wm. Cowper, of Olney in the county of Bucks, do make this my last Will and Testament,” and ending thus, "I have written this with my own b hand, and the contents may sufficiently prove that I am in my senses," and thus subscribed, "Wm. Cowper," they the appearers do verily and in their consciences believe the whole series and contents of the said paper writing, beginning, ending, and subscribing as aforesaid, to be all of the proper hand-writing and subscription of him the said William Cowper, Esquire, deceased. THEO. HILL. FRANCES HILL.-Same day the said Theodosia Hill and Frances Hill were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit, before me, PH. NIND, Commissioner. On the sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord 1800, administration with the will annexed, of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits of William Cowper, formerly of the Temple, London, afterwards of Olney in the county of Bucks, but late of East Dereham in the county of Norfolk, Esquire, deceased, was granted to Dame Harriet Hesketh, widow, the cousin german and one of the next of kin of the said deceased, she having been first sworn by Commissioner duly to administer, no executor or residuary legatee being named in the said will. On the twenty-sixth day of November, 1807, administration with the will annexed, of the goods, chattels, and credits of William Cowper, formerly of the Temple, London, afterwards of Olney in the county of Bucks, but late of East Dereham in the county of Norfolk, Esquire, a bachelor, deceased, left unadministered by Dame Harriet Hesketh, widow, deceased, whilst living the cousin german and one of the next of kin of the said deceased, was granted to Anne Bodham, widow, the cousin german also and one other of the next of kin of the said deceased, having been first sworn by Commissioner duly to administer, no executor or residuary legatee being named in the said will. CHAS. DYNELEY. JOHN IGGULDEN. W. F. GOSTLING. Deputy Registers. CONTENTS. Page To Joseph Hill, Esq. July 3. Difficulty of keeping house for two people. Civilities from the people at Hunting- To the same. Aug. 14. Disappointed at not seeing him. Aug. 16. Pressed for money -. Increasing embarrassments 13 |