those who, possessed of poetical powers themselves, were capable of more intimately appreciating those of a real poet. Even his faults were not, perhaps, without effect; the somewhat tasteless manner in which he occasionally introduces theological discussion, might gratify a few worthy religionists, who, pleased to see the truths which they perhaps justly hold dear, occupying an honourable place in a collection of fashionable poetry, overlooked the unseasonableness of their introduction: his partial asperity, and coarseness of satire, possessed a recommendation for some minds, which the writer never intended; and the slight human tinge of party-politics, which mingled itself with his noble common-places of patriotism, and his sketches of existing manners, was exactly accommodated to the prevailing opinions of the day. His more obvious and his more recondite merits, conspired alike to make him popular; and thus recommended, it is not wonderful that his writings became the text-book of the patriot, as well as the Christian, and the precursors of a new æra of poetry. It was natural that success like his should attract imitators; and there was something in the freshness and apparent ease of his manner, which tempted imitation. Among the most successful of his followers, is to be enumerated the subject of the present article; a poet resembling him partially in genius, and more in disposition; and who, though not a mere imitator of his illustrious friend (no man of genius was ever a mere imitator), had yet imbibed so much of his manner and spirit, as to entitle him, without much inaccuracy, to the title of a disciple of Cowper. The poem by which he is best known, and which is among the most characteristic of his talents and his manner, his beauties and defects, is The Village Curate. This piece embraces a description of the pursuits and amusements of the retired pastor throughout the year. It is in fact a portrait of his own life, in his happy seclusion as a curate, surrounded by the beauties of nature, and blessed in the society of an amiable family of sisters. The matter is composed of lively description, and animated sentiment; the style, with much wilful and fore-purposed prose, contains a sufficiency of vigour, and a frequent curiosa felicitas," which has a pleasing effect. His resemblances to Cowper are more visible here than in some of his other works. Far inferior to his master in genius, he yet has some of his power, and much of his accuracy of painting, together with a playfulness resembling his, and an elevation, and a kindliness of sentiment, which reminds us irresistibly of The Task. The constitutional melancholy, which, though it seldom or never taints Cowper's feelings, as expressed in his poetry, frequently shews itself through them, finds no place in Hurdis; there is a gentle and cheerful, as well as a courteous spirit, diffused through his poem, which is unfailingly agreeable. On the other hand, his religion is less defined, and his piety (if we may say so without unkindness toward so benevolent a spirit) apparently less Christian; and we can fancy that we see a certain want of seriousness and grandeur in his sentiments, when compared to those of the remarkable writer with whom we have associated him. Of The Village Curate, as it is better known than any of his other productions, we will only give one or two specimens. The following is the exordium of the second part. "Ye gentle Pow'rs, (if any such there be, A cordial pour which all its bitter drowns, Which flows for aye at the right hand of him, In this my early song be seen or heard." The subjoined address to the nightingale is from the same section. "Now I steal along the woody lane, To hear thy song so various, gentle bird, In serious sweetness flowing from the heart Of unaffected woman. I could hark Till the round world dissolv'd, to the pure strain Love teaches, gentle modesty inspires." Our last extract immediately follows a description of the employments of the "garden-loving maid," intended for his favourite sister Catharine. "In such a silent, cool, and wholesome hour, And gives it odour; touches the sweet rose, The second poem in the same volume is of a narrative description, and entitled Adriano, or the first of June. It is perhaps (not even excepting his tragedy, which will be noticed afterwards), the most eccentric of all his poems. The peculiarity alluded to consists in the fearless admixture of prose ideas, circumstances, and expressions, with poetical ones. The fault (so far as it is a fault) is, not that his images and descriptions are familiar, but that they are too familiar for poetry. Still it is a truly pleasing composition-we ourselves, at least, have not spent many half hours more agreeably than that which we past in its perusal. The story need not be detailed-suffice to say, that the prominent events are a birth-day, a wreck, two rescues, the annunciation of a legacy, and a couple of weddings, (with the anticipation of a third,) all occurring within the space of one day, and for the most part delightfully told in the semi colloquial manner of the writer, with the occasional interposition of long moral discussions in the form of dialogue. We give one specimen, descriptive of the feelings of the dramatis personæ on a supposed domestic calamity. "O grief, thou blessing and thou curse, how fair, To touch the canvas with a tender hand, To waken cheerfulness, and frequent eye "Be comforted," he said, and in the sound A transient gleam of peace one moment shone, His tragedy of Sir Thomas More is written, for the most part, in the same style as the poems just mentioned. Though it does not, as may be easily supposed, rank with our higher dramas, yet it contains much of tenderness and beauty, and many graceful passages; and the admirable character of Sir Thomas More, Journeying on life's common way is obviously delineated con amore. The poem which opens the third volume, entitled, Tears of Affection, was written on the death of his favourite sister. It is full of innocent tenderness-yet we cannot help observing, though unwillingly, that it displays an unmanly despondency, an extravagance of grief, to which the author's principles ought surely to have applied a corrective. the same fault as Young, whose continued and somewhat unworthy complaints injure the effect of his animated morality He has fallen into and religious aspirations. We quote the following as a specimen of the author's imitations of Cowper. "Therefore shall you, Ye gentle doves, familiar to the hand, Whom goodness long experienc'd has made tame.. Or seize the grumbling hornet, or pert wasp, At danger brav'd by vent'rous ignorance, And anger ill-escap'd." : The inscription written by the author for his sister's monument, is quoted from the biographical sketch prefixed to the volumes. "Farewell, sweet maid! whom, as bleak Winter sears |