This little metrical prayer, which seems to have obtained that angelic assistance which it implored, was probably composed in August 1801; but the writer was actuated by the same desire in the preceding year, for it appears by his Diary, that he wrote his first epitaph on Cowper, in the evening of Sunday, June the 8th, 1800. He was then in London, and the next day he gave a copy of that epitaph to his friend Rose, who was zealous, to the highest degree, in exhorting Hayley to employ himself on a copious Life of their beloved and revered Cowper, promising, at the same time, to exert himself to the utmost in assisting to collect all the necessary materials for such a Life. In July 1800, Hayley received a request to the same purpose from Cowper's amiable relation, the Lady Hesketh, who, in the most animating language of esteem and regard, solicited the most intimate friend and correspondent of the departed poet, to become his biographer. Hayley, with the purest warmth of affection and sincerity, endeavoured to persuade the lady to execute this delicate office herself, confident, as he really was, that no person could be so completely qualified for the task. This her great modesty would not allow her to believe; and her next letter repeated, and enforced, her friendly request. Hayley, in his reply, dated the 5th of August, 1800, thus expressed his genuine feelings on the subject. 66 Believe me, I was very far from meaning to flatter you, "when I suggested to you my sincere opinion, that you might 66 prove the very best biographer that could be assigned to 66 "that wonderful model of genius and virtue, who now requires "the most delicate of kind offices, from the hand of sincerity "and affection. You know, my dear Lady, with what tender " zeal I have formerly endeavoured to promote the interest, and "the health of our inestimable friend; and I will certainly not "shrink from a task, which you deliberately, and repeatedly wish me to assume, in your kind idea, that I may prove a proper guardian of his reputation. I can literally say, 'with the "strictest truth, that his reputation is dearer to me than my own; and, in whatever shape I may write his memoirs, I shall zealously wish not to insert in them a syllable which, I could "imagine, his tender and pure spirit might disapprove. 66 66 66 "I once thought, as you do, my dear Lady, that it must "be impossible for our beloved bard to have a single enemy on "earth; but I have been lately grieved to see some very bitter "effects of a vehement prejudice against him, and severe attacks on passages in our favourite poem, the Task, accusing them of being suggested by the dark spirit of sarcastic fanaticism." Her Ladyship's answer was full of gratitude and kindness. On the 13th of September, Hayley expressed, in a letter to Lady Hesketh, his thoughts and feelings on her timidity concerning the manuscripts of their departed friend. As the letter alluded to explains also the immediate occupation and future plans of the biographer, the following extract seems to claim a place in this narrative. "I had flattered myself with an idea of your having such "confidence in my affection for the deceased, that you might, 66 66 66 66 "without difficulty, impart to me any writings existing (of what nature soever) that flowed from his pen. But your scruples on this subject have not abated my zeal; and I am confident, all those scruples will vanish, if you will have the "kindness to meet me in London in the last week of October, or the first week of the following month. It is my present "intention to pass about a fortnight in town, at the time I mentioned; and chiefly for the interesting purpose of col"lecting every thing I can, that may enable me to render the projected life as perfectly worthy of the beloved being, whom "it is our wish to commemorate, as the extent of my informa"tion and my faculties will allow me to make it. 66 66 66 66 "I am at present finishing a work devoted to the memory of my dear child, which I mean to print in November, with "two engraved portraits of him, more faithful to his expressive countenance, than the miserably unjust medallion in the Essay on Sculpture. The new publication will consist chiefly of "devotional sonnets, composed in the long illness, and since "the departure of my filial angel, which I am tempted to print, by the opinion of some tender-hearted friends, who "persuade me the book may prove, in some degree, soothing "and medicinal to parents in general, under similar affliction. "To prove to you, that it does not render me unmindful of "the dear departed bard, I will transcribe one sonnet from the 66 66 collection, as, in the wish of the closing verses, you will sympathize, my dear Lady, both for me and for yourself. 66 SONNET. "YE hallow'd darlings of my thought! whose praise "O'er your dear tombs I fondly strive to speak, 66 66 Though with a troubled brain, and utterance weak : Cowper, bless'd bard! and thou, whose early rays "Of talent promised a meridian blaze! "Whose mind was all paternal pride could seek: "Ye! whom, though gone, my mental eye surveys ! "It will gratify me to hear speedily, that your tender health is growing strong enough to afford me a fair prospect of our meeting, according to my suggestion." The health of the excellent lady to whom this suggestion was addressed, was so severely impaired, that it rendered her unable to meet the biographer in London. Before he visited the metropolis, his health and spirits had so far recovered the shock of his late affliction, that his fancy was much inclined to amuse itself with brief poetical compositions. On the 22d of September, he wrote a ballad, entitled Little Tom the Sailor. It was printed with two designs by Mr. Blake the engraver, who had now settled himself in a cottage near the poet, to execute various works of art, and particularly the prints with which he hoped to decorate the projected Life of Cowper. The ballad was successfully devoted to relieve the necessities of a meritorious poor woman on the Kentish coast, whose misfortunes Mrs. Rose had imparted to Hayley, and whose heroic sea-boy was the hero of the ballad. As Lady Hesketh and the biographer truly sympathized in mutual esteem, and a most cordial wish to honour the memory of Cowper, a right understanding on the subject of his manuscripts was very soon established between them; as we learn from the following expressions of Hayley, in writing to her Ladyship: "FELPH AM, Dec. 24, 1800. "Let me hasten to meet you, my dear Lady Hesketh, as you profess to appear with the olive branch in your hand.' "Your pacific letter has found me just returned to my ma"rine cell, after an excursion, which infinite kindness from 66 66 some old and some new friends had induced me to make of much longer continuance than I at first proposed. "I have engaged more in social amusement, and less in literary business, than I intended; for although I conveyed a volume of parental verses to town, with an idea of printing and publishing what I considered as a just tribute "to to the very singular merit of a departed darling; yet, when I "reflected repeatedly on the uncommon modesty and reserve "of that angelic youth, I seemed to hear his mild spirit suggesting to me, that, fond as he ever was of being praised by |