There, fast rooted in their bank, and never overlockd.our favrite elms. That fereen the herdsman's solitary hut: Vide the Task. Book I London Published by Verner and leed Booksellers in the Poultry we were convinced, from ocular demonstration, it was erroneous; and have also received a communication from Mr. Courtenay*, who observes, that Cowper wrote the passage in the Task, which refers to these trees, under the influence of a mistake, and he had often told him of the circumstance. The trees stand on a broad level of low land, remote from any object of equal magnitude, and are, in every direction, prominent and conspicuous. The accompanying scenery is charmingly described by the poet in the following lines: Here Ouse, slow winding through a level plain While far beyond, and over-thwart the stream, Proceeding still towards Olney, we come to the Spinnie, or * We take this opportunity to acknowledge our obligation to this gentleman, and several others of the town of Olney, who favoured us with some important information, and paid a kind and ready attention to our enquiries, SHRUBBERY. The entrance to this retired spot is by a gate on the left side of the road, whence a path conducts through the windings of a lonely alley, shaded by the stately sycamore and spreading oak, diversified with fir, beech, lime, and elm, to an ampler space, inclosed on either side by the pensive yew. Here stands the Moss HOUSE. This delightful retreat Cowper has celebrated in some verses of exquisite pathos, written, as he observes, "in a time of affliction;" and, surely, every reader must feel for the unhappy bard, who, when speaking of the beauties of this spot, says, they are such as Might soothe a soul less hurt than mine, And though at this time the peculiar sensations of his mind permitted him no enjoyment whatever, yet, in happier moments, this lowly roof was often honored with his presence; and a few lines of his composition, which he caused to be painted on a board, and placed in the |