any thing that may cheer this gloomy season, unless I have recourse to my pocket-book where perhaps I may find something to transcribe; something that was written before the sun had taken leave of our hemisphere, and when I was less fatigued than I am at present.

Happy is the man who knows just so much of the Law, as to make himself a little merry now and then with the solemenity of juridical proceedings. I have heard of common law judgments before now, indeed have been present at the delivery of some, that according to my poor apprehension, while they paid the utmost respect to the letter of the statute, have departed widely from the spirit of it, and being governed entirely by the point of law, have left equity, reason, and common-sense behind them at an infinite distance. You will judge whether the following report of a Case, drawn up by myself, be not a proof and illustration of this satyrical assertion.

Between Nose and Eyes a sad contest arose,
The Spectacle's set them unhappily wrong,
The point in dispute was, as all the world knows,
To which the said Spectacles ought to belong.

So

2.

So the Tongue was the Lawyer, and argued the cause,
With a great deal of skill, and a wig full of learning,
While chief Baron Ear, sat to balance the laws,
So fam'd for his talents at nicely discerning.

3.

In behalf of the Nose, it will quickly appear,
And your Lordship, he said, will undoubtedly find,
That the Nose has had Spectacles always in wear,
Which amounts to possession, time out of mind.

4.

Then holding the Spectacles up to the Court,
Your Lordship observes, they are made with a straddle,
As wide as the ridge of the Nose is, in short,
Design'd to sit close to it just like a saddle,

5'

Again, would your Lordship a moment suppose,
('Tis a case that has happen'd, and may be again)
That the visage or countenance had not a Nose,
Pray who would, or who could, wear Spectacles then?

On

6.

On the whole it appears, and my argument shows
With a reasoning the Court will never condemn,
That the Spectacles plainly were made for the Nose,
And the Nose was as plainly, intended for them.

7.

Then shifting his side, as a Lawyer knows how,
He pleaded again in behalf of the Eyes,

But what were his arguments few people know,
For the Court did not think they were equally wise.

8.

So his Lordship decreed, with a grave solemn tone,
Decisive and clear, without one if, or but,

That whenever the Nose put his Spectacles on
By day-light, or candle-light-Eyes should be shut!

I am glad you were pleased with my report

of so extraordinary a case. If the thought of versifying the deci

sions of our Courts of Justice had struck me, while I had the honor to attend them, it would perhaps have been no difficult matter to have compiled a volume of such amusing and interesting precedents; which if they wanted the eloquence of the Greek or Roman oratory, would have amply compensated that deficiency by the harmony of rhime and metre.

Your account of my Uncle and your Mother gave me great pleasure. I have long been afraid to inquire after some in whose welfare I always feel myself interested, lest the question should produce a painful answer. Longevity is the lot of so few, and is so seldom rendered comfortable by the associations of good health and good spirits, that I could not very reasonably suppose either your relations or mine so happy in those respects, as it seems they 'are. May they continue to enjoy those blessings so long as the date of life shall last. I do not think that in these coster-monger days, as I have a notion Falstaff calls them, an antidiluvian age is at all a desirable thing, but to live comfortably, while we do live, is a great matter, and comprehends in it every thing that can be wished for on this side the curtain that hangs between Time and Eternity.

Farewell my better Friend than any I have to boast of either among the Lords, or Gentlemen of the House of Commons.

Yours ever,

WM. COWPER.

The

The reviving Poet who had lived half a century with such a modest idea of his own extraordinary talents, that he had hitherto given no composition professedly to the public, now amused himself with preparations to appear as an Author. But he hoped to conduct those preparations with a modest secrecy, and was astonished to find one of his intimate friends apprized of his design.

MY DEAR SIR,

LETTER XXX.

To JOSEPH HILL, Esqr.

May 9, 1781.

I am in the Press, and it is in vain to deny it. But how mysterious is the conveyance of intelligence from one end to the other of your great city!—Not many days since, except one man, and he but little taller than yourself, all London was ignorant of it; for I do not suppose that the public prints have yet announced the most agreeable tidings, the title-page, which is the basis of the advertisement, having so lately reached the publisher; and now it is known to you, who live at least two miles distant from my confidant upon the occasion.

My labours are principally the production of the last winter; all indeed, except a few of the minor pieces. When I can find no other occupation, I think, and when I think, I am very apt to do it in rhyme. Hence it comes to pass that the season of the year which generally pinches off the flowers of poetry, unfolds mine, such as

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they