when Mr. Newton was here, and we made it a rule to pass four days in the week together. We dined at one, and it was Mr. Newton's rule for tea to be on the table at four o'clock, for at six we broke up.' 'Well, then,' said I, if you had your time to yourself after six you would have good time for an evening's walk, I should have thought.' 'No,' said he; after six we had service, or lecture, or something of that kind, which lasted till supper.' I made no reply, but could not and cannot help thinking they might have made a better use of a fine summer's evening than by shutting themselves up to make long prayers."

Thus Lady Hesketh ; but others have gone much farther, and even laid the cause of Cowper's mental depression at Newton's door, which, together with other charges, has been ably confuted by the Rev. J. H. Overton. Mr. Overton, after pointing out that the germs of this distressing melancholy, which cast a gloom over Cowper's latter years, are clearly traceable before his acquaintance with Newton began, makes the assertion that the most that can be said is, that the depression of spirits was increased by his intimacy with the pious and energetic curate of Olney, and then inquires whether there is any real foundation for this supposition. To answer this question, Mr. Overton examines the nature of the relationship which subsisted between Cowper and Newton, and points out that, although at first sight no two men could be more opposite in character, yet the differences were really superficial. Cowper's apparent effeminacy was all on the surface; his mind, when not unstrung, was, as his letters as well as his poems testify, of an essentially

masculine and vigorous type; while, on the other side, despite Newton's hard and rough exterior, his heart was as tender and delicate as that of a child. Newton," continues Mr. Overton, " had a point of contact with every side of Cowper's character. He had at least as strong a sympathy with the author of 'John Gilpin' as with the author of the Task.' For one of the most marked features of John Newton's intellectual character was his strong sense of humour. Many of his Ana' rival those of Dr. Johnson himself; and now and then, even in his sermons, glimpses of his humorous tendency peep forth. (See Fourth Sermon on 'The Messiah'.) Again, he could fully appreciate Cowper's taste for classical literature; considering how utterly Newton's education had been neglected, it is surprising that he managed, under the most unfavourable circumstances, to acquire no contemptible knowledge of the great classical authors. Add to all this that Newton's native kindness of heart made him feel very deeply for the misfortune of his friend, and it will be no longer a matter of wonder that there should have been so close a friendship between the two men. It is readily granted that there was a certain amount of awe mingled with the love which Cowper bore to Newton, but Newton was the very last man in the world to abuse the gentle poet's confidence."

Mr. Overton next examines seriatim the various counts of the indictment brought against Newton, pointing out, in the first place, that Cowper's mental depression was not even aggravated by Newton's Calvinistic views; for, in the first place, although Newton was a Calvinist, it was only in a very modified

sense-the gloomy, repulsive side of Calvinism found no place in Newton's system; in the second place, Cowper never regarded himself as one of those predestined to be lost, do what they would, but, on the contrary, always held that he had once been a child of God. "To follow all the aberrations of a disordered intellect is of course impossible, but it is quite clear that the dreadful hallucination which possessed Cowper's mind had nothing to do with any of the five points of Calvinism ;" and, in the third place, there is no evidence to show that either hymn-writing or visiting the poor tended in any way to induce a return of Cowper's malady. "Newton may well have thought that the consciousness of being usefully employed was the very best means of diverting Cowper's mind from the gloomy thoughts in which a want of occupation would have given him leisure to indulge."

The various other charges that have been brought against Newton are dealt with in a subsequent chapter.

48. The Removal of Unwin to Stock, and other Incidents of 1769.

After his conversion at St. Albans, and especially after his renunciation of the idea of becoming a clergyman, we find Cowper nursing the hope that God might permit him to be an "instrument of turning many to the truth in a private way :" consequently it was with great joy that he seized any opportunity that presented itself of pointing out to others the importance of the