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write a letter to his friend Mr. Cowper to whom I was not per-sonally known. Mr. Hayley had benevolently hoped that a letterfrom me would raise the spirits and tranquillise the mind of Mr.Cowper, which was at that time much depressed.

Letter to Mr. Hayley.

“ Dear Sir, October 18. 1797.

“ By this post I have obeyed your commands in writing to Mr.Cowper; I cannot but admire your humanity which promptedyou to think of lessening the load of your friend’s sufferings bysuch a remedy for his mental infirmity; it may have its effect fora moment, but disorders of the mind generally though not uni-versally originate in a disordered body. Your benevolence isactive and extensive. Romney owes much to your kindness. As'to the young artist, it was enough for me that you wished me tosit to him; but if I had paid no regard to your wishes, I shouldhave been ashamed to decline following the example of LordThurlow, a man of whom I think highly, though he is not so gooda Whig as he might be.

“ I am in this retirement a stranger to books and all literaryambition, and wholly occupied in improving an estate for thebenefit of my family. It is not my fault that some of the bestyears of my life have been thus employed ; had I met with theencouragement of my profession, which would have enabled meto make a moderate provision for eight children, I never shouldhave commenced an agriculturist. I am, however, from experi-ence, entirely of Lord Bacon ’s opinion, when he says, that to

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