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cultivate our mother Earth is the most honourable mode of im- »proving our fortune. You say nothing of your own health, andtherefore I hope it is good; but it will give real pleasure to me toknow that it is so. I beg to be always kindly esteemed by you,and am

“ Your faithful servant,

“ R. Landaff.”

Letter to Mr. Cowper.

“ Sir, Calgarth Park, Kendal, Oct. 18.1797.

“ I know not how many years are passed since I first read andadmired your delightful Poems; I yesterday finished my re-perusal of them, and you must allow me the singular liberty oftestifying to you the great esteem in which I hold their author.

“ In an age when religion is rejected, morality outraged, andthe concerns of futurity lost in dissipation and sensual indulgence,it must give every serious mind sincere satisfaction to see theimpressive manner in which you support the cause of piety andvirtue. You must not consider this testimony of my respect asan officious compliment; I pay it as a debt due to the manly zeal,for what is good and praiseworthy shown in all your writings.

“ I will own to you that the consciousness of having labouredin the same cause with sincerity (with what success God onlyknows) gives a degree of comfort to me, in this retirement, whereI spend eight months in the year, which nothing else could give.

“ Your mind, I see, from various parts of your work, is elevatedto the contemplation of the First Cause, and filled with venerationfor his inscrutable perfections; this is a disposition of all others