which, instead of souring, only serves to communicate an additional charm to them.

Though COWLEY was a pedant when he traversed the airy dominions of poetry, he ceased to be so when he took his course over the less elevated regions of prose. There cannot be a greater difference between the writings of any two authors, than between his poetical and prose works;—whilst the former abound in surprising metaphor and elaborate imagery, in uncommon fancies and unnatural thoughts, the latter are uniformly distinguished by an easy and natural train of thought, expressed in language of the same character. His essays are, indeed, the model of a graceful and simple style; "easy," as Dr. JOHNSON expresses it," without feebleness, and familiar without grossness.'

A great part of the poetical productions of CowLEY is not deserving of preservation, and his prose writings cannot be purchased, except in the edition of his whole works, or in Dr. HURD'S Selection, which is very scarce. For this reason, and for

their intrinsic excellence, we have considered that a neat and cheap edition of his Essays would be a desirable addition to the reprints of our early writers.

AN ACCOUNT

OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF

MR. ABRAHAM COWLEY.

WRITTEN TO MR. CLIFFORD, AND PREFIXED TO THE EDITION OF 1719.

SIR,

MR. COWLEY, in his will, recommended to my care the revising of all his works that were formerly printed, and the collecting of those papers which he had designed for the press. And he did it with this particular obligation, That I should be sure to let nothing pass, that might seem the least offence to religion or good manners. A caution, which you will judge to have been altogether needless. For certainly, in all ancient or modern times, there can scarce any author be found, that has handled so many different matters in such various sorts of style, who less wants

the correction of his friends, or has less reason to fear the severity of strangers.

According to his desire and his own intention, I have now set forth his Latin and English writings, each in a volume apart; and to that which was before extant in both languages, I have added all that I could find in his closet, which he had brought to any manner of perfection. I have thus, Sir, performed the will of the dead. But I doubt I shall not satisfy the expectation of the living, unless some account be here premised concerning this excellent man. I know very well, that he has given the world the best image of his own mind in these immortal monuments of his wit. Yet there is still room enough left, for one of his familiar acquaintance to say many things of his poems, and chiefly of his life, that may serve for the information of his readers, if not for the increase of his name; which, without any such helps, is already sufficiently established.

This, Sir, were an argument most proper for you to manage, in respect of your great abilities, and the long friendship you maintained with him. But you have an obstinate aversion from publishing any of your writings. I guess what pretence you have for it, and that you are confirmed in this resolution by the prodigious multitude and imperfections of us writers of this age. I will not now dispute, whether you are in the right; though I am confident you would contribute more to our reformation by your example,