BY WILLIAM COWPER, ESQ. OF THE INNER TEMPLE. In three Wolumes, COMPRISING A Variety of Pieces NOT INSERTED IN FORMER EDITIONS. To which is prefixed A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE. AMHERST, N. H. PRINTED BY JOSEPH CUSHING. Sold by him at his Bookstore; by Manning & Loring No. 2, PREFACE TO THE FIRST VOLUME. WHEN an Author, by appearing in print, requests # an audience of the public, and is upon the point of speaking for himself, whoever presumes to step before him with a preface, and to say, " Nay, but hear me first," should have something worthy of attention to offer, or he will be justly deemed officious and impertinent. The judicious reader has, probably, upon other occasions, been beforehand with me in this reflection: and I am not very willing it should now be applied to me, however I may seem to expose myself to the danger of it. But the thought of having my own name perpetuated in connexion with the name in the title page, is so pleasing and flattering to the feelings of my heart, that I am content to risk something for the gratification. This Preface is not designed to commend the Poems to which it is prefixed. My testimony would be insufficient for those who are not qualified to judge prop |