 merrie says: In April 1782, the British merchant/philanthropist John Thornton, a cherished Christian friend of Cowper’s, sent a gift to Benjamin Franklin—then in France as part of the American diplomatic delegation. The gift was a copy of Poems by William Cowper of the Inner Temple. Thornton’s gift to Franklin was accompanied with a letter, which read in part: “Permit me to request your acceptance of some poems of a friend of mine who has been many years excluded from the World, as not being in his right Mind & considers himself as a Non Entity & reads nothing beyond a News paper, & yet he wrote the most of these poems last Year.” Just over one month later, in May 1782, Franklin wrote a remarkable letter in reply. I received the letter you did me the honour of writing to me, and am much obliged by your kind present of a book. The relish for reading poetry had long since left me; . . . . . . . but there is something so new in the manner, so easy, and yet so correct in the language, so clear in the expression, yet concise, and so just in the sentiments, that I have read the whole with great pleasure, and some of the pieces more than once. I beg you to accept my thankful acknowledgements, and to present by respects to the author. When Thornton received Franklin’s reply, he immediately forwarded the letter to Cowper. The reclusive poet could not have been more delighted. He wasted no time in writing to a friend who lived nearby, the Rev. William Unwin. Full of playfulness and wit, Cowper’s letter shows how... I ADORE Cowper. Excellent clip. Interesting site. Thanks  |
View the Top Clips from February 28, 2009
Embed This Clip In Your Site...
|
|
|
|
|
New from the makers of Clipmarks: Amplify.com - Don't just share the news...Amplify it!
|
|
