A really wonderful historical artifact related to that troubled and triumphant hymnist, William Cowper. On the surface, it is very poorly preserved volume one only of an early imprint of his poetical works.
But tucked inside are treasures. This particular example was given as a gift by fellow-poet, Cowper's close friend and later biographer, William Hayley [1745-1820]. It was gifted to Chicester Surgeon, and fellow Evangelical, William Guy [d.1826].
The ffep includes two original poems in Hayley's hand, neither published. The first is an inscription in verse to Guy. The second, a witty verse of four lines expressing the wish that Cowper and Guy will become mutual admirers, as he is of both. On the following page is a manuscript poem The Poplar Field. It is indicated as "hitherto unpublished" and varies from the final published form at several points. The final version had been published in The Gentleman's Magazine [1785]. The not must indicate that it is the draft itself that had remained unpublished. It has been suggested that the poem here is in Cowper's hand. It bears certain similarities and the handwriting appears distinct from Hayley's. It is not certain how anyone but Cowper would have the "draft" copy, but we are unable to ascertain for certain whether it is indeed his hand and if anyone would have had access, it would have been Hayley. However, as they had just met and there was not yet talk of a biography of Cowper, Hayley's hand seems unlikely. It seems more likely to be Cowper himself, penned there at Hayley's urging. There is a final poem, in Hayley's hand, which is a Sonnet to Cowper.
The present, dated to 1792 via the original inscription, would have been early in Hayley and Cowper's friendship. They had met only earlier the same year while Hayley was working on a biography of Milton. Cowper's biography by Hayley, with illustrations by William Blake, would not published until 1803 and 1804.
A really wonderful association copy and apparently untraced in Cowper literature.
Cowper, William. Poems, by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq. In Two Volumes. Vol. I. The Fourth Edition. London, Printed for J. Johnson. 1788. 367pp.
A fair copy only, bound in leather, nearly disbound with missing rear board, and light foxing.
